Bowling in West Virginia, USA

The first major bowling weekend of the year in Ireland, West Virginia took place last weekend (March 18-19) and was a hugh success. A massive 200+ crowd for the Saturady and over 70 on the Sunday made this their most successful weekend in their history.

The opening bowl of the weekend was thrown by Secretary of State of West Virginia, Betty Ireland, who is very interested in the heritage of the sport and the cultural aspects behind in and would like to use West Virginia's Division of Tourism to promote the sport and to help it grow.

Below is a short report of the weekends bowling.

On Sunday we had one of the best doubles matches ever in West Virginia. Con O Callaghan of Boston, current North American Region Champion Junior C (highest grade in North America) was visiting us. The Sunday two on two match, Jerod Putnam & Travis Craig versus Con O Callaghan & Shawn Stewart. Jerod, Travis and Shawn are three original founders of road bowling in West Virginia in 1995, and along with Brian Craig broke their own course record on Saturday ( 4 person teams) 30 shots, 2.2 mile road. These guys have been winning since 1995, but even though the competition getting is much better they keep winning. Con and Shawn went ahead early, then Travis and Jerod came up fast to catch up. Shawn hit a monster long shot on a downhill and thought he had won it, but still a half mile to go and once again Jerod and Travis pulled even, and for a long time as they say in Ireland, "there was nothing in it." Jerod threw a long shot that was still going too fast to take a curve onto a little bridge, and flew into a pond. Con O Callaghan throwing from slightly closer, stayed in the curve and got across the bridge. Shawn then threw a long shot across the line for the win. A wonderful match, crisp cool air, in sunshine on a beautiful country road. It was our most successful weekend yet, although that big 200 + bowler crowd Saturday was hard to manage. On Saturday we had all the regulars plus many first timers. Sunday was more the serious regular bowlers. The Sunday match was some of the best Irish road bowling West Virginia has ever seen and was decided on the very last shot across the finish line. They went over 1.7 miles in 21 shots, well under the record pace for the longer 2.2 mile full course. Many extremely long shots from all four players.

For more information on Bowling in West Virginia please visit their website by clicking here or on the link at the side!!!