For a lot of people in Ireland, bowling is a game that you play with family or friends for a bit of fun – an alternative to a night out in the pub, a family day out, date night, etc.
It appeals to all age groups, sporty people, non-sporty people, guys, girls, basically everyone.
But very few people know about the competitive side of Irish bowling. We have, and continue to produce, some really talented bowlers in this country, but it remains a niche sport that the majority of people don’t give a second thought to at a competitive level.
Let’s change that!
The weekend of August 23rd to 25th sees Leisureplex Blanchardstown host the Junior Triple Crown international tournament. The event sees the junior national bowling teams take on their counterparts from England and Scotland in 3 days of sporting action.
Teams of 4, at under-16, under-19 and under-21 level, compete in Singles, Doubles, Trios and Team of Four events, with the ultimate goal winning the Triple Crown Shield.
Bowlers competing in the tournament will play a total of 15 games over the 3 days, 6 in the Singles, and then 3 in each the Doubles, Trios and Team of Four events.
After the Opening Ceremony in the bowling centre, Friday is Singles day. Saturday will see both the Doubles and Trios events, before the Team of Four on Sunday morning. Once the four events are completed, the top 4 individual bowlers in each age category, both boys and girls, compete in the Masters Finals on Sunday afternoon.
There are medals up for grabs for the top 3 finishers in each event, with medal ceremonies taking place throughout the weekend, again in the bowling centre. We’re hoping to hear a lot of Amhran na bhFiann over the weekend!
What’s the best thing about the Junior Triple Crown? It’s completely free for spectators! All spectators are encouraged to drop in over the weekend and cheer on our junior national teams. There’s plenty to keep the kids entertained in between watching the awesome bowling action as well – why not jump on some cool arcade games, or for the little ones we’ve got the Zoo Playland, a huge soft play area.
Who knows, maybe your little ones will love what they see and fancy joining one of our Youth Bowling Clubs, and maybe one day they may get the chance to represent their country in international sporting competition. One can dream!
For the full schedule for the weekend, lists of participants, and general news from the tournament, check out the official tournament website here.
We hope to see you in Leisureplex Blanchardstown over the weekend – trust us, you may not have thought of bowling as a big sporting event, but after this weekend, you may just look at the sport of bowling a little differently!
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