On Tuesday 22nd November it was the turn of our lady players to take centre stage as they competed in the 2022 NI Ladies Individual and Team Championships. In the team event old rivals Maghera and Mountfern contested the final with Maghera emerging winners by 5 frames to 4 after a truly epic match. In the Team Plate event Greystone were out gunned in the final by an impressive select team of Joanne Kerr, Brenda Delargy and Natash Thursby.
In the top half of the individuals draw the much improved Natasha Thursby made her way to the semi-final with a notable win over multiple World Champion Valeria Taggart in the quarter final. Things didn’t get any easier for Natasha in the semi final as she came up against former N.Ireland champion Susan O’Kane which proved to be just one step too far for her to overcome. In the bottom half of the draw past winner Briege McFaul overcame Francis McCann and Patricia McTasney as she progressed to the semi final but unfortunately had to withdraw from the event at this stage. This handed her semi-final opponent Branda Healy a walk over to the final. Brenda had reached the semi-final with comfortable wins over Leona Harrison and Catherine McDonald. In the final Susan played immaculate pool to be crowned the 2002 Ladies Individual Champion.
In the plate event Jacqueline Gault competing in her first N.Ireland Championship had 3 good wins to make the final where she came up against the vastly experienced Francis McCann. In the evenly contested final Francis’s experience proved to be the difference as she came out on top with a two frames to one win.
With a record 22 lady players entering the individuals all players should be proud of their achievements on the day.
The committee and players would once again like to thanks the staff of Antrim Sports Club for hosting the event.
