Bronze medal for Reece

The 12 year old was selected to play for Ireland at the recent British Isles Under-18 Mixed Indoor Bowling Championships at Stanley Bowls Club, England.

Reece played in the singles and pairs and it was in the singles that he found his form and produced a performance to bring home a bronze medal. The Ireland team had only ever won one bronze at this event but on this occasion the triples won gold and Reece, winning the bronze, made it a very successful weekend.

In the quarter-final Reece met Shane Hill from Wales and after having lost the first set (11-6) had to battle back to win the second set (9-4). So it came down to the play-off which Reece won.

In the semi-final Reece played some great bowls although the scoreline (11-1) (12-1) would suggest that he was out bowled by England’s Ryan Atkins but this was not the case as young Reece played well.

Reece had to play England’s Edward Elmore in the third/fourth place play-off. Reece lost the first set (4-10) but he bounced straight back to level the match (10-4). Reece showed nerves of steel to produce the winner in the tied end to go home with the bronze.

“It was an unbelievable performance by the squad, way beyond all our expectations, Young Reece was magnificent. He produced a performance to defy his age. He’s the youngest player ever to win a medal in the four-year history of this tournament,” beamed the Irish boss Roy McCune.

Congratulations must go to Reece Millar on winning the bronze and to Jamie Brown, Jamie Watson and Stephen Coleman on winning Ireland’s first gold. What a year for Jim Magee President of the Association Irish Indoor Bowls with the young ones performance and the Senior team winning gold two weeks previous.