Harvey and Snell take on world’s best U25s
GUERNSEY’S Ben Harvey and Catherine Snell will be among 24 elite bowlers battling it out for coveted world junior indoor singles titles next week in Northern Ireland.
The Jim Baker Stadium, named after the 1984 world champion, in Ballyclare will host players from 14 countries for the rebranded International Indoor Bowls Council event.
‘Home’ countries representatives will start as favourites for the titles, with the majority of them having made their mark at senior level with England star Harry Goodwin, for example, having won the national outdoor Champion of Champions title in August while Ruby Hill has won three national titles in five years.
However, the home heroes will have to be on their mettle to meet the challenge presented by some brilliant overseas competitors, including high profile players like Australia’s rising star Nick Cahill, who has been making waves Down Under, and his fellow Aussie Brianna Smith.
‘New’ countries such as Hungary and Switzerland will also be represented.
In both the men’s and women’s singles, over five hectic days from 4-9 December, the players will compete in two round-robin groups of six, aiming to clinch places in the knockout stages.
Harvey has been drawn in the same section as Cahill and Goodwin as well as Hong Kong’s Chow Ho Yin, Adam Rankin of Ireland and Angel Gomez of the USA.
Snell will come up against Hill, Sarolta Schrank of Hungary, Ireland’s Shauna O’Neill, Ellie Dixon from Norfolk Island and Larissa Rubin of Switzerland.
The Sarnian duo will join forces in the mixed pairs event.
