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Karen and Ryan bowled over by selection for European Tenpin Bowling Champions Cup…
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Karen in training...
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Sport Northern Ireland funded athletes Karen Payne and Ryan Press were bowled over by being selected to compete in the European Tenpin Bowling Champions Cup, which took place in Luxembourg from 17-23 September. Karen and Ryan were eligible to compete as they ranked 1st at the end of the 2006/07 Northern Ireland Ranking Season. Players from 40 countries competed in the 2007 European Champions Cup.
Karen came 26th at the weekend. Karen started to bowl 20 years ago as part of a four person team in a fun league at Dundonald International Ice Bowl and is the current female Northern Ireland Champion. In addition Karen had her best achievement to date at the 2006 Annual Adult Triple Crowns which took place in Wales; winning a silver medal in the ladies double, a bronze in the team event and coming seventh in the overall master’s event. She represented Northern Ireland at the last two Commonwealth Championships, and is hoping to win a medal at the 2008 Commonwealth Championships.
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Ryan in training... |
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Ryan came 32nd at the weekend. He started to bowl with a school friend over 15 years ago at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl and quickly became a member of the Junior Northern Ireland Team before becoming a Full International Northern
Ireland representative at adult level not long after. Ryan is the current male Northern Ireland Champion which can be added to his vast collection of achievements within the sport. He has participated in each Triple Crown event for the past 13 years in which he has won many a medal for his performances. He became the U24 Malta Youth Open Champion in 2004. Since then Ryan has gone on to have some excellent results in major competitions such as the European Champions’ Cup, English Open, Irish Open and the Northern Ireland Open. Ryan is aiming to represent Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Championships 2008 in which he hopes to add to his medal tally.
Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman of Sport Northern Ireland,
“Sport Northern Ireland is delighted to fund athletes like Karen and Ryan through our Athlete Support Programme. I would like to congratulate them both on qualifying for the European Champions Cup and wish them every success in their forthcoming competitions”.
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