The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

It was "surreal" for Uchenna Ijeoma-Delva as she won her first women's title at the Bahamas Bowling Federation's BTC National Bowling Championships, but "routine" for David Slatter as he repeated as the men's champion.

In an unprecedented performance in the stepladder final on Sunday at Mario's Bowling and Family Entertainment Centre, Ijeoma-Delva came from the fifth spot to knock off No.4 seed Marina McClain, No.3 Janice Hoyte, No.2 Jonice Lockhart and No.1 Driskell Rolle on her way to clinching the title.

Slatter, on the other hand, pulled off two consecutive victories over No.3 seed Mario Brown and No.2 seed Leonardo 'Lee' Davis to retain his crown.

The performances by Ijeoma-Delva and Slatter wrapped up a two-week tournament and earned them both a trip to the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico, November 4-12.

Ijeoma-Delva's

stunning feat

As the No.5 seed, Ijeoma-Delva took on McClain in the first match and easily won 192-131. She then held of Hoyte 175-157 before she dethroned Lockhart, the defending champion, 194-160.

If that wasn't enough, Ijeoma-Delva wasn't done until she paraded through her first National Championship final with an impressive 214-174 victory over Rolle, the 2015 champion.

"It was an awesome experience being in this position for the first time," said Ijeoma-Delva, who surprisingly is a newcomer to the sport. "I also want to thank God because without him, none of this would have been possible."

As she began the stepladder final, Ijeoma-Delva said she didn't expect the progression to go as she did without having any rest.

"I just went out there and tried to stay focused," said the 38-year-old banker at the Bank of the Bahamas.

After getting through the first match against McClain, Ijeoma-Delva said she had a worse, but closest match against Hoyte in what really pushed her to the limit.

"I think I made a mistake on the tenth frame, but I managed to get through it," she stressed. "I was happy for that because I was able to prove that I belonged in the stepladder against such a talented field."

Looking back at the intense struggle that she encountered, Ijeoma-Delva admitted that nobody could have prepared her for the challenge.

"I didn't have a rest so every time I went out there and played a game, I prayed to God," she said. "Sonny Lockhart was there, pushing me telling me that I could do it, stay strong and finish strong."

As she completed the final in grand style, Ijeoma-Delva said she never knew the word "surreal," but she realized what it was when she was crowned the new champion.

"I think I knew I had it from the eighth frame," said Ijeoma-Delva, who celebrated the day with her husband, George, whose birthday was also on Sunday. "It's just a great feeling for me."

Ijeoma-Delva said she was also happy for Slatter, who pulled of the men's title.

Second of five titles for Slatter

On the men's side of the tournament, Slatter had to wait for the third match to compete.

He watched as No.4 seed Tyrone Knowles eliminated No.5 seed Greg Taylor, the Bahamas Cricket Association president, 160-157 and No.3 seed Mario Brown sent Knowles packing 179-168.

In his first match, Slatter prevailed 197-157 over Brown and he finished the job with an epic final against long-time rival Lee Davis in a 207-203 decision.

While it was a repeat for Slatter, it was his fifth title adding to his triumphs in 1986, 1989, 1997 and 2016, the first three coming at the now dismantled Village Bowling Lanes.

"Anytime you win, it's a sense of accomplishment and achievement," Slatter said. "I didn't bowl as well as I would have liked too during the qualifying.

"But I kept trying to find my game and one could argue that I found it on the last day of qualifying on Saturday. Fortunately, that form carried over to Sunday in the TV final. I'm very excited to be the first five-time champion and the first male to repeat as champion."

Throughout his reign as 'Mr Consistent' bowler, as he's affectionately known, Slatter has met Davis five times and he's now holding a 3-2 advantage, losing only in 1990 and 2014.

"It's a good rivalry that has been going on from 1989 to the present," Slatter said. "We're going to see what happens next year. I know if I win three in a row, I get to take the trophy home.

"But you can never take it for granted. You have to savor the moment. It was so close that Lee could have won, but things just went my way and I won."

On his arrival home that night, Slatter said his family was waiting for him with a plaque that read: Congratulations five-time repeat champion. We're proud of you."