It was mixed fortunes for Northern Ireland at the European 'B' Team Championships in Rhyl. Over 50 players and officials travelled to the seaside resort in North Wales. Expectations were high that our B1 team would reach at least the Semi Finals, but 3 agonising 16-17 defeats in the group stages left Derek Whiteside's lads outside of the top 4 places. New B2 Manager Jonny Thompson will be much the wiser next time round. Even though his team didn't win a match he will be encouraged by some individual performances. Our Seniors under the management of Dessie Cooper impressed, only losing out to Wales at the Semi Final stage by 13-12. Our Ladies team finished bottom of their group.A big well done to Dee Irwin and Raymond Stockman. Both reached the Final of their respective Individual sections. One frame away from victory in frame 10, Dee was very unlucky to snooker himself on the black after potting his last colour, denying himself a 6-4 victory and the European title. Raymond also went to the deciding frame in the Seniors before going down, also by a 6-5 scoreline. Gary Wallace also excelled, reaching the Semi Final of the Main Event, only losing out to Dee Irwin in a close match.
In the Specials Section Paddy Reid is the new European Champion. In an all Northern Ireland Final he beat Sammy Johnston 5-2. Briege McFaul fought hard to retain her Ladies title, but went down 4-3 to Valerie Taggart in another all NI Final. Our Mens Special team lost out in the Team Final to Scotland by 13-7
B1s
England B2 17-16 Northern Ireland B1
England B1 21-12 Northern Ireland B1 Northern Ireland B1 20-13 Northern Ireland B2
Scotland B1 24-9 Northern Ireland B1
Scotland B2 17-16 Northern Ireland B1
Northern Ireland B1 17-16 Southern Ireland B2
Southern Ireland B1 17-16 Nothern Ireland B1
B2s
Southern Ireland B1 21-12 Northern Ireland B2
Scotland B2 22-11 Northern Ireland B2
Northern Ireland B1 20-13 Northern Ireland B2
England B2 17-16 Northern Ireland B2
Southern Ireland B2 18-15 Northern Ireland B2
England B2 21-12 Northern Ireland B2
Scotland B1 21-12 Northern Ireland B2
Seniors
Northern Ireland Seniors 19-6 Southern Ireland Seniors
Northern Ireland Seniors 14-11 England B1 Seniors
Northern Ireland Seniors 18-7 England B2 Seniors
Scotland Seniors 14-11 Northern Ireland Seniors
Wales Seniors 13-12 Northern Ireland Seniors
Wales 13-12 Northern Ireland - Seniors Team Event Semi Final
Ladies
Wales Ladies 15-6 Northern Ireland Ladies
Scotland Ladies 16-5 Northern Ireland Ladies
England B1 Ladies 15-6 Northern Ireland Ladies
England B2 Ladies 15-6 Northern Ireland Ladies
Mens Specials
Northern Ireland Mens Specials 20-5 Southern Ireland Mens Specials
Northern Ireland Mens Specials 13-12 Scotland 1 Mens Specials
Northern Ireland Mens Specials 16-9 England Mens Specials
Northern Ireland 13-4 Southern Ireland - (Mens Specials Team Event Semi Final)
Scotland 13-7 Northern Ireland - (Mens Specials Team Event Final)
Ladies Specials
Northern Ireland 5-2 England - (Ladies Specials Team Event Final) Individuals
Mens Individual Final - David Riggins (Scotland) 6-5 Dee Irwin (NI)
Seniors Individual Final - Roy Cooper (England) 6-5 Raymond Stockman (NI)
Ladies Specials Individual Final - Valerie Taggart (NI) 4-3 Briege McFaul (NI)
Mens Specials Individual Final - Paddy Reid (NI) 5-2 Sammy Johnston (NI)
Top of the stats
Mens B1 - 63% B.Crossey, 62% Dn Whiteside, Dee Irwin 55% T.Whiteside 47% C.Howard, S.Johnston 46% C.Montgomer Sr 44% A,Arbuthnot, A.Toner, P.Roberts 42% P.Gingles 32% T.McCorry 31% C.Montgomery Jr 27% S.Hay
Mens B2 - 62% K. Hunter
Ladies B - 41% D.Walker, S.Caughey 33% A.Reid, C.Webster 25% K.McCormick 16% K.Leddy 8% J.McIlroy
