Fitting finale to Lurgan bowlers' season

Lurgan members, guests and supporters helped close the campaign in style on Saturday.
Stephen McCann (right, Lurgan Credit Union Ltd chairman) at the presentation of the mixed pairs' Lurgan 400 Anniversary Challenge Trophy to, from left, Gerry Stewart, Gordon Whitehead, John Gilliland and Rosemairi Bingham.Stephen McCann (right, Lurgan Credit Union Ltd chairman) at the presentation of the mixed pairs' Lurgan 400 Anniversary Challenge Trophy to, from left, Gerry Stewart, Gordon Whitehead, John Gilliland and Rosemairi Bingham.
Stephen McCann (right, Lurgan Credit Union Ltd chairman) at the presentation of the mixed pairs' Lurgan 400 Anniversary Challenge Trophy to, from left, Gerry Stewart, Gordon Whitehead, John Gilliland and Rosemairi Bingham.

Honorary secretary Jeffrey McCullough and honorary treasurer Dan Dempsey helped to steer the final event in the park venue.

A key presentation was made for £500 by gents’ president Melvyn Hamilton and ladies’ president Maura McGoldrick to Sarah Breen, a fundraiser for Friends Of The Cancer Centre.

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Breen offered thanks to the members for “such a generous donation” and explained the importance of support from sports clubs and other organisations due to a lack of government funding. Her speech also included a breakdown of the wide-ranging areas funded by the charity.

Following the donation to his selected charity, Hamilton offered a warm welcome to the day.

Thanks go to Larry Dougan of Brackey’s restaurant for sponsoring the afternoon tea provided by the club’s ladies’ section.

Special mention by the gents’ president went to his fellow officers and Bowling Council members for such impressive assistance across the season.

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Reflecting on the various teams’ performances, Hamilton highlighted the ladies as ‘Team of the Year’, having finished in third place in the NIWBA Senior League, considered a best-ever outcome, alongside runners-up in the NIWBA Triples and Fours.

He also described the progress of the veterans, with one squad winning the NIVBL Stevenson Cup and home as Section 4A runners-up. The other panel lost out in the Thornton Cup final, with the Richardson Triples Trophy won by Alan Briggs’ triple.

The men’s seniors recovered from a difficult league start to find form across the second half towards a mid-table finish. He also praised the dedication of the B players across a season which ended with a return to NIBA Division Five.

Harry Cosgrove collected the Moutray’s Costcutter-sponsored 2-Bowl Singles Championship for the Boyes Cup. Alan Briggs, the runner-up was also presented with a reward.

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Cosgrove finished with the Beckett Cup thanks to the highest return of points across the club programme.

Maura McGoldrick won the ladies’ prize for Highest Score in the rinks, with Brigg the top gent.

The afternoon closed with the tradition lowering of the club flag supervised by the joint presidents, Hamilton and McGoldrick.

Lurgan’s club competitions provided some thrilling play across the season.

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John Gilliland, Gerry Stewart, Rosemairi Bingham and Gordon Whitehead won the mixed rinks competition for the Lurgan 400 Anniversary Challenge Trophy sponsored by Lurgan Credit Union Ltd.

Stewart was in as a substitute for Charlie Maguire, with the winning rink too strong for Harry Cosgrove, Bobby Boness, Daniel Gilliland and Irene Cunningham.

Stephen McCann, the chairman of the Lurgan Credit Union Ltd, made the presentation of prizes.

The gents’ president, Melvyn Hamilton, presented prizes as follows:

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The Hostge Shield - Will McCullough (substitute for Charlie Maguire), Mike Parr and Iris Anderson (Alan Brown & Co Insurers-sponsored Mixed Triples); The Falloon Cup - Harry Cosgrove, Rodney McCarthy and Rosemairi Bingham (runners-up).

The Ruddell Cup - John Gilliland and Peter Dew (Decor8/Roadside Motors Ltd-sponsored Open Pairs); The Ferguson Cup - Harry Cosgrove and Iain Ferguson (runners-up).

The Murphy Cup - Dan Dempsey (Dawson Manufacturing & Engineering-sponsored 4-Bowl Singles); The Alec Bushe Cup - John Gilliland (runner-up). Thanks go to Colin Dawson, managing director of sponsors.

The Rose Bowl Trophy - Angela Thompson and Joan Bunting (MCS Fuels/Trader D-sponsored Ladies’ Pairs); Mollie Ward and Irene Cunningham (runners-up).

Club officials would thank to the various sponsors for such loyal support across 2016, with special thanks to Dick McClune and his competitions’ committee.