Message from International Team Manager – Neil Booth

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of support since my appointment. Rest assured I will be doing everything I possibly can to advance the game of bowls in Ireland and ensure continued success for our Teams at all levels.

I would personally like to thank Jim Baker and Michael Nutt for the hard work that they have carried out over the previous number of years and hope that I can carry this on to help move Irish Bowls forward in the future.

I would like to use this forum to communicate with bowlers my ideas for the future of our game and to keep players up to date with any developments in respect of the work I am carrying out.

One of the first actions will be to appoint an Assistant Team Manager to assist me in running the 3 National Squads – U-18’s, U-25’s and Senior Team. This will be progressed shortly and I look forward to working with whoever that might be.

I will also be introducing a new pathway which will give players a clear indication of what is required to progress through the ranks from Club Bowls to International and World Bowls. This is highlighted below

• Selection for Inter- Association Teams
• Selection for 32 man Trial Team
• Selection for International Team
• Selection for Developmental and Elite Panels
• Selection for International Events
• Selection for World and Commonwealth Teams

The 32 man Trial will consist of 2 x 21 End games, hopefully the Sunday following the Inter Association Series and it will be following this that the International Team will be selected.

The Developmental and Elite Panels will consist of 8 players in each Squad and this will form the basis for selection for Overseas Events and Major Championships. These Squads will be picked on an Annual Basis and following the International Series. These Squads will be a subject to a number of Assessment Days.

It is also hoped to introduce a World Bowls Style Event for the 4 Association Teams with 5/6 man teams. This is currently being worked on and details will be announced shortly. Please note this will not be replacing the current Inter Association but rather will be an additional event in the calendar.

I will firm up on all of the above dates once the IBA Calendar has been finalised later in the year.

In the meantime, I would like to wish the following players every success in the upcoming International Events

Andy Kyle and Stuart Bennett                                                                             Hong Kong Classic

Aaron Tennant                                                                                       World Youth Championships

G Kelly, I McClure, N Mulholland, S Martin, M McHugh                   World Championships

Regards

Neil