Outdoor season officially underway for Ballymena bowlers

It was up to the new Ballymena Bowling Club President, Mr John Coulter and the new Ladies President, Mrs Iris Millar to deliver the first bowl of the season, and there was a good turnout of members to help celebrate the official start to the season.

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, April 2, at 7.30 pm sharp at the Club to pick selectors for four Ballymena Teams – Seniors, Juniors, Senior Park and Midweek. A good turnout of members who want to play Saturday or Wednesday bowls is requested so that they can have their say in who actually takes on the important role of selecting the various teams.

LADIES’ UNDER-25 SINGLES

The 2013 season started off with some disappointing news when the Ballymena Club, who were due to host the Ladies Under 25 International Series were informed that the competition had been moved to England as the teams from across the water had concerns with regard to the ‘flags dispute’.

This year however the Ladies Under 25 International Series returns to Ireland and Ballymena Bowling Club will host the event. The Club had the honour of hosting the event 5 years ago and it was a great success. There should be some local interest in the event as Ballymena’s Megan Wilson, who won the Under 25 Ladies Pairs title last year (along with Chloe Watson from Comber Bowling Club) is hoping to compete in the event which will take place from July 18-20.

SENIORS

Ballymena Seniors will be aiming for a fourth Senior League Division One title in a row after overhauling Belmont in a thrilling finish to last year’s league campaign.

This year in the first round of the Irish Senior Cup the Seniors have a bye and in the second round they have a home tie against Ballywalter. In the NIPGL Cup the Seniors entertain NICS.

Fixtures (NIPGL Senior League Division 1) 26/04/14 Bye, 03/05/14 Pickie (H), 10/05/14 Dunbarton (A), 17/05/14 Old Bleach (H), 24/05/14 Ewarts (A), 03/06/14 Falls (A), 07/06/14 Ulster Transport (H), 14/06/14 Larne (H), 21/06/14 Belmont (A), 28/06/14 Bye, 01/07/14 Forth River (H), 05/07/14 Pickie (A), 19/07/14 Willowfiled (A), 22/07/14 Ewarts (H) 26/07/14 Old Bleach (A), 29/07/14 Forth River (A), 02/08/14 Dunbarton (H), 16/08/14 Ulster Transport (A), 23/08/14 Falls (H), 30/08/14 Larne (A), 06/09/14 Belmont (H) and 13/09/14 Willowfield (H).

JUNIORS

2013 was another excellent year for Ballymena Juniors who retained the Irish Junior Cup when they defeated Downpatrick and they also won the NIPGL Junior Cup when they claimed victory against Pickie.

In this year’s Irish Junior Cup the Ballymena men have a bye however in the second round they will travel to either Ormeau or Ewarts. In the NIPGL Junior Cup the Juniors will also be on their travels when they go to Hilden.

Fixtures (NIPGL Junior League Division 1) 26/04/14 Mossley (A), 03/05/14 Pickie (A), 10/05/14 Dunbarton (H), 17/05/14 Old Bleach (A), 24/05/14 Downpatrick (H), 31/05/14 Falls (H), 07/06/14 Ulster Transport (A), 14/06/14 Larne (A), 21/06/14 Belmont (H), 28/06/14 Mossley )H), 05/07/14 Pickie (H), 22/07/14 Downpatrick (A) 26/07/14 Old Bleach (H), 02/08/14 Dunbarton (A), 16/08/14 Ulster Transport (H), 23/08/14 Falls (A), 30/08/14 Larne (H), 06/09/14 Belmont (A).

SENIOR PARK

(NIPGL Senior League Division 3) 26/04/14 Cavehill (A), 03/05/14 Nortel (A), 10/05/14 North Belfast (H), 17/05/14 Malone (A), 24/05/14, Saintfield (H), 31/05/2014 Knock (H), 07/06/14 Gallaher (A), 14/06/14, Albert Foundry (A), 21/06/14 PSNI (H), 28/06/14 Cavehill (H), 01/07/14Shaftesbury (A), 05/07/14 Nortel (H), 19/07/14 Belfast (A), 26/07/14 Malone (H), 29/07/14 Shaftesbury (H), 2/08/14 North Belfast (A), 16/08/14 Gallaher (H), 23/08/14 Knock (A), 30/08/14 Albert Foundry (H), 06/09/14 PSNI (A) and 13/09/14 Belfast (H).

MIDWEEK

(NIPGL Midweek Division 1) 30/04/14 Pickie (A), 07/05/14 Willowfield (H), 14/05/14 Dunbarton (A), 21/05/14 Ewarts (A), 28/05/14 NICS (H), 04/06/14 Belmont (A), 11/06/14 Ulster Transport (H), 18/06/14 Ballywalter (A), 25/06/14 Nortel (H), 02/07/14 Mossley (H), 23/07/14 Downpatrick (A), 30/07/14 Ards (H), 06/08/14 Larne (H), 13/08/14 Falls (H), 20/08/14 Knock (A).

LADIES

(PTWBA Senior League) 23/04/14 Dunluce (H), 30/04/2014 Limavady (A), 07/05/14 Londonderry (A), 14/05/14 Portstewart (H), 21/05/14 Coleraine (H), 28/05/14 Magherafelt (H), 04/06/14 Ballymoney (A), 11/06/14 Dunluce (A), 25/06/14 Limavady (H), 02/07/14 Londonderry (H), 9/07/14 Portstewart (A), 30/07/14 Coleraine (A), 06/08/14 Magherafelt (A) and 20/08/14 Ballymoney (H).