Round up from Brid


Well by now all 128 players plus officials are home safe and well from another European Blackball Championship campaign in Bridlington. As usual it was a rollercoaster of emotions, here is a round up of the 10 days.

MENS A - What a fantastic showing for debut Manager Gary Wallace and his young team. They beat eventual Champions England in the group stages and with one match remaining it was possible they could have had seven wins from nine matches and still not have qualifed for the top four such is the strength of the competing nations.
MENS B1 - Only lost out in qualifying for the Semi Finals on frame difference.
MENS B2 - Best performance was against our Mens B1 team in the opening fixture when it went to a last frame decider.
LADIES A - Slow start but defeated Wales to qualify for the Semi Finals agonisingly losing to France in a last frame decider 13-12
LADIES B1 - One win in the Group stages, didn't qualify for Semi Finals.
LADIES B2 - Also one win in the Group stages, didn't qualify for Semi Finals
SENIORS A - Agonisingly lost 3 matches 13-12 in the Group stages. Fine margins.
SENIORS B1 - Won two out of their first four matches but failed to make the Semi Finals
SENIORS B2 - Good showing from the B2s as they win 3 group matches to finish above our B1s
MASTERS A - Only team to defeat Champions Scotland, but lost to England in Semi Finals.
MASTERS B1 - Good showing to reach the Semi Finals losing narrowly to England B1
UNDER 23 A - Lost to Scotland in Semi Finals after defeating them twice 13-12 in the Group stage.
UNDER 23 B - Won their opening match but failed to qualify out of the Group
UNDER 18 A - Lost narrowly to Scotland in Semi Finals 
UNDER 15 A - Great showing by the young lads to finish fourth in the Group and reach the Semi Finals. Were sitting 5-5 with eventual Champions Wales before going down 8-5 in Semi Finals
SPECIALS A - Undefeated to finish top of the group but heartbreak as they went down 13-12 to Wales in the Final
SPECIALS B1 - Reached the Final but went down 11-3 to Scotland
SPECIALS B2 - Made it out of the Group but lost to our B1 Team in the Semi Final

INDIVIDUALS - Seniors A player Brian Crilly becomes 2015 European Blackball Individual Champion. A fantastic achievement for Brian and a proud moment for the NIPA

There were many fantastic performances from many players over the 10 days of play, but here are the top shooters in each section

MENS A - Pat McAnally & Ady Toner 53.33%
MENS B1 - Gerry McCorry 67.00%
MENS B2 - Wayne Lewis 54.17%
LADIES A - Julie Henderson 64.00% 
LADIES B1 - Alex Babb & Angie Willis 55.50% 
LADIES B2 - Angie Carson & Karen McCormick 50.00% 
SENIORS A - Drew Sloan 63.33% 
SENIORS B1 - Eddie Gribben 57.00% 
SENIORS B2 - Paddy Mulholland 51.00% 
MASTERS A - Stephen Johnston 74.00%
MASTERS B1 - Joe Patton 65.72% 
UNDER 23 A - Corey Sweeney 53% 
UNDER 23 B1 - Tyler McKee 46.17% 
UNDER 18 A - Declan Duff 76.00% 
UNDER 15 A - Adam Freeburn 75.00% 
SPECIALS A - Paddy Reid & Clifford Healy 79.00% 
SPECIALS B1 - Jason McBride 75.00% 
SPECIALS B2 - Jonathon McAuley 55.00%

The NIPA would like to wish Specials B2 player Alwyn Holmes a speedy recovery after he took unwell on the return journey from Bridlington