Page 18 - Autumn SMI 2016

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18
IIBA NATIONAL FINALS
IIBA NATIONAL FINALS

In the finals of this year's nationals, the question in most people’s
minds as to whether Colum McHugh could add the only title which
has so far eluded him, the national singles, when he played Cecil
Dillon and whether Monaghan's LInda Carleton could complete a
ladies double. As it turned out neither were successful.

In the singles it
was a case of what if for Colum.
His opponent played well, took his
chances and played his running
bowls to perfection, in getting off to
a 5 - 0 start. After 9 ends the gap
was 9 - 2 and all looked lost for
McHugh but two 3's brought him
back into the game.
What luck there was certainly
wasn’t in McHugh's favour when on
3 ends he could have picked up a
couple of 4's and a possible 3 only Irish Officials at the Championship L to R
Irish Officials at the Championship L to R
for his bowl to straighten. This was Artie Rice Honorary Secretary, Charlotte Adair
Artie Rice Honorary Secretary, Charlotte Adair
particularly the case on the 13th Competition Secretary, Darryn Causby
Competition Secretary, Darryn Causby
end when his delivery did the unex- Chairman Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon
Chairman Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon
pected and gave Dillon a 2 to effec- Council, Flo McNally IIBA President,
Council, Flo McNally IIBA President,
tively seal the game. Harold Massey IIBA Chairman,
Harold Massey IIBA Chairman,
In the pairs Alan Johnston and Wilfy Crawford Hon Treasurer
Wilfy Crawford Hon Treasurer
Eugene Morgan were given a tight
game by the youthful pairs from North west Stephen and Graham Kennedy and it was only in the
last 4 ends that they managed to move into the comfort zone.
The triples was won by the experienced Raymond & Gordon Stubbs and Paul Reid against
a very youthful and surprise finalists in Adam, Ryan and Philip McKeown. The Lisburn triple con-
trolled the game throughout thought the South Down did manage at one stage to get with 2 shots.
The rinks was a low scoring affair with single shots on virtually every end. The Morrison father
and sons led throughout but it was a last end decider. The Foyle rink of Mark Beattie were 7 - 6
down but lying shot only for Andrew Morrison to trail the jack into ditch for an 8 - 6 win.
In the ladies it was a disappointing day for Maureen Howe and especially for playing partner
Linda Carleton losing the pairs final to the favoured Pauline Beattie & May Cassells. It was a game
in which the Monaghan ladies never got going and after winning the first end they only picked up
another 2 shots. It was a relentless performance by Beattie and May as they ran out 17 - 4 winners.
In the singles it was last bowl heartbreak for Linda Carleton. Little separated the ladies for
13 ends before Esther Foster picked up 2 to lead 16 - 14. Linda had a chance on the last end to
square the game but her delivery was a little tight and missed the head to leave the title going to
Western Zone.
The over 55's title went to North Down in the form of Robert Hastings and Stephen Hedley
who controlled the game throughout against Monaghan's Brendan Magennis and Pat McSkeane.
The North Down combination got off to a great start to lead 8 - 2 after 4 ends and never looked in
any danger running out winners by 17 - 7.