Lady bowlers make history
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Sarah Jane Coleman and Ashley Rainey, winners of the British Isles U25 Pairs championships, which were held recently in Cardiff. Sarah Jane is a member of the Ballymena Bowling Club, while Ashley is a member of Antrim Lawn Bowling Club. GA314001PMG
Local girls Ashleigh and Sarah-Jane become first Irish ladies to win British pairs title
Lady bowlers make history
TWO local lady bowlers made history this week becoming the first Irish ladies to lift the u-25 British Isles Pairs crown at the Junior International Bowling Championships.
Sarah-Jane Coleman from Parkgate and Ashleigh Rainey from Antrim were the toast of the women's Irish squad on Monday July 21 when they produced two sensational matches to lift the coveted trophy.
The prestigious tournament and highlight of the lawn bowls calendar took place in Penarth, Cardiff at the renowned Windsor Park Bowling Club.
In the semi-final the young duo produced the goods beating defending champions and firm favourites from Scotland in straight sets (9-4, 10-6).
In the final, despite home advantage, the strong pairing from Wales met a similar fate being brushed aside in straight sets again.
Sarah-Jane, the daughter of local bowls enthusiast Rod Coleman, described the moment they clinched their 'shock' victory saying: "I can't really remember much about it, it's all a big blur now.
“All the girls came running on to the green and started hugging us.
“Dad came out, lifted me up and twirled me around. Our team manager was in tears, it was all the emotions in one.
"It was quite a shock and now I wish I taken it all in."
Bowling partner, Ashleigh Rainey said: "We didn't realise what we had achieved until people said to us later 'do you know you are the first people from Ireland to win the British Isles pairs?'
“We really didn't expect to win especially when we had to play the defending champions in the semi-final. It will probably take a few weeks for it to really sink in."
This is only the fourth year Sarah-Jane has been competing in bowls, with partner Ashleigh even newer to the sport with just two years under her belt.
Still wet behind the ears the 23-year-olds have taken the British bowling scene by storm.
The current Irish indoor U-25 champions can now add this latest triumph to their list of accolades.
Sarah-Jane said: "We won the Irish indoor U-25 trophy back in March of this year and have just gone from strength to strength."
Unfortunately the World stage only beckons for the individual competition meaning the girls have all but reached the pinnacle of their discipline at such an early age.
Both are now hoping to break into the senior Irish team to test their mettle against the very best.
But before that happens, the newly-crowned Champions will be looking to defend their title when the International Championship comes to Ballymena next year.
Ashleigh said: "Sarah-Jane will be President of Ballymena Ladies Club next year so we
