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Friday, May 27, 2011

YAC Triple Crown Roll-Offs

The roll-offs to decide this year's team for the YAC Triple Crown in Scotland will take place in ALSAA bowling alley on June 11th.

The Under-23 committee, which looks after all issues concerning YAC bowling in Ireland, has announced that there has been a change to the age limit for eligibility for selection.

Following discussions with other participating countries, it has been decided that the Irish committee will use the same age limit as other countries this year. This means that now any bowlers born after January 1st 1987 are eligible to compete in the roll-offs in June.

In previous years competitors had to be under the age of 23 on September 1st the year before the tournament takes place. The new age limit means that players can now compete even if they have turned 24, as long as their birthdate falls after January 1st of this year.

The roll-off will take place at 8 pm on June 11th. Bowlers will play 8 games and the top 6 players after these games will be selected to represent Ireland in the YAC Triple Crown in Scotland in early October.

The fee to compete in the roll-offs is €3 per game. Any bowler who wishes to compete must e-mail the YAC Committee at yaccommittee@gmail.com by June 6th to confirm their interest.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Paul Magee Classic Review-The perfect way to remember a truly inspirational man

Once again the Paul Magee Classic this year showed just how important and how inspiring the man whi the event is named in memory off was and remains for the entire Irish bowling community.

The event took place on Sunday, with almost 150 people taking part in what was a magnificant event. The festivities after the bowling were also testament to the incredible popularity which Paul held in life and continues to hold three years after his tragic death from motor neurone disease.

The majority of those who took part in the bowling celebrated throughout the day and into the night as Ireland's bowling community once again raised a glass in honour of a true hero, not only in bowling terms but in everything he did in life.

Many of Paul's family attended the event, and I'm sure they must have been delighted to see once more just how much he meant to so many people. It goes without saying, I'm sure, that seeing the incredible turnout again this year must have only increased the already immense pride they hold in their hearts for Paul.

A truly inspiring day which embodied the immense inspiration which stems from Paul's life and the affect which he had on so many people. Once again a magnificant day, and such huge thanks have to go out to those who organised the event again this year. It was simply the perfect way to honour the great man once more.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Paul Magee Classic

The Paul Magee Classic is back. The tournament, set up in memory of bowler Paul Magee, who sadly passed away in 2008, returns this Sunday, with over 150 people taking part.

This event is one of the most important days of the bowling calender in my opinion, a day where not only can the Irish game come together in respect for a true gentleman, but also where awareness can be raised about motor neurone disease, of which Paul died, and the work which is done by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

 The bowling itself begins at 9 am, with a second squad beginning at 11 am. Finals begin at 1 pm. The tournament is again a mystery doubles tournament, with competitors bowling two games before discovering after they play who they're partner is. Teams placed 2nd to 9th play make the playoff to compete against the number one team in the final.

As I said before this, for me, is one of the most important dates on the bowling calender. This is so much more than a bowling tournament, it is a chance to remember a true hero, one who anyone can take infinite amounts of inspiration from.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Rocks Tour-Finals Preview

The finals of this year's Rocks Tour will take place in Leisureplex Stillorgan on May 29th.

The lineups for the scratch and handicap finals have been confirmed on the Rocks Tour section of the ITBA website.

There will be eight competitors in each section, with the line-ups dependent on a competitors highest position. Basically whichever section a competitior is placed higher in, that is the section he must compete in in the finals.

The confirmed finalists are as follows:

Scratch Section: Alan Bride, Graham Turner, Jason Byrnes, Tom Byrne, Fran Puzzzoli, Bob Daly, Darragh McLoughlin, Nicky O'Malley.

Handicap Section: Dave English, John Wilson, Carol Catchpole, Stan Dagg, Aimee Kellegher, Maureen Burke, Elaine Lawlor, Dave Osam. 

Each section will be played as a seven-game round robin, with all competitors facing each other once in a matchplay situation.

Each player will receive 20 points for a win, 10points for a draw. In addition, games of 200-249 bowled will receive a 5-point bonus, while games of 250-300 will receive a 10-point bonus.

Each section has two alternatives waiting in case any player cannot compete in the finals for any reason. Paul Flannery is the first alternative for both sections. Kerena Dykes is the second alternative for the scratch section, while Paddy Gibbons is second alternative for the handicap section.

Check-in for the finals opens at 8.30 am on the morning of the event, and closes strictly at 8.50. Any bowlers who have not checkd in on time will be replaced by one of the alternatives.

Bowltalk wishes all competitors the vey best of luck in the finals and congratulates them on making the finals round.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Matchplay-Grand Final

Match Line-up:

Stephen Joyce -v- Paul Stott

Both players start with spares in frame one.

Stott takes the lead in frame three with a strike. Joyce hits light on the head pin to leave a 2 pin, which he spares.

Another strike for Stott and another nine-spare for Joyce sees Stott increase his lead.

Joyce yet to strike through five frames. Stott turkey's to stay in control in game one.

A lucky strike in frame six for Stott. Joyce again leaves a single pin to fall 25 pins behind.

Joyce opens frame 7 after a 3-6-9 leave. Stott continues to strike to open up a 40 pin lead.

Joyce hits light but carries all ten pins for his first strike. Stott's strike run ends with a three pin, which he spares.

Stott closes out an 8-spare to lead by 58 after game one. He posts 244 to Joyce's 186.

A 9-spare a piece in frame one of game two.

Joyce leaves a very harsh 8 pin in frame two. Stott strikes to cement his lead.

Single-pins are really hurting Joyce as Stott begins to gain momentum again with a double.

Joyce breaks the run of single pins with a good pocket hit as Stott misses a ten pin. Joyce has an oppurtunity to close the gap a little now.

Another single pin for Joyce. He may need to look at changing ball or line now to kick those single pins out. Stott back in the pocket for a strike in frame five.

A loose ball in frame six frome Stott. He leaves the 1-2-4-10 split and fails to convert. Joyce strikes to put some pressure on. The lead now sits at 45 pins. 

Joyce doubles to keep the pressure on. Stott responds with a double of his own as he kicks out the 7 pin with a light pocket hit.

A turkey from Joyce closes the gap to 35 pins. Stott again hits back with a turkey of his own.

An open frame from Joyce in frame 8 kills his momentum. The lead is now 48 pins.

Stott strikes out to post 225. He leads by 84 pins going into the final game.

Joyce tries to put the pressure on with a double, but Stott hols firm with a strike and a nine-spare.

A turkey from Stott increases his lead to 90 pins.

Joyce finally gets a little luck with a nine-pin tap to strike in frame four. Stott opens frame five as Joyce doubles to close the gap to 81.

Joyce misses a ten pin in frame 7 to all but end his hopes of a comeback. Stott leads by 98 with three frames left.

Stott strikes in frame 8 as Joyce opens again with a 3-4-6-10 split. The lead goes over 100 pins now.

Stott opens frame 9 but it will not affect the outcome. Frame ten becomes insignificant to the result as Stott finishes out.

Stott spares to finish as he receives the applause of the spectators. A gracious applause for Joyce to for his efforts over the two days.

Congratulations to Paul Stott, 2011 Pepsi Irish Matchplay Champion.

Matchplay-Losers Final

Match Line-up:
Stephen Joyce -v- John Kennedy

Joyce starts with a double to catch up some of the 25 pin deficit from Kennedy's handicap. Kennedy opens with a nine-spare and a nine-miss.

Joyce puts a turkey together and solidifies it with an eight-spare. He leads by one pin after frame five.

Kennedy misses a ten pin in frame 7 to fall further behind. Joyce now leads by 11 pins.

Joyce strikes out to hold a 43 pin lead after gane one.

Joyce's move to the outside has seen him leave two harsh single pins. He still leads by 20 as Kennedy fails to take advantage.

Spares are the name of the game in the mid-part of game two.

Joyce misses a ten pin, but Kennedy opens as well to stay 20 down.

A second open from Kennedy is punished by a strike from Joyce. The lead is now 30 pins.

Joyce leads by 30 pins going into game three.

Kennedy opens frame one with a missed seven pin. Joyce strikes to increase his lead.

Joyce opens with a turkey in game three.

A ten pin stops the strike run in frame five for Joyce. Kennedy throws a double but a split in frame five dents his chance at closing the gap. Joyce leads by 30 pins with half a game to go.

Joyce staying solid with three nine-spares in a row. The lead is now 70 pins. Joyce looks set for a rematch with Stott in the Grand Final.

Matchplay-Winners Final/Losers Semis

Match Line-ups:

Winners Final:
Stephen Joyce -v- Paul Stott

Losers Semi-Final 1:
Pat Irvine -v- John Kennedy

Stott starts with a strike. Darragh McLoughlin has backed Stephen Joyce to go all the way here, and he starts with a spare against Stott.

Kennedy takes the early lead against Irvine with a strike against Irvine's open frame.

Joyce harshly done by with a 7-10 split in frame two as Stott spares to increase his lead early.

Stott lucky not to leave a 2-10 split in frame three. Joyce carries all ten light in the pocket to get his game going.

Kennedy and Irvine neck-and-neck at the half way stage of game one in their match.

Joyce turkey's to close the gap on Stott, who cant put strikes together at the moment. Irvine now 15 pins up on Kennedy.

Joyce's strike run comes to an end, but he spares the 2-10 split to lead by 5 pins at the half way point in game one.

Kennedy strikes to close up on Irvine. A heavy pocket hit gives Stott a strike in frame 8, and Joyce leaves a ten pin to fall 9 pins behind.

Stott taps the ten pin to double for the first time in the match. Joyce matches his strike to stay in touching distance.

Kennedy takes a 17 pin lead into game two against Irvine.

Stott finshes strong, but Joyce keeps up the pressure with a good finish of his own. Stott leads by 19 pins after game one.

Stott doubles to start game two. Joyce hits back with a double of his own.

Kennedy leads Irvine by 9 pins, but an open frame in the fifth will hamper him going forward.

Joyce breaks first in the battle with Stott in game two. Both men went front four before Stott added a fifth strike and Joyce posted a 7 spare.

Stott now holds a 65 pin lead after going front seven. He goes through the face in frame 8, but picks up  a handy 9 spare.

Irvine opens frame ten to fall 16 pins behind Kennedy.

A strike from Joyce in the ninth get him back to within 50 pins of Stott coming to the end of game two.

Stott posts 268 for 497 over two games. Joyce has bowled well, shooting 440, but Stott has been too good so far.

Irvine and Kennedy looks like going right down to the wire. Kennedy's lead is 30 pins at the half way stage in game three.

Joyce stones an 8 pin in frame two. This does not look like its going to go his way as Stott continues to look solid.

A Kennedy strike in frame eight looks like being the foundation for a victory against Irvine.

Kennedy advances with 30 pin victory.

Stott's lead sits at 45 pins after frame six of game three. Joyce just cannot put the strikes together to close the gap.

Stott completes a fairly comfortable victory over Joyce in the end. He wins by 80 pins.

Joyce will play Kennedy in the final of the losers section.

Matchplay-Losers Round Six

Match Line-ups:

Pat Irvine -v- Conan Mackey
Hannah Cullen -v- John Kennedy

Cullen and Kennedy exchange strikes. Mackey splits with a 2-8-10, Irvine starts with a nine spare.

Lucky spare from Kennedy matched by lucky spare by Cullen. They remain level.

Mackey struggling with the lane change. Back-to-back spares for him, but Irviine still leads by 39 pins.

Kennedy leading Cullen by 10 pins after four frames.

Nine-spares a piece for Mackey and Irvine. Irvine has 37 pin lead at the half way stage of game one.

Cullen trips the four pin after a slightly high pocket hit. Kennedy opens to open the door for Cullen to close the gap. She reponds with a double to take a one-pin lead.

Mackey opens frame nine to sit 42 pins down on Irvine.

Cullen spares the baby split in frame ten, Kennedy opens the frame. Kennedy trails at the end of the game by 11 pins.

Irvine strikes out to lead Mackey by 55 pins going into game two.

Cullen starts game two with a strike. Shes starting to struggle with a hand injury after playing such a large number of games, but she still leads by 15 pins.

Mackey struggling to close the gap on Irvine, but he strikes in frame four to try get some momentum going.

Cullen leaves the 2-4-10 split and fails to convert for the spare. Kennedy strikes to put the pressure on.

Mackey on a four-bagger now to close the gap on Irvine, who has opened three of his last four frames.

Kennedy puts in a turkey to take a 40 pin lead over Cullen.

Mackey opens frame ten for a 218. He leads by 4 pins now going into game three.

Cullen really struggling now. Kennedy strikes again to widen his lead.

Mackey leaves the 1-2-4-6-10 split in frame one of game three. He chops the six  pin out for a 5-1 frame.

Cullen strikes in frame nine of game two. Her first strike since frame one keeps her in touching distance.

Kennedy posts 206 in game two. Cullens 167 leaves her 37 pins down going into their final game.

Irvine doubles to lead Mackey by 40 pins half way through game three. Mackey has been unlucky with a couple of stone nine pins in this game.

Cullen doubles in the early stages of game three. Mackey leaves a 2-10 split in frame 7. He is now 55 pins down.

Mackey looks to have given up on catching Irvine, throwing the ball straight down the middle at a huge pace. He opens again with Irvine certain now to advance.

Cullen putting some strikes in to keep up with Kennedy, although two open frames as well means she still trails by 27 pins.

Irvine beats Mackey by 54 pins to advance.

A nine-miss in frame 7 dents Cullen's momentum. Kennedy strikes as Cullen opens again to trail by 45 pins going into frame ten. Kennedy looks set to advance as he shoots a four bagger.

A strong finish from Cullen is not enough to prevent her from going out at the hands of Kennedy. 

Round six of the losers section is now complete.

Matchplay-Winners Round Four/Losers Round Five

Match Line-ups:

Winners Section:
Stephen Joyce -v- John Kennedy
Paul Stott -v- Pat Irvine

Losers Section:
Conan Mackey -v- Ryan Press
Karl Dryer -v- Hannah Cullen

Dryer starts with a strike against Cullen. Mackey and Press both strike to start in their match.

Turkey start for Mackey gives him a narrow lead over Press. Stott yet to find the pocket in his match with Irvine.

Joyce down by 25 pins after four frames of game one against Kennedy.

Ten-pin spare for Cullen gives her 2 pin lead over Dryer.

Stott finds a strike after three straight nine spares. Mackey opens to lose some of his early lead over Press.

Big-five split for Dryer as he falls further behind against Cullen.

Double from Press and a split from Mackey gives the Northern Ireland man a healthy lead.

Stott doubles to take a 40 pin lead over Irvine.

228 from Press enough to give him 37 pin lead after game one with Mackey.

Stott has 45 pin lead over Irvine going into game two. Dryer leads Cullen by 10.

Press opens frame one of game two. Mackey strikes to close the gap.

Joyce starts well in game two to close up on Kennedy.

Cullen  opens game two with a turkey to take the lead from Dryer.

Double from Mackey at important time to keep him in touch with Press.

Turkey from Stott gives him a commanding lead over Irvine.

Cullen now front six. Dryer falling well behind in this one now.

Mackey puts a six-bagger together to put the pressure on Press. Press responds with a pocket ball but it did hit a little heavy and he leaves the four-pin standing. He spares it to stay in front.

Joyce and Kennedy neck-and-neck going into their final game.

Seven in a row with a nine spare to finish leaves Mackey with a 247 in game two. He now trails Press by just 4 pins goig into their final game.

Cullen now ninety pins ahead of Dryer coming to the end of their second game.

Mackey and Press going frame-for-frame. Cullen still holds commanding lead over Dryer.

Stott 120 pons up on Irvine and is certain now to advance.

Joyce now 70 pins up on Kennedy. He also looks set to advance. Mackey spares the 3-6-10 after a turkey to hold a 33 pin lead with two frames left.

Stott will play Joyce in the winners final.

Mackey takes the win against Press by 30 pins. He advances to losers round six, along with Cullen, Kennedy and Irvine.

Losers round six about to begin, updates to start soon.