Page 13 - Winter 2018 19

Page 13_Layout 1 12/12/2018 12:12 Page 1

13 Pairs
Pairs
The pairs had the largest entry re-
flecting the dominance of licensed pairs
competitions with some 27 internationals
involved. The early rounds went as ex-
pected with perhaps the defeat of national
pairs winner Michael Hand losing 9 – 6 to
Mark Wilson who then lost 9 – 6 to Marty
McNicholl. Winner Robbie Foster defeated
Eddie Crawford 9 – 6.
In the bottom half, there were wins Singles Champion
Singles Champion
for Paul Duff over Seamus McGlinchey, A happy Joe Beattie with
A happy Joe Beattie with
Seamus Magennis over Jason Hand, IIBA Chairman John Quinn
IIBA Chairman John Quinn
James Rutledge over Vera Mohan, current
ladies national champion and Brian Rankin over Sean Conroy playing without retired Kevin Con-
roy. Duff and Rankin defeated Magennis and Rankin to contest the semi-final. In a tight game
which went to the last bowl Duff came through 10 – 9.
The other semi-final saw Foster and Tom Lithgo through 11 – 10 over Marty McNicholl.
The final was an excellent game with the lead changing end by end. The game went to the last
bowl with Foster and Lithgo pipping their A special advance date for your Diary
A special advance date for your Diary
opponents by 10 – 9. the World Championships will be held
the World Championships will be held
Singles next in Belgium over the weekend of the
Singles
next in Belgium over the weekend of the
The singles had 10 internationals in the 20th - 22nd March 2020
20th - 22nd March 2020
field with 8 falling in the early 2 rounds.
In the quarter finals there were wins for
national singles winner Joe Beattie 13 –
6 over Dairmaid McMahon, William
Boggs over national ladies’ champion
Rachel Cochrane, Mark White over
Ricky Cochrane and 14 year old Jamie
West over Noel Graham.
In the semis, Joe Beattie after a
very tight 6 ends came through 9 – 6
over William Boggs while Jamie West
had a 9 – 6 win over Mark White.
National champion Beattie was
under pressure from the start against
young West who showed no nerves
whatsoever as he moved into an early
lead. After 6 ends it looked as if an upset
was on the cards but a combination of
nerves and Beattie bowling well saw the
game turn in the latter’s favour.
Young West seemed to panic los-
ing bowls in the 8th end when he chose
to run rather than draw. Joe’s 10 – 7 win
saw him be the first to hold the national
singles and champion of champions ti-
tles in the same year.
Seamus Kyne