Page 7 - May 2023

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In the final, Ireland’s Eddie Curran, Daniel O’Kane, Michel Gallagher & John Quinn scored a 10 - 7
victory over England’s Danney Hogben, AJ Brown, Ryan Knight & Adam Smith in another close final.
In the 3rd and 4th place play-off Ireland’s DJ Wilson, Eddie Cambell, Jonny Wilson & Andrew Leckey
had a very comfortable `6 - 5 victory over England’s Paul Pomeroy, Tom Perris, James Smith & Sam
Harvey.
Summary

Sadly, there was no breakthrough by the newer nations but that is only a matter of time, although
Belgium and Norway got close in the Singles and Triples respectively. Winning two titles, Wales, with
smaller player numbers than both England and Ireland basically came out on top but they have al-
ways shown they have some outstanding players. The future of the Championships looks great. Ap-
parently it seems the Philippines are intending to enter and there has been an enquiry from the
Falklands, where they play at Stanley Leisure Centre. Keep hoping that Cyprus entered some play-
ers, where they have around 6 established clubs. In 2006 it appears that the next championships
may be in either Norway or Wales but more later.

Readers Emails

Hi Bob,
I agree the point about player’s spending money. I know that a lot in bowl-
ing are not well off but not all. There is the same problem in table tennis. I
ran a raffle at the local Closed Championships and. It’s amazing how
many people go out for the day without any money in their pockets! .I
thought I had called their bluff this time by having a card reader but even
then some didn’t have their wallet or their mobile phone with them! A
few years ago someone I know who is quite well off claimed not to have £1 for a raffle ticket. I re-
sponded that one day he would arrive at a tournament and query the lack of tables and he’d be told
”Sorry no money”.
I have coached Javelin and table tennis and I’m now a Level 1 bowls coach. I’m surprised at
the number of people who say they can’t do something. I say they should take the view that they
don’t do something well or not yet, not can’t.
I have encountered two occasions at a Sports day for the disabled
where at the table tennis challenge where the player has to hit balls fired
by a robot, sight impaired people have said they couldn’t do it because they
can’t see the ball. After a demonstration by a blind folded player and being
assured they could do it by listening and adjusting their hitting position, both
have hit every one on the 25 test balls into the scoring area, which none of
the sighted players managed! I know a Short Mat Bowler who can’t see the
end of the Mat but through guidance from his skip he is a more consistent
No1 than I’ll ever be.
Paul

Ed - Hi Paul I have found that Bowls in various codes contains some of the most mean sports
people I have ever come across, I said some not all. I have been involved in various sports or games
for over 60 years and mean people do exist in other activities. What is a sport is an interesting ques-
tion. How would you classify Snooker, Darts, league Dominoes, league Cribbage or Bridge all taken
very seriously by their exponents. But in them all there are people with short arms and deep pockets,
who cannot reach their money.
As to those less able to play sports, I really enjoyed the years I was involved with the Disability
sports National Champions as the supplier of 16 carpets and being the Umpire for the weekend. I
am sorry that the ESMBA failed to pick them up when they were cancelled. It would have been great
for the profile of our sport.
Thanks to those who write in including Barbara Sparlimg, Rosemary King, James Stewart,
Peter Jensen, Paul Reed, Paul Cooper and Clint Watling amongst others. Thanks for your words of
support in this publicity shy sport of ours.