North American Region Championships

North American Region Championships, Saturday and Sunday August 12 & 13, 2006, Turkey Run Road, two miles north of Buckhannon, West Virginia.

The best players from the Boston, New York, and West Virginia (the three organized leagues in North America where this old sport is played) will meet for two days of one on one and doubles competition. Winners will advance this autumn across the ocean to the "2006 All Irelands," the 52nd annual World Series of Irish Road Bowling.

On August 12 and 13, the best players in North America will meet in intense competition to see who is "top gun," the fastest and most accurate bowler who will carry the North American banner to Ireland this fall. Semi finals will be held all day Saturday, Championship finals in the three grades Sunday afternoon. There will also be an open ladies competition.

New and growing in popularity in the USA, Irish Road Bowling, "The Old Game" has been played for over 300 years on country roads primarily in County Armagh and County Cork, Ireland. Older than baseball, football or golf, a 28 ounce iron and steel "bowl" about the size of a tennis ball is thrown underhand over a one or two mile country road, fewest shots to the finish wins. Good shots can travel 200 yards or more. The record in West Virginia is 422 yards on Wildcat Road, Ireland, WV.

At first an event added in 1995 to the Irish Spring Festival in Ireland, West Virginia, the Old Game is now played at 14 tournaments in ten towns in north central West Virginia. Irish troops played road bowling between battles in West Virginia during the American Civil War. Its an exciting sport anyone can easily learn but only a few play really well, perfect for the scenic country roads of West Virginia. This is the first time the North American Region Championships have been held in West Virginia, in other states all over the USA informal groups are beginning to play Irish bowling "scores." Everyone is invited to come out and learn from the best players this side of Ireland.

Some of the top bowlers in the USA –

West Virginia - Travis Craig, Jerod Putnam, Ireland, WV, Shannon Gear, Elkins, Ken McClintic, Holly River, Justin Shaffer, Horse Shoe Run;

Boston - Roger O' Riordan, Con O' Callaghan, Brendan and Mike Fleming, Barry Curran, Florrie O Mahoney, John Twomey, Mossie Dore, Mike O Donovan, Jehr Kerry; New York - Adrian Lappin, Eoin O 'Riordan, Mick Moloney, Magella McCabe, Paul Lavery, Kevin O'Keefe, Noel Cronin.

See www.wvirishroadbowling.com, www.newyorkroadbowling.com for more information.