What Dru did in Ireland

A packed suitcase under one arm and my bowls bag under the other, I set off for Exeter Airport to catch the Flybe flight to Belfast City where I am to play with my other team members, Ruth Rogers, Barbara Bellamy and Sian Gordon in the British Isles Championships. We are playing in the 4′s and will be facing teams from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Channel Islands.

It’s been a long time since I have been anywhere on a plane and things are not as they were when I last flew. Electronic ‘check in’ for a start, and it’s a good job there was someone there who understood where I was going or I could have ended up in Dubai.

Body search, shoes off and handbag X rayed, followed by a very strange look from the man as my hand luggage goes through the X-ray machine. They are bowls, I explain, and he gives me a strange look, but as there is no long fizzing fuse on them he lets them pass. Everything is fine and I eventually board the plane. Window seat? Not sure if that is a good idea but hey ho, and suddenly we are rushing along the runway. I had forgotten how wonderful it feels to be travelling at such speed and then that glorious feeling of a power charged lift off. The sky is clear and as Devon slips away beneath me I am mesmerised by the spectacular views. It looks just like a patchwork quilt. Within 10 minutes we are over the Bristol Channel and I look west and can clearly see Lundy Island. Wales and her moorlands pass 23,000 feet below as we race along at 350 mph. I’m like a gleeful kid.

Then it’s a gradual decent into George Best Belfast City Airport, the home of the Irish Assembly at Stormont and where Edward Harland and Gustav Wolfe built the White Star Liner, Titanic. It’s also the birthplace of Van Morrison (I’ve always been a fan).

I catch a taxi to the Stormont Hotel, which is opposite the Assembly building, and I settle in, having met some of the other English Competitors and the team manager Edna Bessell. (On our free day we went on an open top bus and saw all this first hand – Falls Road area and all the murals etc)

The Opening Ceremony – Monday. Having arrived at the Stadium the English team line up behind the Channel Islands for the march on, and when Land of Hope and Glory begins to play, we start to parade onto the arena. I have always been patriotic, and I am full. It’s a moment never to be forgotten. I march with my team mates in my England uniform and I feel like great.

Then the games begin. We watch as the Irish 4′s play against Scotland who win, and we know we will play them next, tomorrow. As this is the first joint (men’s and womem’s) Indoor International Championships we are able to watch our men compete as well. It promises to be a fantastic 4 days.

Then it’s our turn to play, and we know that if we beat Scotland we will play against the Welsh team with Betty Morgan MBE as their skip, who have just beaten the Channel Islands.

We beat Scotland with a narrow margin and we go on to beat Wales as well and as I stand with my arms around the rest of the team I can hardly believe it – we’ve done it, we are the British Isles Champions. WOW.  No one can describe to you how you would feel – I can’t really tell you either, but my Mum, who is the first person I call, is almost in tears, she is so proud. We laugh together and then its up to the bar for a celebration. Guinness, you can’t come to Ireland without having the famous brew.

The other English team members, men and women,  play out their disciplines along with us and we are their to support and cheer, and before we really know it we are taking part in the closing ceremony with the presentations: We again line up for this, in the same order, and to Land of Hope and Glory we file onto the arena once more. England have played exceptionally well in all the disciplines, 4′s, triples, pairs and under 25 singles all won their events. Our names are read out and we go forward to the President of the BIIBA and receive our medals and the trophy. Photo’s are taken and hands are shaken. I almost have to keep pinching myself to make sure this is not a dream.

We, all the team, have our last dinner at the Hotel and then on Friday we must all fly home. I have met some wonderful new friends and I hope that we can keep in touch.

Ruth, who has been sharing a room with me, and I have till 2pm when our flight leaves Belfast so we decide to cram as much into this time as possible. We go into the City to look around and discover Belfast Market. It is wonderful, street cafes with skillets of Irish stew and Paella are being cooked in full view, it would never happen here. The Irish are a colourful and garrulous people, kind and welcoming, I’ll be going back soon, I know. Ruth and I buy some beads for our bowls shoelaces (its all the rage out there) and wonder how it will be greeted in Devon. I expect the worse.

And so, its back to England. The flight is just as exhilarating as the trip out and I made sure I had a window seat. The Irish Sea which can be notorislously rough looks like a millpond, so the girls returning home on the ferry will be fine.

Devon comes up to meet me as we descend into Exeter airport and having landed we say goodbye to Edna, who was on the same flight as us. Ruth has her husband David with her, and we hug each other and make our farewells. I want to get home now.

Home: my friends at the club and in the office where I work, are all so pleased – I have loads of congrats cards and a bottle of champagne and some chocolates. I didn’t know I had so many friends.

You are all terrific people.

What more can I say, I’m home, plenty more bowling to come this indoor season and the outdoor season to look forward too: That’s another story.

Until next time……….

Dru Close signing off,
Feet not quite firmly on the ground,
But still grinning!