There is positive news in the world of Irish tenpin bowling, with the announcement that this year's Irish Open Championships will be run in association with Ebonite.
The affiliation with one of the world's biggest bowling companies adds great weight to the tournament, which in truth has been faltering a little over the past few years.
There are some notable changes for next January's event. Firstly, €2,500 has been added to the prize fund. There will now be €17,500 to play for, with the top prize of €3,500 for men and €1,200 for women.
There have also been some changes to the format of the tournament. firstly, the tournament has returned to its old four-day schedule, with one squad on the Thursday evening, January 19th.
Squads on the Friday, January 20th, will begin at 08.30 and will continue until 22.45 pm. Saturday, January 21st, will see bowling commence at 08.00 am and continue until 23.30 pm.
The final day, Sunday January 22nd, will see the top 16 in both the men and women's sections bowl at 08.30 am, with the top 8 round robin finals at 11.00 am. The prize presentation will take place at 13.30 pm.
The most notable change in the format is the addition of a re-entry squad on the saturday morning. This will give any players who are unhappy with their original eight game qualifying set a second chance to make the second round.
Other changes include squad winner's qualifying automatically for the second round. In the men's section, the top two players from Squad A and Squad B will qualify for the top 64, with the other 60 spots being determined from the rest of the field on pinfall.
In the women's section, the top two players from Squad A and Squad B will qualify for the top-24 second round, with the other 20 spots again being determined between the rest of the field.
As well as the changes in the format, the tournament will also return to its old style in terms of lane conditioning. For the first time since the tournament was a European ranking event in the middle of the last decade, lane maintenance will occur after every squad, meaning that every player will play on the same condition twice, and no player can gain an adavantage by playing first or second oil before other squads.
The tournament's association with Ebonite has also brought another positive change. If any player bowls a 300 game with any ball manufactured by Ebonite (including Ebonite, Track and Hammer or Columbia 300 balls) that player will gain free entry into the Irish Open Championships in 2013.
The Irish Open has always been the showcase event in Irish Bowling, and with these changes for 2012 the organisers hope that the interest levels will return to the high level of the middle of the last decade. Bowltalk can only reiterate these hopes, and the changes can only be seen as a positive step for the tournament.
The tournamet runs from January 19th to January 22nd 2012 and entry formas are out now. To enter the tournament, print your entry form from www.tenpin-ireland.com, drop into Leisureplex Stillorgan or contact the organisers, either by email to Sean Kennedy at sean@leisureplex.ie or by phone at +353 86 824 822.
The entry fee for the tournament is €110, while the re-entry fee is €50. Alternatively, you can pre-book both your entry and re-entry for the cut price of €140.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Men's European Championships-Team Short Oil
Sweden are the team to catch after the first block of games in the team event. The Swedes posted a total of 3314 for their three games on the short oil condition to lead host nation Germany by 116 pins an third placed Denmark by 149.
A perfect game 300 by Estonia's Kert Truus helped his team place fourth with a total of 3129. The top eight is concluded by Lithuania, Norway, Russia and Finland.
Scotland lie 15th after the first block, with England struggling on the short oil condition to a disappointing 23rd place, with a particular struggle for Matt Miller, who managed just 471 for his three games. Though in truth only John Wells managed a decent set, Wells being the only English player to shoot 600+.
In terms of the All Events, Mads Sandbaekken continues to lead, but Finland's Osku Palermaa may be the man to watch over the concluding rounds. Palermaa shot 702 in the team event to jump up to 4th in the All Events standings. England's Matt Chamberlain is currently sitting in the Top 24 cut-off position with an average of 210.71.
This afternoon sees the semi-finals and final of the doubles event, with the semi-finals and final of the trios taking place later this evening.
Live streaming is now available from bambuser.com (a direct link is available from the official European Championships website) and as always keep up-to-date with reports right here at Bowltalk.
A perfect game 300 by Estonia's Kert Truus helped his team place fourth with a total of 3129. The top eight is concluded by Lithuania, Norway, Russia and Finland.
Scotland lie 15th after the first block, with England struggling on the short oil condition to a disappointing 23rd place, with a particular struggle for Matt Miller, who managed just 471 for his three games. Though in truth only John Wells managed a decent set, Wells being the only English player to shoot 600+.
In terms of the All Events, Mads Sandbaekken continues to lead, but Finland's Osku Palermaa may be the man to watch over the concluding rounds. Palermaa shot 702 in the team event to jump up to 4th in the All Events standings. England's Matt Chamberlain is currently sitting in the Top 24 cut-off position with an average of 210.71.
This afternoon sees the semi-finals and final of the doubles event, with the semi-finals and final of the trios taking place later this evening.
Live streaming is now available from bambuser.com (a direct link is available from the official European Championships website) and as always keep up-to-date with reports right here at Bowltalk.
Men's European Championships-Trios (Long and Short Oil)
Belgium took the number one spot in the trios at the European Championships in Munich on Wednesday.
The team of Mats Maggi, Glenn Vansteenbrugge and Olivier Leroy shot a combined total of 3888 for the six games (three games on long oil, three on short).
Closest to the Belgians were the Danish team of Thomas Larsen, Anders Lousdal and Jesper Agerbo on 3869 and Norway's Svein Ake Ek, Glenn Morten Pedersen and Bjorn Einar Rudshagen on 3840.
Both teams from Finland also finished in the top six as the Scandinavian countries again dominated the top of the standings, with only Greece and England, along with the Belgians, breaking their hold over the top eight positions.
There was no change to the top spot in the All Events after the trios, with Norway's Mads Sandbaekken continuing to lead with an average of 224.06. His nearest challenger is Sweden's Robert Andersson with a 220.83 average, with third spot being held by fellow Norwegian Tore Torgersen on an average of 220.17.
Finland's Osku Palermaa is the stand-out mover after the trios. Europe's Weber Cup captain has moved into the top eight with a 1283 in the trios event. He is averaging 216.39 for the championships. England's Matt Chamberlain is the closest challenger to the top eight, currently in possession of ninth spot with a 215.83 average.
Thursday sees focus turn to the team event, before the doubles and trios semi-finals and finals take place through the afternoon and evening.
Keep an eye out for all the winners, as the week moves towards its conclusion, with detailed reports from all the squads right here at Bowltalk.
The team of Mats Maggi, Glenn Vansteenbrugge and Olivier Leroy shot a combined total of 3888 for the six games (three games on long oil, three on short).
Closest to the Belgians were the Danish team of Thomas Larsen, Anders Lousdal and Jesper Agerbo on 3869 and Norway's Svein Ake Ek, Glenn Morten Pedersen and Bjorn Einar Rudshagen on 3840.
Both teams from Finland also finished in the top six as the Scandinavian countries again dominated the top of the standings, with only Greece and England, along with the Belgians, breaking their hold over the top eight positions.
There was no change to the top spot in the All Events after the trios, with Norway's Mads Sandbaekken continuing to lead with an average of 224.06. His nearest challenger is Sweden's Robert Andersson with a 220.83 average, with third spot being held by fellow Norwegian Tore Torgersen on an average of 220.17.
Finland's Osku Palermaa is the stand-out mover after the trios. Europe's Weber Cup captain has moved into the top eight with a 1283 in the trios event. He is averaging 216.39 for the championships. England's Matt Chamberlain is the closest challenger to the top eight, currently in possession of ninth spot with a 215.83 average.
Thursday sees focus turn to the team event, before the doubles and trios semi-finals and finals take place through the afternoon and evening.
Keep an eye out for all the winners, as the week moves towards its conclusion, with detailed reports from all the squads right here at Bowltalk.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Men's European Championships-Doubles Long Oil
Once again it was the Norwegian pairing of Mads Sandbaekken and Tore Torgersen who took top spot in the long oil doubles on Tuesday.
The pairing had taken first place in the short oil doubles the day before, and continued their early dominance with a combined score of 2726, just one pin more than the Swedish pair of Karl Wahlgren and Dennis Eklund, and a total score for the doubles events of 5475.
Over the two doubles events, the Swedish team of Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen were the closest to the Norwegians with a score of 5270, and the other Swedish pair of Wahlgren and Eklund finished up in third spot.
The surprise package of day one, Scottish pair Mark Kerr and Mark McQueen, had a more difficult time on the long oil. They posted a score of 2349, and a combined doubles score of 5024, good enough to see them finish in 18th spot after both oil conditions.
England's Richard Teece and Matt Chamberlain scored 2492 on the long oil and scored a total of 5143 to end up in 8th spot.
Sadbeakken continues to lead the way in the All Events, with an average of 235.42. Both Norway and Sweden have two players in the top eight, with the other spots taken by players from Finland, France, Italy and host nation Germany.
Matt Chamberlain has replaced richard Teece as the highest placed Englishman, currently sitting in 13th with a 217.33average. Teece fell back to 28th with a 211.25 average, and was also overtaken by another teammate, John Wells, who is currently 20th on a 215.83 average.
Scotland have one player inside the top 24 at the moment, Mark Kerr, who has a 214.83 average and is in 21st place.
Wednesday sees the focus turn to the trios, with both the short and long oil sets taking place.
The pairing had taken first place in the short oil doubles the day before, and continued their early dominance with a combined score of 2726, just one pin more than the Swedish pair of Karl Wahlgren and Dennis Eklund, and a total score for the doubles events of 5475.
Over the two doubles events, the Swedish team of Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen were the closest to the Norwegians with a score of 5270, and the other Swedish pair of Wahlgren and Eklund finished up in third spot.
The surprise package of day one, Scottish pair Mark Kerr and Mark McQueen, had a more difficult time on the long oil. They posted a score of 2349, and a combined doubles score of 5024, good enough to see them finish in 18th spot after both oil conditions.
England's Richard Teece and Matt Chamberlain scored 2492 on the long oil and scored a total of 5143 to end up in 8th spot.
Sadbeakken continues to lead the way in the All Events, with an average of 235.42. Both Norway and Sweden have two players in the top eight, with the other spots taken by players from Finland, France, Italy and host nation Germany.
Matt Chamberlain has replaced richard Teece as the highest placed Englishman, currently sitting in 13th with a 217.33average. Teece fell back to 28th with a 211.25 average, and was also overtaken by another teammate, John Wells, who is currently 20th on a 215.83 average.
Scotland have one player inside the top 24 at the moment, Mark Kerr, who has a 214.83 average and is in 21st place.
Wednesday sees the focus turn to the trios, with both the short and long oil sets taking place.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Summer Singles in Leisureplex Stillorgan
Leisureplex are looking for entrants for a summer singles league which will run on wednesday nights from June 15th to mid-August.
The league will be a handicap league, with handicaps looking likely to be based off 90 per cent of 220.
Leisureplex will hopefully be able to put a small amount into the prize fund to add to the allocated amount paid into the fund every week out of the bowlers' entry.
Prices look to be €17 or €18 each week for three games, with the usual €2.45 hopefully being allocated for the prize fund.
To take part in the league, bowlers need to be in Leisurplex Stillorgan at 7.45 pm on Wednesday June 15th. The league will commence at 8 pm.
The league will be a handicap league, with handicaps looking likely to be based off 90 per cent of 220.
Leisureplex will hopefully be able to put a small amount into the prize fund to add to the allocated amount paid into the fund every week out of the bowlers' entry.
Prices look to be €17 or €18 each week for three games, with the usual €2.45 hopefully being allocated for the prize fund.
To take part in the league, bowlers need to be in Leisurplex Stillorgan at 7.45 pm on Wednesday June 15th. The league will commence at 8 pm.
Men's European Championships-Doubles Short Oil
The Scottish pairing of Mark Kerr and Mark McQueen were the surprise package of the short oil doubles on the first day of the European Championships in Munich on Monday.
The pair posted a combined score of 2675 for their six games, leaving them in second spot, 74 pins behind short oil winners Tore Torgersen and Mads Sandbaekken from Norway.
Third spot was taken by the Swedish pair Robert Anderson and Martin Larsen, with the top English pairing of Richard Teece and Matt Chamberlain finishing up in fourth.
In terms of the All Events after the short oil doubles, Sandbaekken leads the way after his 242.67 average, followed by Denmark's Thomas Larsen on a 238 average and Finland's Joonas Jahi on an average of 237.17. The other players who make up the top eight at the early stages are Sweden's Robert Andersson, Norway's Pal Selvines, Sweden's Martin Paulsson, Scotland's Mark McQueen and England's Richard Teece.
Tuesday's schedule consists of the long oil doubles, with the first squad beginning at 9 am local time. Play will continue through the day until the complation of the doubles events at approximately 9.30 this evening.
For all the results and the full schedule go to www.talktenpin.net and keep up with reports from Munich here at Bowltalk throughout the week.
The pair posted a combined score of 2675 for their six games, leaving them in second spot, 74 pins behind short oil winners Tore Torgersen and Mads Sandbaekken from Norway.
Third spot was taken by the Swedish pair Robert Anderson and Martin Larsen, with the top English pairing of Richard Teece and Matt Chamberlain finishing up in fourth.
In terms of the All Events after the short oil doubles, Sandbaekken leads the way after his 242.67 average, followed by Denmark's Thomas Larsen on a 238 average and Finland's Joonas Jahi on an average of 237.17. The other players who make up the top eight at the early stages are Sweden's Robert Andersson, Norway's Pal Selvines, Sweden's Martin Paulsson, Scotland's Mark McQueen and England's Richard Teece.
Tuesday's schedule consists of the long oil doubles, with the first squad beginning at 9 am local time. Play will continue through the day until the complation of the doubles events at approximately 9.30 this evening.
For all the results and the full schedule go to www.talktenpin.net and keep up with reports from Munich here at Bowltalk throughout the week.
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