The 7th stop of the Brunswick Team England season was the Croydon Classic. The top men's spot went to Steve Thornton for his second ranking event win this year. The ladies went down to the wire in the last game with Nikki Harvey winning back-to-back BTE titles.
Jason Belmonte, Australia, and Britt Bröndsted of Denmark remained the men's and women's No. 1 Europe as only one man and four women from the European top 10 participated in the Malta Open Championships. Zara Glover (England, pictured), third place finisher in Malta, narrowed the gap to 23 points. Runner-up Helen Johnson, Sweden, moved into third place. Nikolay Ovchinnikovs, Latvia, finished 14th but remained in 7th place in the men's rankings.
Eden SuperBowl in St. Julians, Malta (June 14-18, 2006)
Chris van Damme, Belgium, topped tournament leader Thomas Gross, Austria, 218-186, to successfully defend his title in the Malta Open Championships. On the women's side, Tanya Petty of Germany won three matches including a 276-181 victory against No. 1 seed Helén Johnsson, Sweden, in the championship match on her way to the title.
Though Australian Jason Belmonte didn't participate in the Dutch Open 2006 in Scheveningen and Britt Bröndsted of Denmark missed the first cut, the duo continued to lead the men's and women's European Rankings after ten out of twenty events.
Dolfijn Bowling in Scheveningen, Netherlands (June 7-11, 2006)
Swede Mikael Kanold (left) flew past Ahmed Shaheen, Qatar, 198-139, en route to win the Dutch Open 2006 at Dolfijn Bowling in Scheveningen, Netherlands, and the 10.000 Euro top prize. Isabelle Saldjian (right), France, won the women's rankings.
Former French international Pierre Luc Sanchez walked away the winner in the 1st Caissargues International Open at Bowling One in Caissargues near Nimes, France. Sanchez averaged 210,45 for eleven games and compiled a 7-4 match play record en route to win the title with 2525 pinfall total and earn the big 7.000 Euro first-place check.
Two-time defending women's champion Olga Tarasova of Simferopol and 2004 men's champion Mykhaylo Kalika, Odessa, cliamed the titles in the 2006 Ukraine National Championships. 86 players from various regions qualified for the finals of the at "Мі 100" bowling center in Lviv, Ukraine, May 25-28.
Australian Jason Belmonte made history when he received 60 ranking points for finishing fourth in the Aalborg International to become the first non-European bowler to lead the European rankings. The top 8 men and women at the end of the season qualify for the 2007 World ranking Masters to be held in Doha, Qatar. Players from the Asian and American Zone and even professional bowlers can qualify for the WRM through the European Bowling Tour.
Christer Danielsson of Sweden defeated Arne Arnesen, Norway, 248-217, to win the Oslo Senior Tournament at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway, and the 16.000 Norwegian Kronor top prize (approx. 2.053 Euro). The two players already led the 112 player field from seven countries after qualifying. Arnesen, who received 7 pins age bonus per game, won the 12-game qualifying with 2920 pinfall total, an average of 236,33. Danielsson (0 bonus) was second with 2908 and an average of 242,33.
Former internationals Phil Scammell and Nikki Harvey won the 6th event of the 2006 Brunswick Team England season, the Scott Banks Memorial in Leeds, England. there was some very good bowling at AMF Bowling Leeds this year including a 300 by Gareth Holder, three 299s, one 298 and 1102 four-game series by 18-year-old local Matt Hann.
Swedish women dominate the championships winning 5/6 gold medals
Anita Socorro, France, and Raimo Parkkinen, Finland, won the coveted Masters title at the 8th European Bowling Championships of the Deaf in Muntelier, Switzerland. Socorro defetaed top-seeded Ine Lorentzen of Norway, 432-357, while Parkkinen, Finland, flew past Martin Visser, Netherlands, 458-366.
Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark (May 22-28, 2006)
In an All-Finnish affair, Lasse Lintilä topped Jouni Helminen, 225-192, to win his second EBT major title of the 2006 season in the Brunswick Aalborg International and the 11.000 Euro top prize. Helminen, who sidelined Tomas Leandersson in the semis, settled for second place, worth 7.000 Euro. Lintilä ousted Australian Jason Belmonte in the other semi-final. Leandersson and Belmonte, who moved into the lead in the European rankings, earned 4.000 Euro apiece.
Top six qualify for 2006 World and European Championships
Melvin Ocando Caballero (pictured) and Dulce Fernandez Rodriguez walked away the winners in the 1st Spanish Masters in Barcelona last weekend. The players competed in a 56-game format on dual lane condition (long and short oil). Ocando felled 10643 pins and averaged 204,67 en route to lead the men's division. Fernandez posted a 9646 pinfall total, an average of 185,50.
beats 4-time defending champion Unistahl in final match, 1085-1066
Like the mythical Phoenix bird rising from the ashes, Bowling Sports Club Phoenix came from nowhere to win its first ever title in the 2006 Austrian National Team Championships in Innsbruck. Manuel Mrosek, Christian Schrempf, Michi Loos, Walter Gonaus, and Robert Wölki topped 8-time champion and 4-time defending champion BC Unistahl in the very last game, 1085-1066 to seal the victory.
Bowling Arena in Stuttgart, Germany (May 10-14, 2006)
The 2006 German National Doubles Championships were held at Bowling Arena in Stuttgart, May 10-14, 2006. Multiple German champion Philip Meinke of Berlin teamed with Tanja Chelmowski en route to win the mixed doubles title, while local favorites Manuela Krause and Melanie Börner won the the women doubles. Stefan Bock and Christian Döring of Premnitz were the surprising winners of the men's doubles title.
The Cheltenham Open Singles was the fifth event of the 2006 Brunswick Team England ranking season. Unusual enough that Steve Thornton and Jo Harries became the fifth men's and fifth women's champion this year. The first round (six games) was contested on short oil, while the second round (four games) was played on long oil with alternating long and short in the finals.
Sarpsborg Bowlingcenter in Sarpsborg, Norway (May 13-14, 2006)
Mads Sandbækken and Heidi Thorstensen were crowned men's and women's champions in the Norwegian National Championships at Sarpsborg Bowlingcenter on Sunday, May 14. Sandbækken made quick work of No. 3 seed Per Kristian Eide, 229-189, to win the men's title. Thorstensen defeated Patcharin Torgersen in the decider, 234-194, to wrap up the women's title.
Josef Wiener, a true bowling legend, has passed away unexpectedly on April 23 in Linz, Austria at the age of 76. After emigrating to Sweden the Austrian became captivated by bowling, a love affair that lasted for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Swedish national team and won numerous titles before he started a second career as international bowling coach. Wiener is survived by his two daughters, Monica and Kristina.
Marcel Endries (left) of Germany and Fabio Coduti of Switzerland won the titles in Category A and B in the 2nd Youth GP in Zurich, Switzerland. 14-year-old Manuel Pflügl of Germany set the highlight of the tournament when he shot a 300-game in the first game of the semifinals in Category B.
Lucio Fiorani rolled three consecutive high 2-game series en route to win the 29th Grand Prix Zurich at Bowling Center Beseco in Rümikon, Switzerland. Fiorani started the six-player knockout finals with 499, then posted a 447-set in the Round of 4. In the championship match, Fiorani shot games of 232 and 213 to defeat Göran Persson, both of Switzerland, 445-398.
Jason Belmonte, Australia, and Britt Bröndsted of Denmark remained the men's and women's No. 1 Europe as only one man and four women from the European top 10 participated in the Malta Open Championships. Zara Glover (England, pictured), third place finisher in Malta, narrowed the gap to 23 points. Runner-up Helen Johnson, Sweden, moved into third place. Nikolay Ovchinnikovs, Latvia, finished 14th but remained in 7th place in the men's rankings.
Chris van Damme, Belgium, topped tournament leader Thomas Gross, Austria, 218-186, to successfully defend his title in the Malta Open Championships. On the women's side, Tanya Petty of Germany won three matches including a 276-181 victory against No. 1 seed Helén Johnsson, Sweden, in the championship match on her way to the title.
Though Australian Jason Belmonte didn't participate in the Dutch Open 2006 in Scheveningen and Britt Bröndsted of Denmark missed the first cut, the duo continued to lead the men's and women's European Rankings after ten out of twenty events. 
Swede Mikael Kanold (left) flew past Ahmed Shaheen, Qatar, 198-139, en route to win the Dutch Open 2006 at Dolfijn Bowling in Scheveningen, Netherlands, and the 10.000 Euro top prize. Isabelle Saldjian (right), France, won the women's rankings. 
Former French international Pierre Luc Sanchez walked away the winner in the 1st Caissargues International Open at Bowling One in Caissargues near Nimes, France. Sanchez averaged 210,45 for eleven games and compiled a 7-4 match play record en route to win the title with 2525 pinfall total and earn the big 7.000 Euro first-place check. 
Two-time defending women's champion Olga Tarasova of Simferopol and 2004 men's champion Mykhaylo Kalika, Odessa, cliamed the titles in the 2006 Ukraine National Championships. 86 players from various regions qualified for the finals of the at "Мі 100" bowling center in Lviv, Ukraine, May 25-28. 
Australian Jason Belmonte made history when he received 60 ranking points for finishing fourth in the Aalborg International to become the first non-European bowler to lead the European rankings. The top 8 men and women at the end of the season qualify for the 2007 World ranking Masters to be held in Doha, Qatar. Players from the Asian and American Zone and even professional bowlers can qualify for the WRM through the European Bowling Tour. 
Christer Danielsson of Sweden defeated Arne Arnesen, Norway, 248-217, to win the Oslo Senior Tournament at Veitvet Bowling Center in Oslo, Norway, and the 16.000 Norwegian Kronor top prize (approx. 2.053 Euro). The two players already led the 112 player field from seven countries after qualifying. Arnesen, who received 7 pins age bonus per game, won the 12-game qualifying with 2920 pinfall total, an average of 236,33. Danielsson (0 bonus) was second with 2908 and an average of 242,33. 
Former internationals Phil Scammell and Nikki Harvey won the 6th event of the 2006 Brunswick Team England season, the Scott Banks Memorial in Leeds, England. there was some very good bowling at AMF Bowling Leeds this year including a 300 by Gareth Holder, three 299s, one 298 and 1102 four-game series by 18-year-old local Matt Hann. 
Anita Socorro, France, and Raimo Parkkinen, Finland, won the coveted Masters title at the 8th European Bowling Championships of the Deaf in Muntelier, Switzerland. Socorro defetaed top-seeded Ine Lorentzen of Norway, 432-357, while Parkkinen, Finland, flew past Martin Visser, Netherlands, 458-366. 
In an All-Finnish affair, Lasse Lintilä topped Jouni Helminen, 225-192, to win his second EBT major title of the 2006 season in the Brunswick Aalborg International and the 11.000 Euro top prize. Helminen, who sidelined Tomas Leandersson in the semis, settled for second place, worth 7.000 Euro. Lintilä ousted Australian Jason Belmonte in the other semi-final. Leandersson and Belmonte, who moved into the lead in the European rankings, earned 4.000 Euro apiece. 
Melvin Ocando Caballero (pictured) and Dulce Fernandez Rodriguez walked away the winners in the 1st Spanish Masters in Barcelona last weekend. The players competed in a 56-game format on dual lane condition (long and short oil). Ocando felled 10643 pins and averaged 204,67 en route to lead the men's division. Fernandez posted a 9646 pinfall total, an average of 185,50. 
Like the mythical Phoenix bird rising from the ashes, Bowling Sports Club Phoenix came from nowhere to win its first ever title in the 2006 Austrian National Team Championships in Innsbruck. Manuel Mrosek, Christian Schrempf, Michi Loos, Walter Gonaus, and Robert Wölki topped 8-time champion and 4-time defending champion BC Unistahl in the very last game, 1085-1066 to seal the victory. 
The Cheltenham Open Singles was the fifth event of the 2006 Brunswick Team England ranking season. Unusual enough that Steve Thornton and Jo Harries became the fifth men's and fifth women's champion this year. The first round (six games) was contested on short oil, while the second round (four games) was played on long oil with alternating long and short in the finals.
Mads Sandbækken and Heidi Thorstensen were crowned men's and women's champions in the Norwegian National Championships at Sarpsborg Bowlingcenter on Sunday, May 14. Sandbækken made quick work of No. 3 seed Per Kristian Eide, 229-189, to win the men's title. Thorstensen defeated Patcharin Torgersen in the decider, 234-194, to wrap up the women's title. 
Josef Wiener, a true bowling legend, has passed away unexpectedly on April 23 in Linz, Austria at the age of 76. After emigrating to Sweden the Austrian became captivated by bowling, a love affair that lasted for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Swedish national team and won numerous titles before he started a second career as international bowling coach. Wiener is survived by his two daughters, Monica and Kristina. 
Marcel Endries (left) of Germany and Fabio Coduti of Switzerland won the titles in Category A and B in the 2nd Youth GP in Zurich, Switzerland. 14-year-old Manuel Pflügl of Germany set the highlight of the tournament when he shot a 300-game in the first game of the semifinals in Category B.
Lucio Fiorani rolled three consecutive high 2-game series en route to win the 29th Grand Prix Zurich at Bowling Center Beseco in Rümikon, Switzerland. Fiorani started the six-player knockout finals with 499, then posted a 447-set in the Round of 4. In the championship match, Fiorani shot games of 232 and 213 to defeat Göran Persson, both of Switzerland, 445-398.