Page 30 - Winter 2017-18

IIBA 1:Layout 1 22-Dec-17 7:02 PM Page 1

Irish Club
30 Irish Club
Championships
Championships
The Galway Bay Hotel spon-
sored Irish Club Championship
took on an additional format
this season. In previous years
it consisted of a Competition for
teams of 12 in 3 rinks.
Unfortunately this format
meant that smaller clubs were
unable to participate. To re-
solve this it was decided to add

a 2 rink Competition and it was cer-
tainly an experiment which paid off
and one enjoyed by all who took part,
especially those who did not have the
opportunity in previous years.
The main Competition, as has COOKSTOWN HIGH
COOKSTOWN HIGH
always been the case was dominated
by the more successful clubs. It is one which has been dominated by clubs from Mid Ulster Zone
with Cookstown Parochial and Cookstown High winning 7 times in the 12 years of the Competition.
Winners of the last 2 years, St Mark’s Portadown were expected to make a strong push for
a 3rd successive title. However there
were a series of 1st round shocks
which saw holders St Mark’s lose by a
shot to Wellington from Western Zone
and Cookstown Parochial fall easily to
All Saint’s from West Down Zone.
With 2 of the favourites gone,
previous winners Cookstown High be-
came the favoured side as they
proved too good for Ballylennon from
WELLINGTON Donegal, 1st Ahoghill from Mid Antrim
WELLINGTON
and Sydenham from Belfast Zone.
In the other half of the draw, it
was Wellington who made progress
and in the semi final they just edged
out surprise side Latton from Mon-
aghan Zone.
The final was a keenly contested
one with the more experienced Cook-
stown High never managing to pull
away from Wellington and in the end
they edged out the Western side by 24 COOKSTOWN PAROCHIAL
COOKSTOWN PAROCHIAL
- 21 to give them their 3rd win in the
Competition.