Hat-trick of titles for Paul as Spa bowlers dominate

Hat-trick of titles for Paul as Spa bowlers dominate

29 January 2020

THE Mid Down Zone Bowls finals were played last Friday night in Killinchy. 

Eight clubs were represented in the finals with the winners going on to represent Mid Down Zone at Shaw’s Bridge in the Irish finals in March. 

This year the honours were well distributed with Paul McNamara claiming three Mid Down titles while club mates Don McNamara, Colin Wilson and Alan Laughlin claiming two titles.

Nationals 

Last year’s winners Rose Marie Wylie, Robin Horner, Graham Christie and Peter Christie of Spa Golf Club played club mates Colin Wilson, Don McNamara, Paul McNamara and Alan Laughlin in the National Fours final. 

Alan took an early lead forging 5-1 ahead after four ends. Peter scored three shots on the fifth end to put his rink right back in the game. Two ends later the scores were level at 6 all. Alan scored one shot on the eighth end to set up a tense final end. After a great last end Peter just failed to get the shot with his last bowl to leave Alan’s rink winners by 8-6.  

The National Triples final was again an all Spa GC affair between holders Robin Horner, Graham Christie and Peter Christie and Colin Wilson, Paul McNamara and Alan Laughlin. After three ends Peter had romped into a 7-0 lead. However, four shots to Alan on the fourth end changed the complexion of the match. 

Peter led 8-7 going into the ninth end, but Alan managed to secure the shot to send the match into a tie end. Peter hit the end with his last bowl and when the dust settled an umpire was called to decide who lay the shot. After some deliberation the shot was awarded to Alan’s triple.

The National Pairs final was an all Spa GC affair between Don and Paul McNamara and Robin Horner and Adam Gilmour. 

The McNamaras got off to a flyer, leading 6-0 after two ends. Robin and Adam edged their way back into the game and were 7-4 in arrears after five ends. 

The next end proved the turning point as Paul trailed the jack for four shots. Two shots were exchanged on ends seven and eight to leave Paul 13-6 ahead with two ends to go. Even though Robin and Alan scored two shots on the ninth end it wasn’t enough as Don and Paul won 13-8. Both pairs qualify for the Irish finals in March.

The singles final was between Tony Ward from St Mary’s Killyleagh and Spa Golf Club’s Robin Horner.  

Tony led 3-0 after two ends. Robin then won three ends in a row to level matters at 3 all. The sixth end proved to be pivotal as Tony collected four shots. Robin then scored two singles before Tony scored a single on the ninth end to lead 8-5. 

Robin tried his best on the last end but could only muster two shots to fall just one shot short. Both players have qualified for the Irish finals. 

Ladies’

The Ladies Triples final was contested between Helen Hanley, Marie Geddis and Albina Black of Killinchy and Saintfield BC’s Joan Gamble, Ann Jordan and Elsie Alexander. Albina’s triple dominated from the off leading 8-2 after five ends. Two shots to Elsie on ends six and seven just left her two shots behind. 

Albina then scored two shots on the eighth end giving her triple a four shot cushion going into the last end. This proved to be too big a mountain to climb as Elsie was only able to lift one shot to leave Albina 10-7 ahead.  

Mary Brown and Sally Seaton of Comber BC played Killinchy’s Marie Geddis and Albina Black in the Ladies Pairs final. 

The Comber pair took control of the game leading 6-1 after five ends. Killinchy ladies mounted a comeback in the second half of the game and trailed 7-5 going into the last end. They were laying two shots for a tie end, but Sally played a brilliant bowl to get the shot for an 8-5 win.

In the Ladies Singles final Meghan McCabe from St Mary’s, Killyleagh, played Linda Vance of Kilmore Presbyterians. 

This was an intriguing affair with the lead changing on several occasions. Meghan scored one shot on the opening end before ping two shots on the second end. She then collected three shots before Linda scored four shots to take a 6-4 lead. 

Meghan then scored five shots over the next two ends to lead 9-6. Linda, however, won the last four ends to take the ladies singles title by 11-9.

Over 55 Pairs

Cyril Cromie and Don McNamara, of Spa GC, played William Bassett and Eileen Green, of Ballycruttle, in the Over 55 Pairs final.  

Eileen dominated from the off and opened up a 7-2 lead after six ends. Cyril and Don found their form in the final five ends, but could not close the gap as William and Eileen had two shots to spare at the end.

Juniors

The U-18 Singles was played between Daniel Spratt, from Kilmore Presbyterian and Hayden Tumelty, from Ballycruttle. Daniel gave an impressive display of bowling racing into an 11-0 lead after five ends. 

Hayden took the next two ends to reduce the deficit to eight shots, but Daniel took the last three ends to win 16-3. In the U-18 Pairs final Robert Horner and Jason Hamilton, from First Comber, defeated the young pair of Annie and Aidan Scarlett, from Saintfield BC. 

The Comber pair raced into an 8-0 lead after five ends, but the Scarletts fought back in the second half of the game to end up 9-5 behind.

A lovely supper was supplied and served by the Committee and a collection was taken up for this year’s charity which is MITRE Trust Musgrave Park Hospital a sum of £150 was collected.