The ILB Championship Finals
The ILB semi-finals and finals were played from Monday, 27th July, to Saturday, 1st August, in Blackrock. Dun Laoghaire Bowling Club got to three ILB Championship semi-finals this year. Not quite as good as last year but it was still an excellent achievement with the ever-increasing standard of bowling. (Photos of these Championships are available on our Gallery page).
Marper Cup:
The Marper Cup is the Senior Singles Championship. Herman Huisamen, who is one of our newer members from North Kildare, had a great campaign to reach the ILB Finals Week. He had to get through five rounds to get there, including beating two top Crumlin bowlers, Drew Logan and Richie Leonard.
Anto Gray also had a great run in this Championship. Amongst others, he had to get past Robert Toner (Crumlin) and Gareth Pierpoint (CYM) on his way to the quarter-finals but unfortunately was then beaten by John Nolan of Blackrock.
In the semi-final, Herman came up against Moe Hogan from Skerries. Herman played a really good game on the evening and won by 21 shots to 12.
In the final, Herman came up against Nick Smyth from Crumlin who was having a brilliant tournament. It just wasn’t Herman’s day while Nicky Smyth was in top form and piling on the pressure. It was a very entertaining game with Herman forced to fire on a number of occasions but he just couldn’t quite get into his rhythm.
A big congratulations to Herman for keeping our Club’s name up there with the best.
Millane Cup:
The Millane Cup is the Mixed Gender Pairs Championship. Our pairing of Bríd Brien and James Lanigan had a great run to reach the ILB Finals Week. En route they had dispatched Noeleen Kelly and John Leonard from Crumlin, and also had beaten Jenny Heade and Paul Smyth in Crumlin.
In the semi-final they were playing the home (Blackrock) pair of Carole McQuaid and Larry Lane. Knowledge of your own green is quite an advantage and it proved to be the difference in this game. Bríd and James put in a valiant performance but were narrowly beaten by 5 shots.
Many congratulations to both Bríd and James for representing our Club so well and giving us plenty about which to cheer.
Sixsmith Cup:
The Sixsmith Cup is the Senior Fours Championship. This year our team of Johann Talajaard, Ron Burns, Greg Burns, and Herman Huisamen got to the semi-finals. On the way they had an away win in Westmanstown and beat a CYM team that included Christy Kelly (last year’s Champion of Champions men’s winner), Phelim Hamill and Richard D’Arcy.
In the semi-final in Blackrock they came up against a strong CYM team comprising Danny Coad, Ollie O’Brien, Ken Brennan and Peter McArdle. It was an exciting game with our lads winning through 18 - 13.
In the final Johann, Ron, Greg and Herman were pitched against Robert Maher, Eamonn Carruth, Richie Leonard and Shane Leonard from Crumlin. We got off to a great start but inevitably the Crumlin men came back and, in the best scriptwriting tradition, it ended up 18 all after the 18 ends! On the extra end, we were holding until Crumlin got a wick to sneak the shot. We were just unable to change it despite some excellent bowls and it ended 19 - 18 to them. It was a cruel end to a wonderful contest.
Huge congratulations to Johann, Ron, Greg and Herman for an exceptional campaign, and for reminding the Irish bowling scene that Dun Laoghaire can mix it with the best.