Sports round-up from across north Antrim - snooker, bowls, darts, pigeons, athletics

Potters side claim honours in Ballymena Snooker League
Amalgamated Team of 4th Ballymoney, Mosside and 2nd Ballymoney at the Senior Route Battalion Boys' Brigade  5 aside competition held in Our Lady Of Lourdes School in Ballymoney.Amalgamated Team of 4th Ballymoney, Mosside and 2nd Ballymoney at the Senior Route Battalion Boys' Brigade  5 aside competition held in Our Lady Of Lourdes School in Ballymoney.
Amalgamated Team of 4th Ballymoney, Mosside and 2nd Ballymoney at the Senior Route Battalion Boys' Brigade 5 aside competition held in Our Lady Of Lourdes School in Ballymoney.

The final week of matches in the Ballymena and District Snooker saw both Divisions being decided with Potters club from Coleraine emerging as Divison 1 champions and Potters Elite grabbing the Division 2 title.

In Division 1 Potters went into their last game at home to Minnesota Strikers needing only a point to win the league. Strikers required a hefty 4-0 win to turn the league in their favour on frame difference. The dream ended almost immediately for the Ballymena side as Potters Sean Gray proved too strong for Bill McKane on his way to a 2-0 win.

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Gary McAleese drew Minnesota level but wins for Adrian Toner and Marc Hutchinson ensured Potters would be worthy champions.

Elsewhere in Division 1 Minnesota B found a bit of form on their way to a 4-0 win at Dunloy United and Minnesota Rockets finished with a 2-2 draw at home to Potters Hotshots.

In Division 2 Potters Elite knew a draw at Parochial Hawks would be enough to win the league and they duly acquired the necessary two points. Elite captain Adrian Boreland and Lee Hull both won for Elite with Simon Black and an on-form Niall McElroy scoring points for the Hawks.

Seagulls Potters took fourth spot in Division 2 after a comfortable 4-0 success over the Allstars team in Coleraine.

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Two knockout competitions and an individual competition will bring the curtain down on the BDSL season.

North Antrim

Bowling League

Fixtures for Fri 7/3/14 League week 14

Ma Kelly’s v Bush House

Blackwater House v Joey’s Bar 3

Joey’s Bar v Joey’s Flight’s

Kelly’s Own v Bye

Diamond Bar v Royal British Legion

* Wed 5/3/14 League meeting in Kelly’s Bar all team reps are ask to attend this meeting for 8-30pm sharp

Tenders for the Blind Pairs are required for this meeting

Ballymoney Darts League

Week O St. Pat’s & St. Brig. 1 Ballintoy 6

Ramoan 5 Loughguile 2

St. Olcan’s 0 Armoy 7

Week P Loughguile 7 St. Olcan’s 0

Armoy 7 St. P.& St.B. 0

Week R St. Pat’s&St. Brig. 1 Loughguile 6

St. Olcan’s 6 Ramoan 1

Cushendall 2 Ballycastle 5

Week U Armoy 6 Ballintoy 1

Played Points

Loughguile 12 63 1/2

Armoy 12 61

Ballintoy 10 51 1/2

Ballycastle 10 37

Cushendall 9 29 1/2

St. Olcan’s 12 26

Ramoan 12 25

St. Pat’s & St. Bri. 11 14 1/2

Northern Zone bowls

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The Northern Zone ran a very successful pairs tournament at Ballybrakes Stadium last Friday evening.

More than twenty clubs affiliated to the zone took part. The large crowd was entertained to some scintillating and skilful play. After some fifty six games it came down to the final where Andrew Sayers and Nigel Gamble took on Aidan Reid and Nicky McCaw.

The game swung from end to end and going into the last end Sayers and Gamble were 1 shot up. However with his last bowl McCaw carried the jack into the ditch to pick up two shots to win the game. Thanks to Chestnutt Animal Feeds who sponsored the prizes.

Thanks also to all the willing helpers who sold raffle tickets, laid and lifted the mats and especially to Bryan Shaw and Robert Armstrong for carrying out the umpiring duties. The President’s wife, Mrs. Betty McIlroy, presented the prizes to the winners and losers.

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This type of tournament could not be ‘played-off’ in one night other than at the stadium so again the zone committee thank the Ballybrakes Community Bowls Club for the use of their premises.

Pigeons roundup

COLERAINE PREMIER HPS – The Breeder/Buyer has been kindly sponsored by Frazer Animal Feeds, with a high number of youngsters promised from across Ireland and the UK there will have to be two sales. Please note the dates Monday 17th March and Monday 31st March in the local clubrooms. Those wishing to donate should contact 07543 970493 or any club member.

INFC – The AGM took place in Lisburn Leisure Centre on Saturday 1st March at 2.00pm, all three items on the Agenda easily carried on the vote. Entry Forms for the Single Bird Challenge were enclosed with the AGM Agenda, a free entry once again and a pay-out of £2,000. We had a fantastic entry last year with the Joe Doheny Cup won by Billy McCaw (Ballymoney), in the Kings Cup race from St Allouestre. Return the entry sheet to David Black, 11 Drumiller Hill, Dromore, Co Down BT25 1EP before 17th March. All Membership Forms for the 2014 season must be back with the Secretary by 28th April, there is no late date for joining. A club application is the best way to join however If required individual forms can be downloaded from the INFC Website www.infc.co.uk

The agreed race programme for 2014 is as follows: Tuesday 27th May Skibbereen North, Wednesday 11th June Yearling Sennen Cove, Friday 4th July Grand Nat Kings Cup St Allouestre, Friday 11th July Friendship OB Nat Quimper, Wednesday 3rd September YB Grand Nat Penzance, Saturday 20th September YB Skibbereen North.

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North Coast Classic – The One Loft Race based in Coleraine are up and running for the new race season. Entry Forms can be downloaded from the Website in the Race Info Section, it can be put in the post if requested. Contact Sean Tel: 07548 607756 or Willie Tel: 07709 089233.

Meetings arranged for Mid Antrim - The Harryville Clubrooms will be the venue for the AGM of Mid Antrim Combine, note the date Wednesday 12th March at 8.00pm. Two Delegates from each member club to vote on proposals, usual items listed on Agenda. 1. Minutes of last AGM. 2. Passing of Accounts. 3. Correspondance. 4. Any other business 2013. 5. Meeting to follow. Election of officials will be included, for the last number of years it has been Chairman Robert Service (Harryville) and Secretary George McDowell (Kells & Dist).

Springwell athletes in action

On Saturday, nearly one hundred runners turned out for the final race of the Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail Series; on this occasion, athletes faced a 10 mile course around Lough Fea, just outside Cookstown.

City of Derry’s Allan Bogle, winner of Race 1 in the Series, returned to win the ten miler in 56:23.

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After a disappointing outing at the Stormont Cross Country last week Karen Alexander (Sperrin Harriers) was back to her best, as she made it five wins from five races as she cruised to victory in 1:04:30.

Thomas Moore was the first Springwell Runner home in 1:06:23 followed by Jim Breen 1:08:51 (1st M55), Gerard Mullan 1:09:16 and Conor McStravick making his first appearance in Springwell colours 1:18:20.

Jim Breen’s picked up the series prize in the M55 age category with a clean sweep of victories in the five races.

The Albertville 5 Mile Road Race, an event which signifies the beginning of the road racing season in Northern Ireland took place at Duncrue Industrial Estate on Saturday. The annual race caused quite a stir amongst the running community, with the unexpected appearance of Irish International and double European Cross Country Champion, Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC).

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Last year’s winner Brendan Teer (East Down AC) dominated proceedings in the men’s race powering clear of the field in the early stages to cross the line first and retain his title in 25:47.

Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) was amongst the lead pack throughout the race, and clocked an excellent 26:43 to win the ladies race comfortably and fifth place overall.

Springwell had two representatives at the race. Bryan Edgar had an excellent run to cross the line in 29:16 and Gemma Turley finished 4th lady in 31:52.

* A crisp, sunny morning welcomed the athletes to the opening Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association fixture for 2014 at Slieve Gullion Mountain on Saturday. The 3.9 mile course, which included 340 metres of ascending, was won by the in-form Seamus Lynch (Newcastle AC) in 31:58. Dromore’s Diane Wilson continued her unbeatable form from the last campaign to win the ladies race in 38:07.  

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Colin Brennan was Springwell’s sole representative at the race finishing 22nd in 40:11.

* Springwell’s Gary Kendall and Kay Hack travelled to Northumberland on Saturday for the Coastal Trail Series Half Marathon at Bamburgh Castle. The off road course was a mix of lovely beaches, golf courses and sand dunes. Gary completed the course in 1:51:09 and Kay in 2:18:19.

* Portrush parkrun

Parkrun tourists from Ormeau, Waterworks and ECOS parkruns boosted the number of runners to 84 at Portrush Parkrun on Saturday. Apart from the cool temperatures, conditions were almost perfect and the high tide at 6.18am meant there was plenty of sand to run on by the 9.30am start.

Springwell’s Chris Denton was first home in 18:29 and Julie Murphy of Lagan Valley AC was first lady home in a PB time of 19:57. Chris and Julie also achieved the best age graded scores for their respective categories.

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Donna Hughes (24:58) completed her 50th parkrun, taking it to 6 Portrush parkrunners who have now achieved this target.

There were 16 first timers, 18 PB’s and representatives from seven different athletics clubs taking part.

Springwell Times - Chris Denton 18:29, Glenn Millar 18.58 (PB), Andrew Dowey 19:06 (PB), Sonia Knox 20:01, Karen McLaughlin 21:33, Robert Workman 22:04, Mervyn Thompson 22:11, Alex Curran 22:53, Jean-Claude Bourgeois 24:52, Sarah Chestnutt 25:50, Cathy Barr 27:44 (PB), Margaret Edgar 27:55, Nicole Higgins 31:52, Ross & Noah Armstrong 39:38  (Noah 39:36 PB).

Springwell’s Judith Smyth completed her first parkrun at ECOS in 32:07.

* Roe Valley Country Park Trail Run

Springwell Running Club in association with Northern Ireland Environment Agency will be hosting the Roe Valley Country Park Trail Run on Saturday 8 March.

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