European Youth Championships - EYC2024 — Riding the Ditch

This years European Youth Championships comes to you from the famous Tali bowl In Helsinki, Finland with 68 Girls and 101 Boys competing in this years event.

Team England, Scotland and Ireland anre being represented from our home nations competing against 21 other nations at this years competition (24 nations in total). Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine.

Last year we saw Team England bring home three Bronze medals. Both Girls and Boys teams won Bronze, along with Englands Dan Harding who also won bronze in the masters bringing the whole centre to silence in his round of 16 match.

This years competition will be held over the dates of 23rd May until the 1st of April 2024.

The Official EYC 2024 website can be accessed here where you will be able to find the full Schedule for the event

You can watch the full event Here

The UK Teams

England:

Boys: Kallum Peach, Charlie Upton, Frank Stephenson, Louie Dawson

Girls: Jessica Sillis, Olivia McCarthy, Yola Stephenson, Abbie Rhodes

and the Barmy Army!

Scotland:

Boys: Aaron Claxton, Ben Wallace, Thomas Carver, Kevin Shaw

Girls: Kelsi Cuthbert, Melissa Ainsley, Isla Claxton, Sarah Scott

Ireland:

Boys: Colum Staines and Dillon McKeown

Girls: Hannah Masterson, Laura Grant, Ciara Lawlor, Anna Lawlor

Team England EYC24 Squad

Team Ireland EYC24 Squad

Team Scotland EYC24 Squad

Reports:

Sunday 24th March (official Practice)

England: No Reports

Scotland: No Reports

Ireland: Team Manager Stephen Masterson on Irelands official practice. "The boys were up first this afternoon and the girls followed later. Everyone was eager to get onto the lanes and experience the world famous Tali Bowling Centre.

Monday 25th March (Boys Singles)

England: No Reports could be found on socials.

Scotland: Taken from the Scottish Tenpin Bowling Facebook Page. ‘Today our boys played singles and they gave 100% on the lanes… An excellent finishing position for Kevin and a valiant effort for Thomas, Aaron, and Ben who are competing in their first EYC.’

Ireland: Report from Team Ireland's Team Manager Stephen Masterson: "The boys kicked off the championships today with the singles event. The competition was very tough with Europe's best youth bowlers taking part, including Dillon McKeown and Colum Staines for Team Ireland.

There were 100 athletes taking part in the singles event. Dillon finished in 39th place and Colum finished in 65th place overall".

Tuesday 26th March (Girls Singles)

England: (Taken from Team England Facebook Page) Our first medal but what colour would it be at the end. The semi final saw Jessica up against Denmark's Karen Neilson. Both started with strikes before the dane took an early lead with a double to Jess' spare but came back with a strike in the third frame as the Dane hit a turkey. Karen was giving nothing away as she struck again with Jess on a spare in the fourth. Jess was not giving up and nailed the pocket in the fifth to see a 10pin standing and spare and the dane also leaving a corner pin now and a lead at the halfway point.

A split from the Dane would change things though and an open as Jess hit another spare. 18 pins in it as both struck in the seventh and a double in the eighth. A turkey put pressure on the Dane and she was up for it also hitting a turkey. Jessica in a must strike situation did so forcing Karen to strike again for the match. What a semi final and Jessica can be happy with her efforts for 226 and Bronze with the Dane on 256 and advancing to the final.

Scotland: No Reports could be found on Socials.

Ireland: Report from Team Ireland Manager Stephen Masterson: "The girls singles competition took place today and it was Hannah and Anna up first.

They both played extremely well with Hannah finishing in 2nd place and Anna finishing 26th place in the first squad. Ciara and Laura played in the second squad. Ciara finished in 11th place and Laura finished in 28th place in squad 2.

Out of 68 bowlers taking part Hannah finished in 7th place, Anna finished in 51st place, Ciara finished in 25th place and Laura finished in 55th place. Well done on a great performance".

Well Done Girls! 👏

Wednesday 27th March (Boys Doubles)

England: (Taken from Team England Facebook Page) First up in squad 1 and a mixed day in the end for our duo of Frank Stephenson and Kallum Peach. Both never really getting fully comfortable with the Tali lanes, starting with 378 and 370 before an improved 390 and 400 before tailing off with 366 and 360 for a total of 2264. Frank with 1042 and Kallum with 1222 and 31st overall.

A good start with 398,427 and 427 before Charlie hit 269 and Louie added 225 for a fine 494 which pushed them into 6th place in the squad with two to go. 406 meant it would go to the last game with 8 teams in the hunt for four places and a lot to do yet. Sadly it was not to be with a 356 final game and total of 2508 and 12th overall.

Scotland: Taken from Scotland Tenpin Bowling facebook page - Another good performance yesterday from our EYC boys doubles teams! Spirits are high, and game plans are looking good for going into the team event later this week.

Ireland: Day 3 Recap from Team Manager Stephen Masterson: "Day three of the EYC saw the Boys doubles taking place. Team Ireland (Colum and Dillon) played in the first squad. The boys performed very well in a very tough and competitive squad finishing in 9th place. Squad 2 saw some big games being put in, which eventually meant that the lads finished a very credible 24th overall out of 49 teams that took part".

After the Singles and Doubles disciplines Colum is sitting in 38th place and Dillon in 58th place.

Thursday 28th March (Girls Doubles)

England: (Taken from Team England Facebook Page) Doubles day on Thursday for the girls and first up was Yolanta Stephenson and Olivia McCarthy and a steady solid block placed them in the top five after five games with 385,415,387,426 and 387. In the last game things opened up and both hit fourbaggers with Yola added another for five in a row before Olivia doubled at the end for 236 as Yola added 223 for great 459 and into third place with a squad to go.

Avan and Jessica were next up on Thursday and a great start with 460 and a 247 from Jessica, 399 followed then 418 and 397 and pacing a top four placing but work still to do. 384 in game five then game six and Jessica opens with the front six but two splits from Avan kept things tense. She bounced back though closing frames as Jessica paced 279 going into the tenth frame. Avan ending with 157 and Jessica with 258 for 413 and overall of 2471 and fourth place.

England vs Norway and our pair would face off against Emilie Marie Aas and Madelen Thorsrudhagen Danielsen for the chance to advance for Gold. A great start as Abbie and Jessica whom fired doubles in the first two frames as Norway opened twice - instant pressure laid on by England.

Stone 8 for Avan, brutal but a spare and same from Jessica kept the early lead. Another open for Norway and a strike for Avan and Spare for Jessica in the fourth increased the lead to 55 pins then 69 pins by the end of the fifth frame.

If Norway were to get back in this then they needed to start striking and Emilie Marie Aas was the first to start a run with a turkey joined by Madelin Thorsrudhagen Danielsen double but Jessica counteracted this with a turkey. Avan’s left a couple of opens leaving her on 144 in the eighth with Jessica now holding up Norway with her four in a row. The lead now 52 going into the tenth frame.

Avan bounced back in the tenth with a big strike to massive cheers from the England fans and the top seeds were going home with a bronze and England advancing. Avan with 184 and Jessica 233 as Aas hit 193 and Danielsen with 188 for 381 to England's 417.

England vs the Czech Republic - Avan and Jessica up against Zuzana Kvasničková and Ema Iwazawa. Another great start for England with Avan shooting a quick fire double and strike followed by a spare for Jessica as Kvasničková opened twice and Iwazawa strike with a spare. Avan sending the fans into cheers with another for a turkey as Jess again could not take out the 10 pin but sparing.

A 42 pin lead for England after three frames and the Czech Republic not striking yet but Avan was and adding another for front four with Jessica going high for six she open by only taking thre of the 4 remaining. The Czech Kvasničková also opened and Iwazawa struck.

Could this get any better, yes it could as Avan hit front five and Jessica bouncing back with a strike in the fifth but the Czechs were now striking too. Arms in the air front six for Avan and Jessica adding an important double as the Czech were now running a double and a turkey. Englnads lead now just at 49 pins.

Pocket shot seven pin for Avan in frame seven spared, Jessica nailing a turkey with both Czechs striking and on a turkey and fourbagger. lead just 38 pins now and pressure is on for both teams.

Seven pin again for Avan in the eighth unfortunately opened but Jessica taking over the striking duties with a fourbagger and getting to be a must strike situation for the Czechs as we closed in on the ninth frame. Cheers for England as Abbie back on strike and Jessica five in a row. A clean tenth frame and the Gold would be England's.

A single pin miss by Iwazawa in the ninth and this was all but over, Avan hitting a double then adding one more and nine for 256. Jessica with six on the bounce and first in the tenth then nine spare for 233 and a massive 489 to the Czechs 407. Gold for Team England

Scotland: No reports Found on socials

Ireland: Day 4 Recap from Team Manager Stephen Masterson: "The girls doubles event was up today. All of the girls were looking forward to getting onto the lanes to show everyone what they could do. Laura and Anna were first up and put in a terrific performance finishing 8th in squad 1.

Second up were Hannah and Ciara, who performed exceptionally well finishing 4th in their squad and narrowly missing out on the finals by 27 pins. The girls were disappointed with missing out on the finals, but should be proud of how they performed. Well done everyone".

Following the Singles and Doubles disciplines Hannah Masterson is currently sitting in 8th, Ciara Lawlor in 20th, Laura Grant in 32nd, and Anna Lawlor in 55th in the Girls All Events.

Friday 29th March (Team Events)

England: No Report Found on Socials

Scotland:No Report Found on Socials

Ireland: Team Manager Report for Day 5: "Today was the Team Event at EYC. The boys started the morning with Block 1 playing Games 1 to 3. Dillon and Colum were paired with the Latvian bowler, and played out their 3 games giving it their all but the lane conditions changed very quickly and proved tough.

The girls played their Block 1 games this afternoon and hit the ground running. The girls put in a fantastic performance finishing in 2nd place after their first 3 games. The girls are in good spirits and looking forward to tomorrow".

Current Boys All Events: Colum Staines 53rd, Dillon McKeown 66th

Current Girls All Events: Hannah Masterson 6th, Laura Grant 22nd, Ciara Lawlor 23rd, Anna Lawlor 54th

The Top 16 Boys and Girls after the conclusion of the Team Events will advance to the Masters.

Sunday 30th March (Team Events)

England: Big efforts on day two of the team event but sadly not to be and on we go to Sunday's Masters...

Boys: The team event would be bowled over two days and first up for England were the boys. Game 1 and a 232 high from Frank and team game of 764. Game 2 and the strikes were not flowing yet as we hit 746 and a high of 201 from Louie. Game 3 and ending with 735 and a high from Kallum with 215 and Frank overall with 638. 15th after the first block and work to do on Saturday.

Day two of the team event and the boys were off to a flying start in game one with 907 and a fine 278 from Kallum and 219 from Louie. Game two and 808 in the books with a 218 high from Frank and the team up to 6th place. 755 to end with and 205 the top score from Charlie. An overall of 4715 in 8th place.

Girls: Next up in the team event were the girls and hopes high after the joy of the day before. Game 1 and 770 on the board with a high of 205 from Olivia and 203 from Jessica. Game 2 and strikes beginning to come and an improved 797 with high from Jessica with 220. Game three and only a few errors or split opens was stopping the bigger scores coming and a final game of 753 and a high from Jessica 256 with a total of 2320.

The second block switched saw the girls up first and morning lanes causing a few unforced errors and a 682 game with high from Abbie with 196. An improved 5th game saw the team hit 749 and Jessica back on form with 200 and still a shot at an all events medal. Game 3 improved again with 808 and Jessica again tops with 225 and overall of 4559 and 9th place.

Scotland: No reports could be found on Scotland’s socials.

Ireland:EYC Team Manager Stephen Masterson's Day 6 Recap!

"Block 2 of the Team Event was played out today, and what a great day it was. The girls played brilliantly throughout the team event and the months of hard work paid off with a bronze medal. The girls should be so proud of their achievement. Not to forget a superb 300 game by Hannah Masterson in the final game of the Team Event. Also, Watch out for the Team interview with their fabulous Coach David Staines.

The boys ended their EYC campaign with the Team Event. They put in a good performance against tough competition.

All the Team are in good spirits looking forward to supporting Hannah who qualified for the Masters tomorrow".

Hannah will be taking to the lanes at 7am Irish Time in the Masters against Czech Republic's Ema Iwazawa!

Massive well done to Colum Staines and Dillon McKeown who finished the Boys All Events in 60th and 75th respectively, and to Ciara Lawlor, Laura Grant, and Anna Lawlor who finished the Girls All Events in 21st, 24th, and 45th respectively.