John proves he’s Quinn it to win it at Jim Baker Stadium!

The finals night of the County Antrim singles tournament took place at the Jim Baker Stadium last week.
Finalists in the W&M Lormier indoor shot mat bowls tournament, held at the Jim Baker Stadium, are pictured with tournament directors Robert McCullough and Darren McCullough, and stadium manager Rod Coleman. INBT43-210ACFinalists in the W&M Lormier indoor shot mat bowls tournament, held at the Jim Baker Stadium, are pictured with tournament directors Robert McCullough and Darren McCullough, and stadium manager Rod Coleman. INBT43-210AC
Finalists in the W&M Lormier indoor shot mat bowls tournament, held at the Jim Baker Stadium, are pictured with tournament directors Robert McCullough and Darren McCullough, and stadium manager Rod Coleman. INBT43-210AC

Eleven players returned on finals night with a high class field all hoping to follow Ian Hobson in winning this tournament

After the draw was completed the three preliminary games got underway

David Beattie (Drumgor} drew the short straw in facing the current irish singles champion Raymond Stubbs (Ballinderry).

This was a high quality game with Beattie drawing shot with the last bowl of the game to record a 7-6 win.

Due to the nature of the open draw, two club-mates met in the next preliminary with Joe Beattie and Aidan Corrigan (both Drumgor} facing each other. This was another game of the very highest level with Joe recording a 9-8 win to qualify for the quarter finals.

The final preliminary contest saw Uel Gordon (Ballinrees) in opposition to Chris Trainor (St Anthonys). Uel played a very consistent drawing game to qualify and maintained this standard as despite the best efforts of Chris he recorded an 11-4 win to progress

The quarter finals saw a game with more than progression in the tournament at stake as Joe and David Beattie faced each other in the first game. Joe dominated the contest and didnt show much brotherly love in recording an 8-0 win.

The second Quarter final saw Uel Gordon in opposition to Cecil Dillon (Armagh Golf Club). This was an absorbing contest with the armagh man holding a 2 shot lead going into the last end before Uel played an exceptional last bowl to record a count of 3 and move through to the semi final.

The bottom half of the draw saw John Quinn (Ballylennon) in opposition to Brian Trimble (St Brigid’s Glengormley). play was tight in the early stages of the game but as the contest wore on John took a measure of control as he was able to record a 9-4 win.

The last quarter final saw Noel Graham (Loughaghrey Pres) in opposition to Glen Smith (Cookstown High). again this was a tight contest in the early sages of the game but the drawing accuracy and consistency of noel saw him take control to record 8-2 win.

The first semi final saw Joe Beattie in opposition to Uel Gordon. Joe was maintaining his excellant form in the Baker stadium tournamnets have won the pairs in the first year and now reaching his second successive semi final in the singles.

Both players were drawing to a very high standard in this contest with the lead changing hands on a regular basis with the game going to a tied end. Uel prevailed to qualify for the final.

The bottom half of the draw saw another exciting game with John Quinn in oppostion to Noel Graham. John took a measure of control in this contest and closed the game oput with a comfortable 8-3 win.

This meant a final that featured two men who had qualified on the same section evening so only the luck of the draw had kept them apart in the tournament to this stage.

John took control straight away with a count of 4 before Uel recorded a 2. John went throught the gears at this point and moved away with some heavy scoring. Despite Uels best efforts John Quinn recorded a comprehensive 13-4 win to be crowned the second winner of the co. antrim open singles.

Robert McCullough (tournament organiser) thanked all who had made the tournament a success, especially the sponsor W& M Lorimer and all those who had umpired or marked games during the tournament.

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