Larkin secures tenpin open title
By Simon Walsh
TALLAGHT’S Amanda Larkin maintained her standing as the number one female tenpin bowler in Ireland last weekend when she claimed her second Women’s Irish Open title in as many years.
Larkin had a remarkable 2015, winning the Women’s Irish Open last January and then claiming all six gold medals available to her at the National Championships, and 2016 looks as if it could be equally as successful.
Coming through the early rounds Larkin said she felt it was unlikely that she would replicate her achievement of 12 months ago, but once the competition reached the business end things changed.
“I didn’t really feel like I would make any impact on the tournament in the early part of the week, I was probably trying too hard to register a high score” she explained.
“Towards the end of the week something just switched, my bowling felt effortless, and I really think this competition has been a game-changer for me.
“I really feel, probably for the first time, that I bowled to the best of my ability over the last week, and to finish how I did was great.”
As the only female competitor to qualify for the final 32, Larkin automatically took the Women’s title, and she made it all the way to the quarter-finals in the overall competition where she lost to Ron Hurt who beat her last year too.
While competing in the Irish Open the Tallaght native was also bowling in the ALSAA Open at the same time, and she blew the field away, registering a mammoth amount of overs.
Bowling an average of 233, which is championship level, Larkin now heads into the National Championships in February in superb form.
She said: “I really have taken a lot from the last week, probably because the level of competition in this year’s Irish Open was the highest it has ever been.
“It really felt as if I was there to compete and win and not just take part and I’m delighted with the win.”
