Upcoming WVIRBA Tour Events
RESULTS of Singles Semi Finals Qualifier at Pipestem Resort State Park
Southern Shoot Out
April 26-27, 2008
Danny Kuhn and Glade Creek United bowlers hosted a fun weekend of challenging roads, good eating, and visiting with new and old friends. Over 100 bowlers participated in the Team Bowling, and a great time was had by all! Enthusiastic teams traveled from Chicago, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia.
A big "Thank You" to the Civil War Reenactors for the firing of the Cannons! And thanks to Mark Whitt for playing the Bagpipes so beautifully! Local sport coverage was provided at:
http://www.cbs59.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=37818&catid=3
Ed. note – report by Pipestem Roadmaster Mr. Danny Kuhn
The dreams of Pipestem Resort State Park and Glade Creek United were realized on April 26, when the Second Annual Pipestem-GCU Irish Roadbowling Weekend drew over 100 hearty souls to "Faugh a Ballach" down one of the most beautifully scenic roads in the state. With the throng gathered around, the traditional "Blessing of the Bowls" was conducted by Reverend Wanda Childs (Lutheran), Fr. Kent Higgins ( Episcopalian), and Fr. Chapin Englar (Catholic). As the sound of the final "amen" drifted away, Bryan's Battery brought their famous cannon "Grasshopper" into action, blasting away any threat of rain or marauding Yankees. The smoke cleared to the tune of Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes by GCU's Mark Whitt.
Women’s Singles Qualifiers for Finals
1st place Samantha Mann 20 shots
Glade Creek United
2nd place Judy Mize 24 shots
Washington, DC
3rd place Marsha Jordan 28 shots
Holly River State Park
Men Singles Qualifiers for Finals
1st place Mark Whitt 14 shots
Glade Creek United
2nd place Ken McClintic 15
Holly River State Park Superintendent
3rd place Johnathan Lyons 16
Bluefield, WV
4th place Mark Wilt 17
Kingwood, WV
1st alternate Mike Snow 17
2nd alternate Dave Powell 18
Mark Whitt had a 14, Ken McClintic had a 15, Jonathon Lyons (17 yr old from Bluefield,WV, in the second match of his life) had a 16, and WVIRBA President Mark Wilt had a 17, just beating Mike Snow 17 from Glade Creek by about 20 yards across the line.
Team Bowling
Two teams bowled the same score (23), with the winner determined by distance past the finish butt. Winning team: 4-Play (Travis McClintic, April Horne, Edgar McClintic, and Justin Knapp), second place (also 23), home favorite Glade Creek United (Mark Whitt, Samantha Mann, Kevin Smith and Mike Snow).
Third place finishers, tied with 25 bowls: The Amens (veterans John Nelson, David O"Powell, and Judy O'Mize), the Woo Crew (Concord University students Brian Crouser, Anthony Hodgkinson, Jeff James and Justin Cherry) and newcomers Bryan's Battery (Ed Cralen, Travis Stover and James Bostic).
The coveted High Score trophy came down to a sudden-death bowl-off between the Chicago Shamrockers (Helena Butters, Esther Wang, and Theresa Winters) and the Buckeye Babes (Bobbi Cotterman, Debi Nelson, Erin Webber and Linda Hawkins), tied at 50 bowls. For the second year in a row, the Buckeye Babes prevailed. Bobbi Cotterman (77) also went home with the Oldest Bowler trophy. Youngest Bowler went to Maddy Most, 8, of Mostly Irish.
Special Longest Distance (traveled by the bowlers, not the bowls!) recognition went to the Chicago Shamrockers, who traveled all the way from the Windy City to bowl in beautiful West By Gosh Virginia! Everyone in the local area relived the day's events that evening, both with storytelling around the rustic cabins (the bowls all get longer after closing time!) and by watching the extensive coverage by NBC Channel 6 and CBS Channel 59.
Women’s and Men’s Open Singles Qualifier West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association, open to anyone from the North American Region (who is not qualifying elsewhere). Top four winners, men and women, will advance to WV IRB Singles Finals, July 19, 20, Ireland, WV. Two men winners there will advance to the North American Region Finals. (Pipestem is one of two qualifiers – second qualifier is Saturday May 17 (women) and Sunday May 18 (men), Strawberry Festival, Buckhannon, WV.)
May 17, 18 Singles Qualifier: Strawberry Festival, Buckhannon, WV
www.wvstrawberryfestival.com
Turkey Run Road, site of the 2006 Irish Road Bowling North American Region Championship Finals, Bol~Chumann na hEireann. Winners advanced to the All Irelands, in Ireland (the country).
Saturday May 17
11:00 a.m. Women’s Singles Qualifier
3:00 p.m. Team Bowling
Sunday May 18
1:30 p.m. Men’s Singles Qualifier and Team Bowling
Women and Men’s Open Singles Qualifier West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association, open to anyone from the North American Region who is not qualifying elsewhere. Top four winners, men and women, will advance to WV IRB Singles Finals Tournament, July 19, 20, Ireland, WV. Two men winners there advance to North American Region Finals. (One of two qualifiers – second qualifier is Saturday April 26 (women) and Sunday April 27 (men), Pipestem Resort, Pipestem, WV.)
June 21 Blackwater Falls State Park West Virginia Day Celebration, Davis, WV. Saturday 1:30 p.m.
www.blackwaterfalls.com, blackwater@wvdnr.gov
1 800 CALL WVA (1 800 225 5982)
One of the closer events to Pittsburgh and Washington DC, Blackwater Falls is one of the best known landmarks in a state famous for its scenery. The Washington Post described the Falls as “so perfectly set in its narrow canyon and so beautiful as to be almost surreal.” Blackwater Falls State Park 304 259 5216.
July 19, 20 West Virginia Singles Finals, Ireland, WV
The top four bowlers, men and women, from each of the two qualifiers, (Pipestem Resort April 26 and 27 and Strawberry Festival May 17 and 18), 16 players, meet in Ireland, WV on Wildcat Road. Country picnic.
August 16 Doddridge County Fair, West Union, WV, Saturday 1:30 p.m. www.doddridgecountyfair.com
Big mountain, wide road, long shots.
Road Master Richard McMillan 304 873 1353
August 23 Barbour County Fair, historic Philippi, WV, Saturday 1:30 p.m. www.barbourcountyfair.com
First land battle of the Civil War, largest covered bridge in WV, Point Pleasant Road starts high on the ridge-top, great views, then a long downhill curve to the fairgrounds.
Road Master Bob Wilkins 304 457 1295
August 30 Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass WV, Saturday 1:30 p.m.
1 800 CALL WVA (1 800 225 5982)
www.cassrailroad.com; cassrailroad@wvdnr.gov www.pocohontascountywv.com
The highest mountains in West Virginia, the Wild Wild East with nearby Civil War battlefields as well as breathtaking scenery, seven rivers begin here. After bowling, ride the steam-driven logging train up the mountain. Superintendent Dave Caplinger 304 456 4300, x106. Irish Road Bowling also will be played on Old Cass Road Saturday September 27, at the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Harvest Day celebration.
September 27 Mountain State Forest Festival, Elkins, WV, Saturday 1:30 p.m. www.forestfestival.com
One of West Virginia’s oldest and biggest festivals. Scenic Georgetown Road. Shannon Gear, WV # 1 Women’s Bowler, 304 452 9688
September 28 Preston County Buckwheat Festival, Kingwood, WV, Sunday 1:00 p.m. www.buckwheatfest.com
The WVIRB Association “Northern Wing” sponsors a terrific tournament with the best prize anywhere, a Buckwheat Pancake Breakfast for the winners. Loft a corner on one of the best roads on the tour.
Road Master Mark Wilt 304 329 2065
October 11 Holly River State Park Fall Challenge (& Pig Roast), Hacker Valley, WV, Saturday 1:30 p.m.
www.hollyriver.com
1 800 CALL WVA (1 800 225 5982)
In a deep valley, one of the tour’s most beautiful roads, October colors, a trout stream, rhododendron thickets, a bridge to loft over, a massive stone pavilion for the medieval feast afterward.
Superintendent Ken McClintic 304 493 6353
November 2 Stonewall Resort Yankee Skedaddle, Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, Roanoke, WV
www.stonewallresort.com
1 888 278 8150, 304 269 8820
Stonewall Jackson “We see him now the old slouched hat/ Cocked O’er his eye askew/ The shrewd dry smile, his speech so pat/ So calm, so blunt, so true.”
Great Balls of Fire! Cannonballs will fly within spittin’ distance of the childhood home of Gen’ral Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. We Skedaddle Yankees all the way down the 1.3 mile Resort Road.
