Wilkinson wins to lift title for a fourth time

The County Antrim player defeated Jennifer Dowds, from the Provincial Towns 21-18 in a thrilling final.

It’s the fourth time Wilkinson has lifted the trophy. She stressed it was one of the toughest finals she had been involved in.

Both players will now represent Ireland in the World Indoor Bowls Council Championships at Auckinleck in April.

“I’m thrilled with the victory,” said Muriel.

“It was a very hard fought game, as you would expect against a player of Jennifer’s pedigree.”

Unfortunately, it turned into a horrible weekend for Dowds due to the fact that she also lost out in the pairs and triples.

She teamed up with her Provincial colleague Maise Stewart in the former, but they were beaten at the semi final stage by Belfast’s Moya McGuile and Sandra Bailie.

Dowds did manage to skip her combination to the final of the triples. However, again she was forced to endure a dose of agony as Molly Scott, Moya McGuile and Patricia Smyth went on to lift the crown, winning 16-11.

Scott and Smyth were also part of the rink that triumphed in the fours. Joined by Marie Torney and Sandra Bailie, the Belfast side scored a 21-17 win over the County Antrim combination skipped by Anne Craig.

McGuile and Bailie also made it a memorable winning double. They defeated County Antrim’s young duo, Ashleigh Rainey and Sarah Jane Coleman 24-11 in the pairs decider.

Meanwhile, Rainey lifted the Uuder-25 singles title following an impressive 21-9 win over her Irish international colleague Cliodhna Eadie.

The victory also helped the young County Antrim player gain a little revenge following her defeat by the same opponent in last season’s final.

Results – semi finals: Singles: Esther Myles (BIBC2) 3 Jennifer Dowds (PTIBC) 21. Anita Stanney (BIBC1) 1 Muriel Wilkinson (CAIBC) 21.

Final: Wilkinson 21 Dowds 18.

Pairs: Maise Stewart, Jennifer Dowds (PTIBC) 19 Moya McGuile, Sandra Bailie (BIBC1) 22. Chiodhna Eadie, Vera McCourt (BIBC2) 17 Ashleigh Rainey, Sarah-Jane Coleman (CAIBC) 21.

Final: Bailie 24 Coleman 11.

Triples: Lily McKillop, Ann McClelland, Jennifer Dowds (PTIBC) 18 Anne McKenna, Valerie Wilson, Karen Woodside (BIBC2) 12. Molly Scott, Moya McGuile, Patricia Smyth (BIBC1) 17 Wilma Adair, Ada Pauley, Marie McCord (CAIBC) 10.

Final: Dowds 11 Smyth 16.

Fours: Maureen Robinson, Pat Calvin, Barbara Logue, Alice Elliott (PTIBC) 19 Liz White, Donna Meneely, Myrtle McAuley, Anne Craig (CAIBC) 20. Jan Bramley, Greta Jeffers, Gladys Taylor, Babs Armstrong (BIBC1) 17 Molly Scott, Marie Torney, Patricia Smyth, Sandra Bailie (BIBC2) 21.

Final: Craig 19 Bailie 22

Under-25 singles finals: Cliodhna Eadie (BIBC) 9 Ashleigh Rainey (CAIBC) 21.