The Ballagh and Bree take honours in fitting climax to Wexford bowls season

SPLENDID BOWLING was seen at the Active Retirement two-day tournament in Clayton Whites Hotel recently.

After two long days of competition, The Ballagh Red team were the winners of the main trophy, while Bree took the honours in the shield event.

The tournament was superbly organised by county Chairman Paddy Breen and bowls Secretary Ray Fick with the assistance of all the teams. It was a fitting climax to the bowling season which will resume again in September.

Play on day one saw teams vying for places in the two divisions for day two, and those who achieved the aim of getting into the trophy division were Ballagh Red, Slaneyside, Gorey Silvers, Oulart and the two teams from New Ross, Alpha and Beta.

That left nine teams in the shield division consisting of Bree, Barrowsiders (New Ross), Gorey Gold, Ferns Fighters, Ferns Warriors, Kilmore Seals, Kilmore Gulls, Slaney Pride (Enniscorthy) and Ballagh Black.

The trophy division saw the league champions, Ballagh Red, win with 20 points, and Slaneyside clinched the runner-up spot on 18 points.

The surprise in this division was the fact that neither of the New Ross teams made any major impact at any stage of day two, but such is the expectations on a once-off day when anything can happen to any team.

In the shield it was the final game of the day that decided that Bree would win as they beat Ferns Warriors in the last game to jump from second to first to triumph with 24 points.

The third New Ross team, Barrowsiders, played superbly to clinch the runner-up spot with 20 points.

It should be noted that Bree were the only team on day two from both divisions to win all their matches, so they were worthy of their final position.

It certainly was a fitting finale to the season, and afterwards the presentations were made for both the winter league and Whites tournament. Paddy Breen made the presentations with Noel Howlin doing M.C.

The Charlie Christopher award for the best player that he saw in the league went to Liz O’Leary of Enniscorthy.

Thanks were expressed to Clayton Whites Hotel for the facilities and for the voucher, and to Anne Slater and Dave Hart for trophies. Thanks were also expressed to all the associations that supported the bowls over the season.

A surprise and popular presentation was made to bowls Secretary Ray Fick for all his hard work by Jamie Grangel on behalf of all the teams in the county.

Bree Active Retirement Club, winners of the shield final, Theresa Dixon, John Adam, Janet Adam, John Denhan, county chairman Paddy Breen, Bridie Walsh and Betty Butler.

Runners up in the shield final, Barrowside Club members Sam Brickley, John Halpin, Claire Delaney, county chairman Paddy Breen and John Foley.

Members of Shannon Bowling Club, Lily Butler, Kathleen Cloke, player of the year Elizabeth O’Leary, Mary O’Neill and Nuala Healy.

The Ballagh Red team, winners of the Wexford Bowls trophy final, Cathy Harte, Eithne McCabe, Susan Davis and Annette O’Connor.

Player of the Year Elizabeth O’Leary from Shannon Bowling Club accepting her trophy and cert from Paddy Breen and Charles Christopher.