Teams for Cyprus

NI Teams for the 2019 Nations Cup in Cyprus in November will be hand picked by the relevant current Team Managers. Those Managers will be responsible for selecting the best teams available at the time before submitting them to the NIPA Executive Committee for confirmation and all Managers will be accountable for their Teams performance. Going forward it will be at a Managers discretion how he/she selects his/her Team ie hand picked, holding a Trial, percentages from previous event, Tour etc, or a mixture.

There is a lot to arrange so everyone's co-operation will be very much appreciated

Deadlines to meet

Friday 31st May - Teams to be submitted to the NIPA Committee by Managers

Wednesday 31st July - Travel booking/receipt to be confirmed to NIPA

Wednesday 31st July - 30% Accommodation deposit to be paid to NIPA

Playing days are 10th-16th November. Please arrange travel accordingly. 

Accommodation cannot be booked direct with Hotel or on any booking website. Please advise your Team Manager of your requirements.

Round up from Brid Week 2

Well, by now all the remaining of the near 100 total players, officials, family and friends that represented Team NI should be safely back home from the 2019 EBA Euros in Bridlington. As always it was a real roller coaster of highs and lows but team spirit amongst the players was very high as we mixed it with some of the best cueists in Europe.

MENS A
Written off by many, the guys that stood up to represent us were fantastic winning five out of nine matches. Qualified out of the Group only to lose to eventual Runners Up Malta in the Semi Final Play Off. Earlier we pushed eventual Winners Wales all the way only going down 13-12. Great experience on the biggest stage of all for the guys five out of the six having never played in the A Section before.
MENS B 
Finished eighth in a very tough thirteen team group, missing out on qualification. Five wins seven defeats two of which were by 11-10.
LADIES A
Qualified comfortably out of the Group in second spot behind England but agonisingly missed out on a Final spot after going down to Scotland by 13-12 in a tense Semi Final. But the disappointment was short lived as the girls roared on Emma Cunningham to victory in the Ladies Individual Final against Kerry Griffiths from England. This is the second year in a row Emma has taken Gold, can she do the hat trick ? I definitely wouldn't bet against it.
LADIES B
Finished bottom of Group with no wins. Couple of near misses but hopefully the girls can improve at their next event
SENIORS A
Qualified from Group but lost out in Semi Final Play Off by 13-10 to Malta. Some good performances though. Andy Arbuthnot reached the Seniors Individual Quarter Finals losing out to eventual Runner Up Derek Smyth from Ireland
SENIORS B
Finished eighth out of nine but were rewarded for their hard work and commitment with two wins in the Group stage
MASTERS A
Good campaign for the Masters A, qualified out of the Group at the expense of a very strong Ireland team. They led Scotland 4-1 in the Semi Final but eventually went down 13-9 missing out on a Final spot. Masters cueist Willie Eakin just missed out on Gold in the Individual as he made the Final with some fantastic performances, only to lose to Rob Tait from Wales.
MASTERS B
Five wins from nine seen our Masters B Team qualify for a Semi Final Play Off spot. But it wasn't to be as we lost out 13-9 to Scotland

We had some superb performances from a lot of players too many to mention, but here are the top gunners in each Section

BEST PERCENTAGES
MENS A - Lee McIlreavy (62.22% from 45 frames played)
MENS B - Alistair Wilson (66.67% from 36 frames played)
LADIES A - Emma Cunningham (75.00% from 40 frames played)
LADIES B - Jean McIlroy (46.67% from 30 frames played)
SENIORS A - Dan Clarke & Gee Crawley both 62.22% from 45 frames played each)
SENIORS B - Kevin Duffy (43.59% from 39 frames played)
MASTERS A - Brian Crilly (73.68 from 38 frames played)
MASTERS B - Alan Johnston (66.67% from 45 frames played)

MOST FRAMES WON
MENS A - Lee McIlreavy (28 wins, joint 4th in whole section)
MENS B - Alastair Wilson (24 wins, 2nd in whole section)
LADIES A - Emma Cunningham (30 wins, winner in whole section)
LADIES B - Jean McIlroy (14 wins)
SENIORS A - Dan Clarke & Gee Crawley (Both 28 wins)
SENIORS B - Kevin Duffy (17 wins)
MASTERS A - Stephen Johnston (39 wins, 2nd in whole section)
MASTERS B - Alan Johnston (30 wins, joint winner in whole section)

2019 EBA European Championship

All the links to what's happening at the 2019 EBA Euros will be on the EBA website at WWW.EBA-POOL.ORG

Play kicks off on Wednesday 1st May at 10.30am with the the Unders and Learning Disabilities Sections.

Mens, Seniors, Ladies & Masters start on Monday 6th May also at 10.30am

FIXTURES ~ LIVE FRAME BY FRAME SCORING ~ RESULTS ~ TABLES ~ STATS ~ LIVE STREAMING & MORE

Safe journeys to our Unders & Learning Disabilities

Wishing our Under 15s, Under 23s and Specials a great time in Bridlington at the 2019 EBA Euros as they travel out today with play starting tomorrow. But most of all safe journeys to all players, officials and family.

You can keep up to date with all the scores etc on LeagueAppLive, site name EBA

All links to the Championships on WWW.EBA-POOL.ORG

Update re NIPA International Selection process

After taking into consideration the short notice, the upcoming holiday period and members feedback regarding our recently announced selection process for our International Teams the Committee has decided to cancel the system. An announcement on Team selection going forward will be made soon.

Our condolences

The NIPA would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Darren Sterrett and the family circle on the passing of his dad Eric today after a battle with illness.

Bangor man, 73, was a stalwart of the NIPA for many, many years and was indeed still involved as our Masters 'A' Team Manager up until only a couple of years ago. He achieved a huge amount in Pool at both local League level and International level but probably his greatest honour was in captaining Northern Ireland in 1998 when we became World Champions for the first time.

Thinking of you all at this sad time.

Eric's funeral will take place on Friday 3rd May at 12.00 noon in S.Clark & Sons Funeral Home, 64 Newtownards Road, Bangor BT20 4DR

NI players warm up for Brid

Six five person teams took part in a pre Brid warm up today in the Q.Club, Sunday 28th April. Each team was given a handicap and it was played in a single group Round Robin format with the top four teams progressing to the Semi Finals. There were some great performances throughout the day but non better so than our Under 15 Team who showed maturity away above their young years. Before the Event started the NIPA remembered long time stalwart Eric Sterrett who passed away recently, with a minutes applause. Thanks to all the players for attending and to the Q.Club for hosting the event. Winners of our ballot were as follows -

1st Prize (£200 Drinks hamper - Alan Corrigan, Carrickfergus)
2nd Prize (Mens' Pamper Hamper - Sandy Burke, Larne)
3rd Prize (Ladies Pamper Hamper - Lorna Wood, Newry)
4th Prize (£50 Meal Voucher - Gary Clarke, Ballymena)

GROUP STANDINGS
8 - Under 23 Select
6 - Mens Select
6 - Under 15 Select
5 - Masters Select
4 - Seniors Select
1 - Ladies Select

SEMI FINALS
Mens Select 6-5 Under 15 Select
Masters Select 6-4 Under 23 Select

FINAL
Mens Select 6-4 Masters Select

Top photo
Our Under 15 Team enjoying their day pictured with NIPA Chairperson Pauline Lynch

Bottom Photo
Some of our Under 23 players who will travel out to Bridlington on Tuesday 30th April

Team NI Opening Fixtures

The fixtures are now out for the 2019 EBA European Championships for the Unders & Learning Disabilities Sections. Good luck to everyone and enjoy your trip to Bridlington !!

NI UNDER 23 'A' V Wales 'A'
NI UNDER 23 'B' V England 'B1'

NI UNDER 15 'A' V Ireland 'A'

NI SPECIALS 'A' V England 'A'
NI SPECIALS 'B' V NI Specials B1
NI SPECIALS 'B1' V NI Speacials 'B'

FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AT WWW.EBA-POOL.ORG

Team NI opening fixtures

The fixtures are out for the 2019 EBA European Championships for the Mens, Ladies, Seniors & Masters Sections. Good luck everyone !!

NI Mens 'A' V Wales
NI Mens 'B' V Ireland B2

NI Ladies 'A' V Gibraltar
NI Ladies 'B' V Wales

NI Seniors 'A' V England
NI Seniors 'B' V Scotland B1

NI Masters 'A' V Scotland
NI Masters 'B' V Gibraltar 'B'

Unders & Learning Disabilities fixtures to follow

FULL PROGRAMME ON THE EBA WEBSITE at WWW.EBA-POOL.ORG

Bridlington Warm Up

Just a wee reminder to Managers and Players travelling to Bridlington for the 2019 Euros that there will be a warm up held in the Q.Club on Sunday 28th April at 1.00pm. Winning team receives £100.

Casual dress

2019 NIPA Intermediate Individual Championship

THE BUTLER CLEANS UP

Big congratulations to Rab Butler on becoming the inaugural winner of the NIPA Intermediate Championship. Rab was solid all day coming through some tough matches to reach a Final pairing with Gary Wallace who was growing stronger as the day went on. But it wasn't to be for Gary and Rab who was never behind in the Final ran out the 7-2 winner to scoop the £335 top prize.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to our hosts the Q.Club.

In the photo - Winner Rab Butler (right) with Runner Up Gary Wallace

PRELIMS
Derek Whiteside (+2) 5-7 Matthew Quinn
Jordan McKee (+2) 7-6 Galvin McDermott
Lenny Swan 7-1 Alan Johnston
Raymond Stockman 7-3 Ryan Scott (+1)
Simon McKibben (+1) 5-7 Stephen Johnston
Emmet McGuire 7-4 Davy Magill (+1)
Huggy McAlister 7-4 Trevor Whiteside
Davy McGurn 5-7 Rab Butler
Stephen Ferris 2-7 Rodney McIlhinney
Scott Agnew 3-7 Pearce Sharratt
Bill McIlroy Jr 7-1 James Meredith (+1)
Stuart Dalzell (+1) 4-7 Chris Wade
Thomas Fleming (+2) w/o Colin Moore

LAST 32
Matthew Quinn 7-4 Jordan McKee (+2)
Lenny Swan 3-7 Raymond Stockman
Stephen Johnston 0-7 Emmet McGuire
Huggy McAlister (+1) 5-7 Rab Butler
Rodney McIlhinney (+1) 6-7 Pearce Sharratt
Bill McIlroy Jr 7-4 Chris Wade (+1)
Thomas Fleming (+2) 4-7 Ricky Clyde
Gavin McClements (+1) 7-1 John Kerr
Paul Harris (+1) 4-7 Ryan Marcus
Steven McGurn 7-3 Scott McClelland (+1)
Conor Marron (+1) 6-7 Anthony McCorry
Dean Reid (+1) 5-7 Neil McFaul
Gary Wallace 7-2 Alex Babb (+2)
Aaron Rolston 7-3 Paddy Mulholland (+1)
Lee McIlreavy 7-4 Kyle Kirkwood (+1)
Jean McIlroy (+2) 5-7 Tyler McKee

LAST 16
Matthew Quinn 1-7 Raymond Stockman
Emmet McGuire 5-7 Rab Butler
Pearce Sharratt 3-7 Bill McIlroy Jr
Ricky Clyde 7-3 Gavin McClements
Ryan Marcus 4-7 Steven McGurn
Anthony McCorry 7-3 Neil McFaul (+1)
Gary Wallace 7-4 Aaron Rolston
Lee McIlreavy 7-5 Tyler McKee (+1)

LAST 8
Raymond Stockman 4-7 Rab Butler
Bill McIlroy Jr 7-4 Ricky Clyde
Steven McGurn 3-7 Anthony McCorry
Gary Wallace 7-5 Lee McIlreavy

SEMI FINALS
Rab Butler 7-5 Bill McIlroy Jr
Anthony McCorry 3-7 Gary Wallace

FINAL
Rab Butler (Newtownabbey) 7-2 Gary Wallace (Belfast)

FRAMES
Butler Butler Wallace Butler Wallace Butler Butler Butler Butler

NIPA 2019 Intermediate Individual

Still some spaces left folks for tomorrows Competition, act quickly !!!

Who will be the inaugural winner of this new annual event ???

WHAT - 2019 NIPA Intermediate Individual
WHEN - Sunday 14th April
WHERE - Q.Club, Larne
START TIME - 10.00am (Club open from 9.00am)
COST - £20 (All in, all out) Only payment secures entry.
DRESS CODE - NIPA dress code applies
FORMAT - Handicapped Knock Out. Races to 7.
ENTRIES - Maximun 64, first come first served. Please enter asap to avoid disappointment
PAYMENT OPTIONS - To 1/ To Gillian Rolston via Paypal to gillianrolston@outlook.com 2/ In person left in to either the Q.Club, Larne or Reds, Ballymena
OPEN TO WHO - Everyone except "Elite" players. NIPA Tour Committee will determine entries accepted and handicaps. Please check NIPA if you are eligible to enter.

Donations to NI Learning Disabilities

Massive thanks to Larne Pool League and to the Q.Club, Larne for donations to the Northern Ireland Special Pool Section.

In the photo Larne League Treasurer Alex Irvine (left) hands over a cheque from the League for £100 and another for £400 from the Q.Club to Special Pool Chairman John Clarke. Both were attending the 25th anniversary year dinner dance to mark the founding of our Specials section. The evening took place in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine on Friday 22nd March 2019

Travel by P&O Ferries to Bridlington

If anyone is wanting to avail of a discount, travelling by car on the P&O Ferries return route Larne-Cairnryan-Larne, when going to Bridlington for the 2019 EBA European Championships in May please let Gillian Rolston know your details no later than next Thursday (4th April).

Interleague

Well the dust has now settled on another fantastic Interleague for the NIPA. Over 300 player took part over the weekend and we hope they all enjoyed the unique atmosphere and excitement that the event is well know for.

Along with all the Leagues and their players it would not have been possible without a strong team behind it all. Thanks to all, Pauline Lynch, Paddy Lynch, Gillian Rolston, Derek Whiteside, Lucy Bell, Suzanne Whiteside, Alex Babb, Andrea McAlister, Robert Hawkins, Jean McIlroy, Trevor Whiteside and Gary Wylie and Chris Carson. Apologies if anyone has been missed and bring on 2020 !!! 😃

Thanks also to Trevor Harte who overseen our latest sitting of the EBA Blackball Rules Referees Exam on Monday 25th March and to Tyler McConnell for hosting it in McConnell's Bar in Doagh.

Carrick & District - 2019 Interleague 'A' Champions

After a fantastic day of  high drama Pool with many of NIs top players in attendance Derek Whiteside has led Carrick & District Pool League to success at the 2019 NIPA Interleague 'A' Event. The Competition was held in the Queens Hall, Newtownards and was competed for by 14 Leagues with 11 players per team. Perseverance and determination which Whiteside has in abundance has finally paid off as he has longed to win this event for years but thought he was destined to the the Jimmy White off the Pool world. Carrick won their group unbeaten to go straight into the Semi Finals and were up against a Ballymena side who had just had a nailbiting 12-10 win over a fancied Coleraine side. In the other Semi Final Play Off defending Champions Larne overcame Crumlin by 12-4 to set up a Semi against Antrim and it was Larne who went on to reach the Final again by defeating a strong Antrim side led by Rab Fee also by 12-4. We all thought it was going to be Ballymena's day as they led 7-4 after the first session against Carrick in their Semi but Whiteside's troops dug deep taking seven out of the next eight racks to win 12-8 and set up a repeat of the 2018 Final that they had lost in a last frame decider. It looked like it was going to be more pain for the eventual winners as Larne started strongly to lead 3-1 but they were to only win one more frame in the match as Carrick, as they had done in their Semi Final, came storming back this time winning eleven out of the next twelve racks for a well deserved 12-4 success with Trevor Whiteside sealing the deal with a precise break and dish in Frame 16. Party time for Carrick !!!!!

SEMIS PLAY OFFS
Coleraine		10-12	Ballymena
Crumlin		4-12	Larne
SEMIS
Carrick		12-8	Ballymena
Antrim		4-12	Larne
FINAL
Carrick		12-4	Larne

Back row - Trevor Whiteside, Andy McMeekin, Gary Wallace, Rab McCullough, Ed McDowell, Paul Kerr, Rab Butler, Gee Crawley
Front row - Lee McIlreavy, Darren Whiteside, Derek Whiteside, Paul Harris, Johnny Mackay

Belfast League storm to Plate win

It's congratulations to Belfast Pool League. Under the captaincy of Dee Irwin the lads took home the  'A' Team Plate Shield at the 2019 NIPA Interleague Event in Newtownards on Sunday 24th March. After going down in their first two group matches the team rallied to win their last two and also went on to win their three Knock Out stage games. Great win for the lads with many playing in their first major Blackball Rules competition.

LAST 8 PLATE
Dromara		5-6	ND + A
Ards		6-5	Castlewellan
Belfast		8-3	Lecale
Ballynahinch		3-8	Newcastle
SEMIS PLATE
ND + A		4-6	Ards
Belfast		6-4	Newcastle
FINAL PLATE
Ards		10-12	Belfast

Ballymena retain 'B' Team Plate

Congratulations to Ballymena B2s who have retained the 'B' Team Plate at the 2019 NIPA Interleague. In the Final they defeated debutantes Hilltown League who had grown stronger as the day went on as they got used to the unique Interleague atmosphere. Ballymena dedicated their win to Donald Alexander who was part of their winning team a year earlier but sadly passed away shortly after. RIP Ducky.

Larne are 'B' Team Champions for 5 in a row

It's 5 titles in a row for Larne B1s as Bill McIlroy Sr led his team to victory in the 2019 Competition in the Queens Hall, Newtownards on Saturday 23rd March. In the Final they met Coleraine who had earlier defeated Larne in the Group stage. The match was tied at 7-7 and in the balance but Larne found another gear as they have done so often to lift the title by winning the remaining five racks.

2019 NIPA Interleague Countdown

COULD ALL TEAM CAPTAINS PLEASE ENSURE PLAYERS LEAVE HOME EARLY ENOUGH TO GET PARKED AND INTO THE VENUE. COMPETITION WILL START ON TIME SHORTLY AFTER CLOSE OF REGISTRATION AT 11.00am. PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL YOUR PLAYERS HAVE ADHERED TO THE NIPA DRESS CODE.

One player from a team can register for the whole team. Any team not registered by this time will lose one frame for every 5 minutes they are late in registering. Any frames lost for late registration will apply to all that teams matches in the group stage if applicable.

VENUE OPEN FROM 9.00am, FOOD BEING SERVED
Queens Hall, West Street, Newtownards BT23 4EN  

Could all Captains please have a list of their players and their entry fees with them to speed up the registration process 

'A' TEAM ENTRIES
Carrick League
Larne League
Ards League
Crumlin League 
Coleraine League
Dromara League
North Down & Ards League
Ballymena League
Ballynahich League

Belfast League

Hilltown League

Castlewellan League

Newcastle League

Lecale League

Antrim League

'B' TEAM ENTRIES 
Carrick League B1
Carrick League B2
Larne League B1
Larne League B2
Ards League B1
Ards League B2 
Ballymena League B1
Ballymena League B2
Hilltown League B1
North Down & Ards League B1
Coleraine League B1

Northern Ireland Ladies

NIPA 2019 Interleague 'B' Team Event
When - Saturday 23rd March 2019
Where - Queens Hall, West Street, Newtownards, BT23 4EN
Venue open from - 9.00am
Registation Time - Registration closes 11.00am. One player from a team can register for the whole team. Any team not registered by this time will lose one frame for every 5 minutes they are late in registering. Any frames lost for late registration will apply to all that teams' matches in the group stage if applicable. Play will start at approximately 11:15am.
Cost - £10 per player if League NIPA affiliated, £20 if not
NIPA Dress Code - Yes (Captains please remind ALL players)
Format - Entries dependent
Plate event - Yes
Team size - 11 a-side (15 maximum per squad)
Criteria - Players must have played in a minimum of 4 available fixtures in the League they are representing this current season. Players cannot play in both the 'A' and 'B' events. Leagues cannot enter a team into the 'B' Event unless they enter a team into the 'A' Team event. Exceptions apply - 1. Ladies. Players cannot play in both the 'A' and 'B' events

NIPA 2019 Interleague 'A' Team Event
When - Sunday 24th March 2019
Where - Queens Hall, West Street, Newtownards, BT23 4EN
Venue open from -9.00am
Time - Registration closes 11.00am. One player from a team can register for the whole team. Any team not registered by this time will lose one frame for every 5 minutes they are late in registering. Any frames lost for late registration will apply to all that teams matches in the group stage if applicable. Play will start at approximately 11:15am.
Cost - £10 per player if League NIPA affiliated, £20 if not
NIPA Dress Code - Yes (Captains please remind ALL players)
Format - Entries dependent
Plate event - Yes
Team size - 11 a-side (15 maximum per squad)
Criteria - Players must have played in a minimum of 5 available fixtures in the League they are representing this current season. Players cannot play in both the 'A' and 'B' events. Leagues cannot enter a team into the 'B' Event unless they enter a team into the 'A' Team event. Exceptions apply - 1. Ladies. Players cannot play in both the 'A' and 'B' events.

Terms & conditions subject to amendment

In the photo - 2018 'A' Team Event Winners, Larne League