COMPETITIONS

Congratulations to:

Ø      Men’s International team

Paul McEwan, Roy Battersby, Paul Daly, Jonathan Ross, Mark McPeak, Clifford Craig, David Corkhill and reserve Patrick Burns from the club who have been selected to represent Ireland in the Home Countries international series to be held at Thornaby IBC, England on 9-11 March.

It is particularly pleasing that David Corkhill has deservedly been recalled to the Irish team after an inexplicable absence of 2 years and we share with him his delight at being selected.  It is also good to see youth being recognised and encouraged and we hope that Patrick Burns gets the opportunity to show his undoubted ability.

Our best wishes go to John Boyd who’ll compete in the singles championship and Matt Martin, his son Simon and Barry Quinn who’ll compete in the triples which precede the international series.

Ø      Ladies’ International team

Sandra Bailie, Breige Donnelly, Violet Luney, Ann Martin, Jean McBride, Maureen McCaffery, Vera McCourt, Catherine McMillan, Molly Scott, and Christine Young who have been chosen to represent Ireland in the Home countries international series to be held at Belfast IBC on 20th – 22nd March.

The Irish representatives in the British Isles championships will not be known until after the Irish finals being played on weekend 9-11 February.

Best wishes to:

      Ladies from the Club who will compete in the finals of the IWIBA championships to be played at County Antrim IBC on 9th -11th February.  This is a big weekend for our ladies so your support would be greatly appreciated by the competitors.  They are:

Singles          Catherine McMillan

Pairs             Irene Minnis/Christine Young

Triples          Ann Pinnington/Eileen Bell/Breige Donnelly

Fours            Ann Pinnington/Kathleen Megrath/Eileen Bell/Breige Donnelly

q       Jonathan Ross who will compete in the Welsh International Masters to be held at Llanelli on February 3-9.  Jeremy Henry is the other Irish representative.

Other competition information:

Postponed matches:-

There are quite a number of postponed matches in the various leagues still to be played. It is important that these games are played as the results affect the final league placing.  I would like to remind you that where 2 rinks have the same number of points, shots difference would be the deciding factor.  I would encourage everyone who has a postponed match to make a big effort this month to get it played as games not played are a considerable financial loss to the club and this affects all of us.

Forthcoming events:

9-11 February         IWIBA championships                                          CAIBC

24 February             IWIBA Tyrone Crystal Singles                              CAIBC

23/24/25 Feb           Club finals - men & women                                   Belfast IBC

18-22 March            Ladies British Isles Champs & international series  Belfast IBC

25-29 April              WIBC singles & mixed pairs                                  Belfast IBC

A full list of the February club programme is available at reception and in our website and the programme, ticket availability, etc for the Ladies British Isles Championships and International series will be published later this month.

ENTERTAINMENT

The following events have been arranged:-

3rd February                  Poker Night

17th February               Bowls fundraising night with music

REDUCED RINK FEES FOR CASUAL PLAY

Reduced rates

Monday to Friday evenings 9.15pm to 11pm

Saturday evening 6pm to 11pm

£1.50 members and £2 for visitors per session.

Normal rink fees for re-arranged games and private bookings.

VISIT BY HERITAGE IBC, PORT LAOISE

A party of 24 from Heritage IBC visited the club on the morning of 21 January and played with many of our members who visited the Heritage IBC during the same weekend last year.  They played against CountyAntrim the previous evening and clearly the generous hospitality of their hosts and the late hour showed in the latter stages of the morning!  However, the primary purpose of the visit to Northern Ireland was enjoyment and they achieved that in full and we look forward to a return visit down south in due course.

HERITAGE IBC OPEN PAIRS TOURNAMENT

An open pairs tournament is being held at the Heritage IBC on the 28th March to 1st April.  The entry fee is E50 (£35) per pair and the entry form should be returned to the Heritage by 14th February.  Entry forms are available at reception or by contacting website bowls@theheritage.com or telephone 00353 57 8642320 for more information.  Prize money totals 17.000 Euro.

COACHING

Coaching continues on Monday evenings 7.15pm to 9.15pm and everyone is welcome.

PRIVATE BOOKINGS BY OUTSIDE GROUPS AND CLUBS

Many of you are associated with “short mat” clubs and this is the time of year they are thinking about arranging end of season outings. Annually, about 50 clubs come here to play bowls and avail of the restaurant and bar facilities from various parts of the Province.  Please keep the stadium in mind when the proposal is discussed as we can offer a good evening’s bowling and very good food at a very reasonable price.

Finally, if anyone has information, news or views they wish published in the Newsletter, please contact the editor or the Manager.