Grandmasters at the double in Ennis
The NIPA's Over 60s A and B teams pocketed a superb double in the Grandmasters events at the recent European Blackball Pool Championships in Ennis, Co Clare.
The Northern Ireland A team, comprising of Billy McIlroy and Alan Johnson from Larne and Coleraine's Raymond Stockman, came through a tough quarter-final against Malta and an even tougher semi-final against favourites England, where they trailed 6-2 in both, to defeat Ireland 8-4 in the final.
Raymond said: “This was my first time playing in the Grandmasters and my first European Championships gold medal.
“I've played in other Northern Ireland teams and won silver medals and been beaten in semi-finals many times but it's great to finally be a champion.”
The NI veterans made it a memorable double when Robert Hawkins, Billy Purvis and Dessie Cooper won the Grandmasters B title, defeating Scotland B 8-4 in the final.
The future of Northern Ireland pool is already assured with the emergence of some fantastic talent on the world stage.
Darragh Gallagher is the new European Blackball singles champion following his dramatic 7-6 victory over England's Lukas Williams in the under-15 singles final.
And Antrim's Rhys McLaughlin capped a fantastic year when he brushed aside England's Harvey Southworth 7-3 in the under-18 equivalent.
Rhys also finished top of the under-18 team stats during the week, winning 35 out of 40 frames in the under-18 team rounds.