European Women Bowling Championships 2024

June 5-16th 2024 in Wittelshiem, France

The European Women Bowling Championships 2024 will be held in the Cristal Bowling in Wittelsheim, France from 5th June until 16th of June 2024.

Please visit the Official website here

Athletes

Rachel Cox, Hayley Russell, Hannah Ailes, Lorna Scott, Vicki Harman, Natasja Ailes

Reports

SINGLES

Rachel and Hannah were first up on Friday for the six game block and a steady start saw Rachel with 175 and Hannah with 190. The up and down started as Rachel then hit 210 and 160 and Hannah with 134 and 247 as we reached the halfway point. Further games of 165 and 184 for Rachel and 180,213 for Hannah showed both were not too far from the strikes flowing. Game six and 181 for Hannah (1145) and 192 (1086) for Rachel.

Next up on Friday were Vicki and Natasja and Vicki was flying with a 245 and Natasja with 188. A slight dip for Vicki in game 2 with 178 saw then a run of good games 226,215,196 and 190 for 1250. Natasja adding games of 174,183,201,202 and ending with a disappointing 136 after battling so well in the block and ending with 1084.

Saturday saw our final pair of Lorna and Hayley take to the lanes to complete the singles. Lorna opening with 187 and getting better and better with 190 and 200. Hayley finding herself and the lanes with 191 then 172 and then fireworks and front 8 in game three for 268. A drop then for Lorna with 157 but back up to 181 as Hayley hit a par 201 and then up to 244 and into 5th in the squad. The final game saw Lorna struggle at first with open frames but stringing strikes at the end for 183 and 1098 overall. Hayley with one strike and putting in a masterclass in sparing for 183 and 1263.

DOUBLES

Rachel and Hannah up first for England in the Doubles and a great start with 436 before a dip to 367 and 389 then back up to 406 and 437 put the pair in fourth with a game to go. A 414 game to end with gave the pair a total of 2449, holding fourth place and 1159 for Rachel and a fine 1290 for Hannah. 13th at the end.

The second squad of the day saw Vicki and Natasja on the French lanes and off to the races early with 412 and 442 before a dip to 365 and back up to 404 and in seventh in the squad after four games. 389 in game five and up to sixth with a game to go. 432 to end with for an overall of 2444 and a fantastic 1328 for Vicki and 1118 for Natasja. 16th at the end.

The final doubles squad on Monday saw Lorna and Hayley return to the lanes and games of 392,398,385,336,424 and 356 gave the pair a total of 2291 with 1188 for Lorna and 1156 for Hayley. 26th at the end.

TRIOS

Tuesday saw the beginning of the trios and two squads with games 1-3 being played. Hannah, Vicki and Hayley were first up for England and games 0f 599 and 598 placed the trio in 6th as we headed for the last game of the block. 569 to end with and overall of 1766 with Hannah on 558, Vicki with 574 and Hayley with 634.

In the second block our trio of Natasja, Rachel and Lorna came out of the blocks running with Natasja and Rachel on the front five. Natasja going to a six pack and ending with a 244 and the team with 614. Game 2 and Natasja with 225 Rachel 212 and Lorna 211 for an improved 648. game three our trio rolled 542 for a total of 1804, Natasja 655 Rachel 619 Lorna 530.

The Trios continued on Wednesday with squad 2 back on the lanes for games 4-6. A good start for England with 624 followed by a dip to 531 but back up to 622 at the end and a total of 3581. Natasja with 1180, Rachel with 1245 and Lorna with 1156.

TEAM

Day 1 of the Team event started on Thursday with games 1-3 and a really good block for our team as they rolled games of 1030, 1021 and peaking at the end with 1084 and sitting nicely in the top six. Hannah with 595, Vicki with 599, Rachel with 676, Lorna with 617 and Hayley with 648. In the combined, Natasja rolled games of 247,176 and 224 for 647.

Block 2 and sitting in fourth our team started the day as they left off the previous one with a fine 1084 and up to third place. A 1014 followed and the omens were looking good for a finals place with a game to go. The only game under 1000 in game six at 957 but enough to advance to the team finals.

Team Finals

We have a great history in the womens team event and another chance in France to add a medal to that rich past. Bronze was in the bag but Sweden were in the way of advancing to the final and a chance of Gold or Silver and this would as always be a tough match.

So it proved to be and close through the match as England were striking and Sweden were looking edgy at times. Nerves too for England as Sweden fought back and we closed on the final frames. Lorna though was on fire on a front five spare 279 pace and Vicki stringing six in a row as the Swedish Singles champion Nora Johansson was strugging to strike. Anna Andersson and Hanna Engberg were striking and this one was going Sweden’s way. At the end the Swede’s pulled away and won 1097-1003 and Bronze for England. Hannah with 189, Vicki 244, Rachel 148, Lorna 241 and Hayley 181.

ALL EVENTS

After all games were rolled we got Hayley in the Masters in 17th place

MASTERS

Match 1 – Hayley Russell 0-0 Sanna Oksanen (Finland)

This would not be easy, no masters matches would be simple and getting through the first round would be tough against a Finn but Hall of Famer Hayley was up to the task. Sanna was first to blink as she opened in frame three as Hayley was closed through four. A double from Hayley in frames four and five opened up an advantage and 20 pin lead. An open frame from Hayley and double from Sanna in the seventh frame close this one back up again. A double from Hayley in the eighth and turkey from Sanna and they were neck and neck going into the ninth. Turkey from Hayley, spare from Sanna and advantage England. Fourbagger for Hayley and tenpin spare for 225 as Sanna went off the sheet for 215. One up.

Game 2 and Hayley opening up with a fourbagger as Sanna struck spared and doubled. Front five for Hayley showed she was not messing about and wanted this one ended quickly but Sanna standing tall with a Turkey and pushing all the way on a 280 pace. Six pack for Hayley and fourbagger for Sanna and what a match. Seven in a row as Hayley layed on the pressure but Sanna firm again with five in a row now. Eight for Hayley and ten pin spare for Sanna. A ten pin leave and spare for Hayley in the ninth and the perfect game was over as Sanna struck. Strike int etenth and well and truly over despite Sanna hitting a double. A tenpin leave for Hayley and 269-248.

Lanes 13/14

Game 1 Hayley 225 – 215 Sanna Oksanen
Game 2 Hayley 269 – 248 Sanna Oksanen

(2-0)

Masters Round 2

Hayley Russell 0-0 Franziska Czech (Germany)

Next up for Hayley in the Masters was Germany’s Franziska Czech and another tough opponent who had all week shot over 1300 in all the events. Spares early on in game 1 for Hayley as Franziska spared, struck then split opened. The German was back strong with a double and matched by Hayley as we hit the mid point of the game. A turkey for Franziska and spare for Hayley in the sixth frame levelled the match. Hayley with a split open in the seventh and spare from the Germany saw Hayley chasing the game. Thirteen pin lead to Germany going into the eighth frame and spares from both. The strikes were not flowing and a tenpin in the ninth for Hayley while Franziska struck. A light hit six count for Hayley in the tenth meant this one was going Germany’s way. 187-206 and one down.

A shaky start for both players in game two as Hayley struck then opened then spared and the German opened, spared then struck. A double for Franziska put Hayley on the back foot early on and the ten was just not falling. Then it was Germanys turn to say hello the the ten pin in the fifth frame and stopping the run of strikes but a six count washout for Hayley was making things difficult. A good spare made though to keep the hopes alive. Franziska back on strike in the sixth frame and a 14 pin lead as Hayley matched the strike.

The german then doubled and Hayley washed out again and this one was slipping away. Plenty pockets shots for Hayley but nothing great to show for it as we hit the eighth. A ten pin from Franziska gave some hope but an eight split open from Hayley and this one was sadly all but over. Hayley won one of our last EWC medals back in 2016 and after two children return back again in 2024 helping the team to a Bronze and making the masters. It ended 214-159 and (0-2).

Lanes 9/10

Game 1 Hayley 187 – 206 Franziska Czech
Game 2 Hayley 159 – 214 Franziska Czech