West Church pairs finals tonight

THE annual West Church Ballymena Indoor Bowls Tournament reaches its conclusion tonight (Tuesday) after a busy opening week.

The Tournament is again sponsored by P&O Irish Sea and in spite of the wintry weather has been well supported with entries from all over Co. Antrim and as far away as Dromore and Bangor Belfast Cookstown and Bushmills.

Heat 1 winners were local father and son pair Stephen and David Dunlop, Carnlea. In the semi final they met Dunneane pair Gerald McLarnon and David McVicker and in the final another Dunneane pair Gary Richardson and Bertie Kerr. Both matches ended 10 shots to 4.

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Former winners of the tournament Dunluce pair Hugh Mc Callum and Uel McKeeman were in great form in Heat 2.

They beat Glarryford pair Nigel Gamble and Mark McCullough in a tightly fought semi final match by 8 shots to 5, the significant end being the seventh which McKeeman won by 3 shots.

The Dunluce pair had a relatively easier match in their heat final winning by 10 shots to 4 against Dunclug pair David Calderwood and Robert Neeson who again did not show the form of earlier rounds.

Kilwaughter pair A McLean and J Semple won Heat 3 in convincing style with wins of 9 shots to 5 over Alistair McCullough and Tom Morrison, 1st. Ahoghill, in the semi final and James Gage and Willy Reid, Cullybackey Methodist, in the final by 8 shots to 4.

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Heat 4 was dominated by West Church pair Graham Wilson and Sam Hall who were in superb form in all their matches. In the semi final they had a convincing 11 shots to 3 win over John and Sheila Smith, Services Club.

The final looked like it would be a tight tussle but David Thompson and Brian Trimble, St. Bridgids lost the form of their earlier rounds to go down by 12 shots to 2.

As expected, Ballinderry brothers Gordon and Raymond Stubbs played some wonderful bowls to win Heat 5 in style. In their semi final Ivan Craig and James Gaston, Towers, never really got going and in spite of some very tight ends lost to the Stubbs by 15 shots. The final was a tighter affair but in the end Andrew Duncan and David Shields. 2nd Donegore went down by 9 shots to 4.

It was a family affair in heat 6 won by Ken Shirley and nephew Arron Tennent, St. Colmans.

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In the semi final the St. Colmans pair had difficult match against Margo and Herbie Mc Cullough, Grange, but won by the narrow margin of 9 shots to 6 in a game that went right to the last bowl.

In the final Brendan McCusker and Henry Graham, Moneyglass, could not find their earlier form and went down by 7 shots.

Heat 1

Semi Finals: J Mullan and J Clarke, 1st. Ballmena ,lost to B Richardson and B Kerr, Duneane, 6-3; G Mc Larnon and D Mc Vicker, Duneane, lost to S and D Dunlop, Glarryford, 10-4. Final: S and D Dunlop beat Richardson and Kerr 10-4

Heat 2

Semi finals: I Craig and J Duncan, 2nd. Donegore lost to D Calderwood and R Neeson, Dunclug, 9-4; N Gamble and M Montgomery lost to H McCallum and U McKeeman, Dunluce, 8-5. Final - Mc Callum and Mc Keeman won 10-4

Heat 3

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Semi Finals: A Mc Cullough and T Morrison, 1st. Ahoghill, lost to A Mc Lean and J Semple, Kilwaughter, 9-5; W and I Adams. Glarryford lost to W Reid and J Gage, Cullybackey Methodist 9-3. Final - Semple and Mc Lean beat Reid and Gage 8-4.

Heat 4

Semi Finals: E and G Woods, Raloo, lost to D Thompson and B Trimble, St Bridgids, 10-5; J and S Smith, Services Club, lost to G Wilson and S Hall, West Church, 11-2. Final - Wilson and Hall beat Thompson and Trimble 12-2.

Heat 5

Semi Finals: B Kane and B Smith, Benvarden, lost to A Duncan and D Shields, 2nd Dunegore, 8-7; I Craig and J Gaston, Towers, lost to G and R Stubbs by 15 shots. Final - Stubbs beat Duncan and Shields 9-4.

Heat 6

Semi finals: P Neeson and P Donnelly, Cliftonville, lost to H Graham and B Mc Cusker, Moneyglass 8-6; H and M Mc Cullough, Grange, lost to A Tennent and K Shirley, St. Colmans, 9-6. Final - Tennent and Shirley won 10-3.