EYC 2008 Helsinki
Kirsty Belchem & Chelsie Pyle from Whitstable YBC formed part of the
six girl Team England squad. They arrived in Helsinki on Friday 14th
March for the ten day tournament. Sunday was practise day where they
were given an allocated time to try out the lanes; it was
the opening ceremony that evening. Both girls started their 18 games
of competition 6 games doubles on Monday, 6 games trios Wednesday, 6
games team on the Friday & Saturday. After battling against some
very strong opposition in the doubles Kirsty hit a new personal
series of 695 finishing 24th, and Chelsie finishing 17th
with a 187 average. In the trios Kirsty & Chelsie teamed up with
Laura Ellis from Dorset to finish in 9th place with a combined
team average of 199. But it was in the team event that the girls
pulled together to help England win silver medal Kirsty hit the
highest average of 216 in the team, and Chelsie with an average of
189. It was a great achievement for England to take the silver from
the Swedish team as they were one of the favourites in the
competition along with Holland who won the Gold. Kirsty finished a
very respectable17th in the all events making it through to the
masters, but unfortunately Kirsty went out in the first round.
