Tenpin Bowling: Gibraltar team returns from San Marino and Luxembourg
The Gibraltar Tenpin Bowling Association, recently participated in the European Gold Cup (www.goldcup.lu) hosted by Luxembourg. The event attracted 24 countries from all over Europe. The tournament was for a male & female from each federation.
Kimberly Turnbull qualified as Gibraltar’s female representative, whilst Kevin Stimson qualified to represent the men. Annabelle Turnbull went as official team manager, Tony Galea as coach.
During the week of bowling, Gibraltar’s players and officials met with the tournament officials and organisers, along with the ETBF officials who were happy to talk about bowling in Gibraltar and the reasons why Spain withdrew from the tournament because of Gibraltar’s participation (not for the first time).
Once the tournament opened, it was the doubles competition to begin with. Kimberly and Kevin performed very well in the team event and achieved a very respectable position of 11th out of the 24 participating countries. The doubles event was won by Cyprus with Italy in second and England in third.
Click here: to view the team event's final standings.
The singles competition was next with a men’s & women’s division playing 18 games over the following two days. The rules were simple, the top 16 female and male players would qualify for the finals – the pressure was on from the start.
In the men’s section, Kevin started really well but just couldn’t quite make the final 16 against some stiff opposition, finishing in 22nd spot with a tournament average of 162 over the 24 games.
Click here: to view the men's final standings.
Kimberly played exceptionally well. At one stage of the competition she was 2nd out of the 24 countries who were competing. She continued in good form to finish 12th , reaching the last 16 & another round of 6 games. In the end, she finished a very credible 10th, just missing the finals by 20 pins, with an average of 161 over her 30 games.
Click here: to view the women's final standings.
On the presentation night, there was a surprise yet to come. All players were asked to secretly vote for whoever they felt deserved the “Fair Play Award” (pictured). The male trophy went to Cyprus and the female trophy to Kimberly. It was a great honour for her to receive this trophy for Gibraltar.
When the tournament reached its climax, France beat Luxembourg in the female final and Malta defeated England in the male final.
The tournament was a great success, not just for the Gibraltar players, but for everyone concerned, with high scores and good friends made. Let’s hope that a similar event can be held in Gibraltar in the not too distant future.
We would like to express our thanks to those who helped make it possible for the association to take part in this event.
The Gibraltar Gov. Sports Development Unit, Latinos, Valmar Pharmacy, Turners, ECS International, Audibert, Sacarello’s Newsagents , Norwich and Peterborough, Copywrite, Ophir Ins, Lord Nelson’s and H&A Prop Services.
Click here: To find out how the Gibraltarian team did in the IX MEDITERRANEAN CHALLENGE CUP SAN MARINO. 24-31/3/2006.
Click here: to visit the GTBA website
Well done Kim!