For the first time in British Blind Sport (Bowls Section) history Northern Ireland participated in the BBS UK Singles Championships held at the beautiful setting of Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club, Rock Park, Llandrindod Wells. How they faired will come to later, but it was great to have them involved and hope they are going to be involved for many years to come.
The players and their coach/helpers and supporters arrived on Monday 7th August 2006 at the magnificent Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells. There was practice during the Monday afternoon.
During the following three days (Tuesday 8th, Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th) there was some very intense competition, with the B1 Ladies and B2 Men having to play 3 games on Wednesday to enable them to play each competitor in their category.
These three days cumulated in the following Results:-
Ron Flanders (England) winning the B1 Men’s Gold, with Bill McClure (Scotland) taking the Silver on shot difference from George Gourley (Scotland) making his first appearance at these Championships who took Bronze, followed by Eric Gallacher (England) 4th, Hugh Dorrian (N. Ireland) 5th and David Gibbs (Wales) 6th.
In the B1 Ladies Ada Meikle (Scotland) took Gold on shot difference from Chrissie Gordon (Scotland) who took Silver after Ada lost her final game to Lisa Royle 14 -13, and Margaret Cusker (England) taking Bronze, with Lisa Royle (N. Ireland) 4th, Doreen Jones (Wales) 5th, Christine Newcombe (England) 6th, Angela Phillips (N. Ireland) 7th and Gloria Hopkins (Wales) 8th.
In the B2 categories again some very tight games were played and in the B2 Men’s, current B2 World Champion Keith Brenton (Wales), continued his winning ways by winning the Gold with first time competitor at these Championships Alex Soudan (Scotland) taking Silver, and Harry Harris (Scotland) taking Bronze, Chris Barker (England) 4th, John Rix (England) 5th, Stan Davies (Wales) 6th and Brian Henning (N. Ireland) 7th.
In the B2 Ladies the Gold went to Eleanor Clark (Scotland) with Betty Morrison taking Silver on shot difference from Nancy Cheeseman who received Bronze, Mary Gittins (Wales) 4th, Jean Ebney (N. Ireland) 5th and Doris Bryant (England)6th.
The B3 category threw up some very close games, especially the B3 Men. Billy Edgar (Scotland), Robert Little (Scotland) and Allan Jones (Wales), went into their last games needing to win to have a chance of the Gold. Billy ended up losing his, which meant that the winner out of Robert Little and Allan Jones (yes they were playing each other) got Gold. This game resulted in Allan Jones (Wales) winning thereby giving him the Gold with Billy Edgar (Scotland) pipping Robert Little (Scotland) to the Silver by just 1 shot, giving Billy Silver and Robert Bronze, with Chris Turnbull (England) 4th, Eric Shackleford (England) 5th, Anthony (Tony) Harris (Wales) 6th.
The B3 Ladies Gold was won by Shirley-Ann Harris (Scotland) with Myrtle Robinson (England) taking Silver and the Bronze went to Rosa Crean (Wales), Ann Bryant (England) 4th, Mary Lindsey (Scotland) 5th.
The B4 Men’s Gold went to that young teenager from England who has now completed the Double of BBS UK Indoor and Outdoor Singles Championships in his first year of competing in them; so well done! Carl Fountain who pipped Terry Matthews (England), another first timer, on shot difference took the Silver with David Thomas (Scotland) taking Bronze, William Caulfield (Scotland) 4th, Kevan Bean (Wales) 5th and Ian Smith (Wales) 6th.
The shock of the B4Ladies was who came last? The Gold was won by Maria Spencer (Scotland) with Elsie Matthews (England) taking Silver and Moria Potter (Scotland) taking Bronze and Gail Hepworth (England) 4th and last.
The culmination of this was a Farewell Dinner and the Presentation of Medals Trophies and Mementoes by Mr John Price, Hon President of the Welsh Association of Visually Impaired Bowlers and a Past World Indoor Singles, Pairs and Mixed Pairs Champion, accompanied by his wife Ann at the Metropole Hotel.
But, like I said at the top of this report, having Northern Ireland attend was the highlight as far as the BBS Bowls Section Committee are concerned, it caused some logistical headaches - like how to get all the games played etc. - but with the organisation skills of the Welsh Organising Committee, under the leadership of one of their Vice Presidents Mr Howard Davies and Association Treasurer Andrew Ocock, this was achieved.
Regarding Northern Ireland and looking at the results, they did their Country proud in their first BBS UK Singles Championships, alright they did not win any medals, but their standard of play was very high for a team competing in their very first full BBS International Competition. They certainly did not disgrace themselves with a 4th place finish in the B1 Ladies by Lisa Royle and 7th for Angela Phillips out of 8 competitors and Jean Ebney a creditable 5th in the B2 Ladies, not forgetting the Men with Hugh Dorrian 5th in the B1 Men’s Competition and Brian Henning 6th in one of the toughest categories the B2 Men competing against World Medallists. The main thing was I think everybody enjoyed the Greens, the Bowls Club, and the Hotel and I trust a safe journey home.
Ron Whitehead
