Ladies fall at the final hurdle
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Antrim Lawn Bowling Club Ladies, Wilma Adair and Joyce Lithco, who reached the final of the Irish Bowls Championships.
ANTRIM Lawn Bowling Club Ladies, Wilma Adair and Joyce Lithco, failed in their bid to win their first Irish Pairs title at Belmont Bowling Club last weekend.
After winning the Northern Ireland Women's Bowling Association Pairs title for the first time at Divis Bowling Club a fortnight ago the ladies went into the Irish Championships hoping to bring the Irish title to Allen Park for the first time.
However, it wasn't to be as the Antrim pair fell at the final hurdle, being beaten by Bernie O'Neill and Margaret Campbell from Portstewart Bowling Club representing the Provincial Towns Bowling Association in a fraught final..
It was the second time that both Wilma and Joyce had graced the Irish Championships after winning the NIWBA triples title with Margaret Evans a few years back. On that occasion the ladies failed to make it past the semi-final stage so this time were hoping to go one better by defeating their Bowling League of Ireland opposition as they took to the Belmont Bowling Green.
The Antrim pairing found their line and length right from the start as they produced top-class bowls in the early stages, and the form they kept throughout, the BLI pair had no answer for. They made it through to that first Irish Final and be one step closer of making it into the Antrim Lawn Bowls Club history books.
But 24 hours later it was a different story as they could not produce the same form from the previous day against the experienced Portstewart pairing, as Irish International O'Neill made it an Irish Championship double adding the pairs to the singles title she had won earlier that day.
But even in defeat the Antrim Lawn pairing can be proud of their achievements this season, because to reach an Irish final is not an easy fate by any means. To finish this season as the second top pair in Ireland is something to look back on with real pride.
It was great to see the ladies even win through to the Irish championships by lifting the NIWBA pairs title after losing in the final on a tied end 12 months ago, so the old saying 'what a difference a year makes' proved true.
Playing in her first Irish final was a special moment for Joyce Lithco as she told the Guardian this week.
“It was the second time I had played in the championships but the first time I had reached a final after being beaten in the last four last time around. So to go that step further into the final is certainly something I could never have dreamed of.
“To be honest I never thought I would get a second chance to play in the Irish Championships so to win through once again was a dream come true.
“It was also great winning the NIWBA pairs title after being beaten in the final last season it's been a season to remember for me and it's one I will not forget for a very long time."
It wasn't all gloom though on the weekend for Antrim Lawn Bowling Club as young Ashley Rainey won the Irish Under 25 Singles Title for the first time and followed that up later in the day by retaining the Irish Under 25 Pairs title with partner Sarah Jane Coleman of Ballymena Bowling Club.
