The 2nd IBA Pool Championships took place at the end of October and for the first time Orkney were represented. In the mens event 2 teams from Orkney joined 2 teams from each of the other participants - The Isle of Man, Shetland and Gibraltar in a round robin format with the top 4 teams taking their places in the semi-finals.

The first game of the competition saw the 2 Orkney sides up against eachother and it was the A side which came out on top with a 17-4 win. The A team built on their good start with further convincing victories over Gibraltar A and Isle of Man B while the B team had a very respectable 14-7 defeat against last years winners the Isle of Man A. Orkney's B team didn't have to wait much longer for their first win, as they came away with a very well deserved win over Gibraltar B. Although Orkney A suffered an 11-10 defeat to the Isle of Man's A team in there 4th game, there place in the semi final was secured after wins over Shetland B and the weekends biggest victory, an 18-3 demolition of Gibraltar B. Orkney's B team still had slim hopes of a place in the semis but narrow defeats to both the Shetland teams were enough to knock them out of the competition. However spirits were not dampened and the B team picked up a very impressive 12-9 win over the Isle of Man B in their final match.

As Orkney A and Shetland A had already secured the 2nd and 3rd spots it was decided that the final league match would instead be the semi final. The A team had played some excellent pool throughout the weekend and this continued as they romped to an 11-6 win over their inter-county rivals. In the other semi final Isle of Man A came out on top with a narrow 11-8 win over Shetland's B side meaning Orkney would get a chance in the final to avenge their group defeat the previous day.

Despite this defeat confidence amongst the Orkney A team was high. With the final league table showing Orkney as being 11 frames better off than their opponents there was every reason to even suggest that Orkney had more than an even chance to win the IBA trophy. Unfortunately for Orkney, as in the league match between the 2 sides, they could not find their best form and it was the more experienced Isle of Man side who defended their title with an 11-7 victory. Although defeat was hugely disappointing for the Orkney side the team can take great pride in coming so close to winning the event at their first attempt and are sure to come back even stronger next year.

 

TEAMS

Orkney A

Stewart Keldie (captain), Neil Cormack, John Drever, Keith Keldie, Lee O'Hagan, Paul Sinclair, Bu Stevenson and Erik Wilson

Orkney B

Paul Robertson (captain) Thomas Dalrymple, Magnus Drever, Colin Reid, Merv Sinclair, Darren Tait, Kevin Watters and Gordon Wylie

 

Also representing Orkney were a ladies team and they joined 2 teams from Isle of Man, 2 teams from Shetland and a team from Gibraltar. As in the mens event all teams competed against eachother with the top 4 qualifying for the semi finals. With plenty of experience in the Orkney side and some new faces a place in the semi finals was well within their capabilities. Orkney's first game against Gibraltar ended in bitter disappointment, after trailing for most of the match it was the Gibraltans who pounced right at the death with a deciding frame victory. However the tables were turned in the next game against Isle of Man B as Orkney emerged 11-10 victors in another very close match. With their tails up Orkney went into their next game against last year's runners up Isle of Man A with plenty of confidence. But it was the Isle of Man who prevailed 13-8 as the Orkney lasses failed to find their top form.

All of which meant, Orkney would have to win at least one of their last 2 matches to stand a chance of progressing to the semis. Yet again, Orkney came within a whisker of victory against Shetland B before going down 11-10. And, in the final match dejavu was to strike once again as last year's winners Shetland A again inflicted another 11-10 defeat on the Orkney team. With 4 of Orkney's 5 games being decided by 1 frame the lasses can count themselves very unlucky and indeed with a bit more luck a place in the top 3 of the league was more than attainable and there is plenty to be encouraged about for next year.

 

TEAM
Rachael Sutherland (captain), Elaine Corrigal, Laura Harcus, Danielle O'Hagan, Sandra Mainland, Jean Scott and Biz Seatter

 

SINGLES

In the singles events Orkney's chances of producing a winner were dealt a blow as Orkney players found themselves up against eachother in the early rounds. Keith Keldie and Neil Cormack were Orkney's most successful representatives in the mens singles but both players were hugely disappointed to lose by 3 frames to 2 in the quarter finals. Early form had suggested Keith and Neil were more than capable of winning the competition. While, in the ladies singles Rachael and Biz had both proved to be very strong players but they too came unstuck in the quarter finals. All in all though there were plenty of encouraging signs and there is no reason whatsoever that a player from Orkney can not win either competition in the forthcoming years.

 

RESULTS

Mens

Orkney A 17 Orkney B 4, Orkney A 14 Gibraltar A 7, Orkney B 7 Isle of Man A 14, Shetland A 12 Orkney B 9, Isle of Man B 5 Orkney A 16, Shetland B 12 Orkney B 9, Orkney A 10 Isle of Man A 11, Gibraltar B 6 Orkney B 15, Orkney A 13 Shetland B 8, Isle of Man B 9 Orkney B 12, Gibraltar B 3 Orkney A 18, Gibraltar A 14 Orkney B 7

Semi Finals

Orkney A 11 Shetland A 6, Isle of Man A 11 Shetland B 8

Final

Isle of Man A 11 Orkney A 7

Singles Final

Andrew Stout (Shet) 5 Martin Ramsey (Shet) 4

 

TABLE
                        P    W    L    F    A    Diff    Pts

Isle of Man A    7    7    0    93    54    39    21

Orkney A          6    5    1    88    38    50    15

Shetland A        6    5    1    73    53    20    15

Shetland B        7    4    3    72    75    -3     12

Gibraltar A        7    2    5    66    81    -15    6

Isle of Man B    7    2    5    65    82    -17    6

Orkney B           7    2    5    63    84    -21   6

Gibraltar B         7    0    7    47    100  -53   0

 

Ladies

Gibraltar 11 Orkney 10, Orkney 11 Isle of Man B 10, Isle of Man A 13 Orkney 8, Orkney 10 Shetland B 11, Shetland A 11 Orkney 10

Semis

Isle of Man A 11 Gibraltar 9, Shetland A 11 Shetland B 5

Final

Shetland A 11 Isle of Man A 8

Singles Final

Nicky Correa (Gib) 5 Amanda Cutt (Shet) 2

 

TABLE

                        P    W    L    F    A    Diff    Pts

Shetland A        5    5     0    63    42    21    15

Isle of Man A    5    4    1    61    44    17    12

Gibraltar            5    3    2    49    56    -7    9

Shetland B        5     2    3    52    53    -1    6   

Orkney              5    1    4    49    56    -7    3

Isle of Man B    5    0    5    41    64    -23    0