Irish Road Bowling national finals Aug. 2-4 in East Durham, NY Best West Virginia Team Ever? The veteran West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Team is hunting dadburn flatlanders, with a faceoff in the road on August 2, 3 & 4, in East Durham, New York. Irishmen from Boston and New York will be waiting, and cannonballs will fly down the road, start line at Gavin’s Country Irish Inn. Scored like golf, an iron and steel “bowl” is hurled down a country road. With these experienced players, shots can roll 200, or 250 yards down a narrow country lane, with occasionally a “savage” 300 yarder. from Mick Moloney, New York Club North American Region Finals.... Sat 3rd August and 4th August....EAST DURHAM, NEW YORK....bowling starts 9 am sharp....novice 2 out novice 4 in novice 1 out novice 3 in...draws will be made 8.45 am....food will will be supplied by Lawyers General Store...large crowd expected..football game at 2pm so we are hoping to have semi finals complete if not bowling will continue till finished. Scores will be back to back 15 mins. apart so both semi finals in each grade played together......on Sunday finals will commence at 11 am with the same order applied...hope everyone has a great weekend The West Virginia Team Five of the eight bowlers on the West Virginia team have experience in North American Finals competition against excellent players from New York and Boston. Boston’s two time All Ireland Champions Florrie O’Mahoney, Con O Callaghan, Roger Riordan and Brendan Fleming are expected, along with New York’s three time and two time All Ireland champions respectively, Adrian Lappin and Fergal Carr , and Michael Maloney and the O’Keefes. Novice I Mark Whitt was WV Novice 2 Runner-Up in 2009 and 2010. Mark represented West Virginia in the North Americans in Boston, New York and West Virginia. Mark carries plenty of speed, and hit a 300 + yard shot at Pipestem April 27, putting him far into the lead for low score. Travis McClintic is rated at the top level of road bowlers in West Virginia. A former WVU football player and bullrider, Travis carries great speed and maintains accuracy. The 2011 WV Novice 2 state champion, Travis has competed in the North American finals in Boston, twice in West Virginia, and represented North America at the World Championship Bowl-Playing in Holland in 2010. Novice II Travis Craig is the highest rated road bowler in West Virginia, with five WV State Championships, two national titles in 2009 and 2010, represented North America in the All Ireland Finals in Aughagower, Co Mayo in 2009, and Drogheda, Co Louth in 2010, and the World Championship Bowl-Playing in Dinkelland, Holland in 2010. His powerful performance in Aughagower put West Virginia on the map in the international community of outdoor bowlers. Stephen Wallington is the 2012 WV Novice 2 state champion, and competed at Novice 2 in the North American finals at Coopers Rock State Forest. Stephen throws with a naturally Irish style, carries speed and accuracy, and was a high school baseball pitcher. Novice III Wayne Marrs competed in Novice 3 in the North Americans in Boston in 2011. He bowled very well in his first national competition, leading a veteran New Yorker O’Keefe through an exciting match, until edged out by five feet on the final throw. Bryan Wimer will be competing in his first North American Region finals, and has been playing the sport in local scores in West Virginia for the last few years. Bryan played high school basketball and baseball for Lewis County High School near Ireland, WV. Novice IV Stephen Holmes is new to Irish road bowling, and competes in local events in West Virginia. Stephen replaces Travis Abel, the Novice 4 state champion who edged Stephen by one shot in the semis. This will be Stephen’s first North American final. Wayne Crook will be making his first appearance in a North American final. Wayne is from Cool Ridge, near the Pipestem Resort, and plays there on one of the best roads in West Virginia. Wayne is replacing runner-up Eric Bee. Women Aleacha Wallington and Elise McClintic are the WV State Champion and Runner Up, respectively, in both 2011 and 2012. Aleacha also won the 2012 North American Region Ladies Longshot competition by twelve inches. These two ladies competed in a memorable doubles score with Adrian Lappin and Fergal Carr at Coopers Rock in 2012, Aleacha and Adrian winning on the last shot. In 2013, Elise edged Aleacha with a savage final bowl for the West Virginia state championship. Aleacha will be representing West Virginia in East Durham. New Clubs and Family Groups just learning - If you are in driving distance, or can get there otherwise, send an observer to see how the sport really should be played. Best of luck to all, Faugh au Ballaugh !! Michael Moloney 914 207 3026, 914 613 9080 David Powell 202 387 1680, 202 905 1959 (cell) wdp320@aol
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:23:27 +0000