JACKIE SMYTH

Nickname on bowling green: Wibbly

How did you get the nickname: Supposedly because I wobbled my bowls

DOB/Age: 18.12.1966 :41 years young

Occupation: Sales Manager

What format did you start playing: Shortmat

Which was your first club: Magherafelt

Which formats have you played and which do you still play:
Shortmat, Stadium and Outdoor. I still play shortmat and outdoor

Which format do you prefer to play: Outdoor

Reason: I love the outdoors and the challenges that the different weather conditions bring

Make, model, size, colour and weight of bowls used for each format: 
Henselite Plain size 6 Black

Person who introduced you to bowls: My dad

Who has been the biggest influence on your bowling career:  
Bertie Ritchie and Sammy Evans

Who would you most like to meet: God

Interests outside bowls: Family, Church and watching Man United

Childhood Sporting hero: Stuart  Pearson centre forward for United

Most memorable moment [in life and in bowls]:  
In life the birth of my 2 sons Ryan and Cameron
From a bowls perpestive winning British Isles Triples with my dad and beating Gary Lawson in Victoria 94. He is the current outdoor pairs and fours gold medallist 

If you could change one policy/rule what would it be:  
Giving the jack away makes it difficult for spectators

What do you regard as your best or most satisfying achievement in bowls: Competing in the commonwealth games singles in 1994

What goal[s] do you have in bowls: To win another irish senior cup medal   and add to the one I have already won age 15

At what age did you make your international debut in each format:  
19 stadium (15 caps) 24 outdoor (11 caps)

What year: 1986   and 1992

How many national titles have you won, which format and discipline: 
Outdoor 5 winners 2 U-25 AND 3 Triples

What outdoor green is the best you have played on in the world:
Hong Kong cricketclub

In UK: Worthing

In NI: Ballymena

Most difficult opponent: Jeremy Henry

Which opponent [if any] do you regularly play that usually beats you:
Jeremy Henry although I have managed to beat him twice in rinks which he has forgotten about

What frustrates you most when playing?  
Bad sportsmanship and bad language

Would you be in favour of players forming their own think-tank and having a place on the management committee of each outdoor association including the IBA: 
Yes as they have lots to offer and bring to the table

Do you think respected past and current internationals should be invited to have an input with the u25s: 
Absolutely again because they have so much experience and can give great advice

Other titles or near misses: 
World Indoor Singles 1995 beaten by Mervyn King
Jersey Classic 1993 Singles runner up
Hong Kong Classic 1995 Quarter Final beaten by the winner a certain Noel Graham
Finished 7th in Commonwealth out of 22 in 1994
Phil McFall beat me in final of irish indoor singles
Beaten in semi final of irish indoor singles by Corkill 21-18

Which clubs have you belonged to for each format: 
Shortmat: Cookstown High and currently 1st Magherafelt
Outdoor: Magherafelt and currently Cookstown

Why did you move:
In shortmat I wanted to go back to my own church as they were struggling to get out a team and the High had loads of good players although it is rumoured they are looking me back again to skip a rink

In outdoor Magherafelt had lost a lot of good players and had no young people in their club. At the time Colin Hogg was moving from Portrush to Cookstown so we joined Cookstown in 1995 together much to the annoyance of a certain Wibbly Wobbly (the real one)  

Who do you regard as a good prospects:
Outdoor - Clark Hill if committed is the best of the bunch