Megan grabs under-25 pairs glory at Irish finals

Megan Wilson was the only member of the Ballymena Ladies team to have qualified for the finals and she took part in the Under 25 Pairs along with her close friend Chloe Watson from Comber Bowling Club.

In the final Megan and Chloe took on Clare McCaw and Rachel McDonald (Ballymoney) and it was the Ballymoney pair who made the better start when they scored 3 singles over the first 3 ends.

The Watson/Wilson combination did not panic and they opened their account with 2 shots on the 4th end. A further 3 shots followed over the next 2 ends and they claimed a maximum count of 4 shots on the 7th end to take control of the game.

The Ballymoney pair rallied briefly over the next few ends and with 14 ends played the margin was 6 shots with the score Watson/Wilson 14 McCaw/McDonald 8. The Watson/Wilson combination however were in determined mood and they scored 7 shots over the next 4 ends to take an unassailable 13 shot lead with 3 ends still to go and they ran out deserved winners with the final score 21-8.

Winning the title now means that Megan and Chloe will go on to represent Ireland in the British Isles Championships in Jersey June 2014, however Chloe also won the Under 25 singles title so Megan will have to look for a new partner to take with her next year.

IBA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Still on a representative theme, the National Championships take place at Larne Bowling Club this weekend.

On Friday, the semi finals take place with the finals on Saturday. This year Steven Shields and Jim Baker are back to defend their Pairs title.

The Ballymena men will have to have an early night on Thursday as their semi final match against A Tennant and A Paul (Ballymoney) commences at 9.00am on Friday.

Ballymena Bowling Club would like to wish the Braid pair every success in the Championships.