Team Ireland News

As the stream of COVID-19 bad news continues to flow, it has been advised that the 2021 Senior Triple Crown originally scheduled for this April has now been cancelled.

The ITBA in conjunction with Sport Ireland and Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport (DTTS) have finalised a protocol for the Return to Bowling.

ITBA COVID-19 Return To Sport Protocol

This document should be reviewed by all ITBA Members and adhered to with regard to all ITBA official sessions whether be Practice, Training or Competition as and when they are organised.

Other documents you will become familiar with when attending ITBA official sessions are as follows. These documents will by provided by your Sub-Committee COVID-19 Officer:

ITBA COVID-19 Registration Form

ITBA COVID-19 Officer Advice

Please note that the linked COVID-19 Awareness eLearning Course has now been updated to include COVID-19 Officer training. This will be completed by Officers appointed by each Sub-Committee to manage their bowling activities.

With bowling centers reopening over the coming weeks, we are continuing to work with Sport Ireland, the Federation Of Irish Sport and the Centers in planning for a safe return for all our bowlers.

As further details become available we will be providing information here so that all Bowlers, Coaches and Officials are aware of the protocols that must be adhered to. To prepare you for what is coming, please follow this link to a COVID-19 Awareness eLearning Course provided by Sport Ireland.

If you want further information it can be found on the Sport Ireland COVID-19 site.

We look forward to seeing you all back on the lanes in the near future.

Due to the ongoing health issue and with current travel restrictions in place, in the best interest of bowlers, coaches, managers etc. we have made the decision to postpone the Senior Triple Crown scheduled for 24th to 26th April 2020.

This has not been an easy decision but as things are changing daily and the uncertainty of how long this will go on, we thought it best to make the decision now rather than wait any longer.

We wish you all well in this very difficult and unprecedented time. 

Stay Safe Everyone!

Final revised schedule and lane draw for the 2020 National Championships are now available on the Team Ireland Forms & Documents page. You will also find full details of the Tournament pattern “Route 66” and rules. Play commences on Thursday February 27th with Mixed Doubles, check-in 7:00-7:20 p.m., play commencing at 7:30 p.m.

Applications are now being taken for Wildcard Position(s) to roll off and represent Ireland at the Adult Triple Crown. Applications are also being taken for an Exemption Position for a direct spot on Team Ireland. For application the form available from the Team Ireland Forms and Documents page has been made available.

Entries are now being received for the Bowling World Cup 2019 Irish Qualifying Rounds to be held in Leisurplex Stillorgan from 8th to 9th June 2019. A printable entry form is available here.

For further information email Sean@Leisureplex.ie

Irish tenpin bowler Christopher Sloan today finished in 3^rd place at the World Men’s Bowling Championships in Hong Kong, securing Ireland’s first ever medal at an Adult World Championships.

After qualifying for the finals in 6^th place, Christopher then defeated defending World Champion, Francois Lavoie of Canada, two-games-to-one in a tight last-16 contest, before again winning his quarter-final match two-games-to-one against Seonghoi Koo of Korea.

With Ireland’s first ever World Championships medal secured, the focus turned to becoming the first Irish bowler to make the final. But standing in Christopher’s way was American PBA Tour superstar Kyle Troup.

The semi-final was tight all the way through, with the momentum swinging one way and then another, but unfortunately for the Irish fans it was Troup who came out on top, two-games-to-zero.

Both games were close all the way to the end, but the American managed to get over the line in both games, bringing Christopher’s inspiring run to an end.

The World Bowling Men’s Championships, which takes place every four years, saw 265 competitors take part this year, representing 46 different nations.

Christopher, who is from Swords in Co. Dublin, will be in action back home after Christmas, with a busy January schedule including the ALSAA Open and the EBT Irish Open, two of the biggest tournaments of the year in Ireland.

For further information, please contact ITBA Social Media Manager Jason Byrnes at jason.byrnes@hotmail.com.