PPOTS 2023: Pauline Beattie (1/7)

World Ranking: 5
Order of Merit: 4

Pauline’s season started back in August with the season opening UK Open at Chelmsford. She was drawn into a tricky group with some top players in the mix for Cup qualification. The final group matches on Sunday morning would prove decisive with Pauline beating Dan Winmill & Bronagh Toleman beating Chris Mcwhinnie, This meant Pauline secured 2^nd spot ahead of Bronagh on shot difference, with Dan topping the group. Some impressive wins then followed for Pauline in the knockout stages including wins over World No1 Mark Beattie, World No2 Peter Roberts and top Scottish bowler, Sandy McDonald. This set up a final appearance and a rematch with Dan Winmill. In a High quality match, Pauline kept her nose in front and became the first ever ladies SMPT singles Champion, securing a 12-8 victory. A tremendous and well deserved achievement.

Pauline’s fine form continued in September’s Irish Open, and despite a loss to Declan McLaughlin in group 22, Pauline, once again, made it through to the knockouts as group winner. Notable wins against Gary McNabb & William Boggs amongst others, led to a Semi-Final match with Alan Paul. Victory against the machine would see our first ever husband v wife final. Alas, it wasn’t to be as Alan secured the win by 12-7. Still, it was another medal to add to the collection, this time a bronze.

Heading to Skien for the Norwegian Open, and our current Order of Merit leader’s confidence was high as she hoped to go one stage further than her last appearance, where she lost out in the Semi-Finals. However, two surprise losses in the first two matches in group 20 to Siw Amundsen & Steve Puttock, all but ended her chance to make the Cup knockout. And so it was to be, as Pauline finished third and so entered the Plate knockout. This was to be the only blemish however, as she stormed through to the final and edged out England’s Chris Hopkins 11-10.

At the end of November, it was pairs and fours action for Pauline, with the World Pairs & Fours Masters double header in Chelmsford. Teaming up with husband Joe, Gary Moore and Cecil Dillon, The Irish quartet showed great form, dispatching some top teams to make the final, where they were edged out in a three end tiebreak after the match finished 8-8. Four events so far for the Irish star, with three medals and a plate secured. Top stuff!!

In Sunday’s World Pairs event, Pauline and Joe eased through the group with three wins. An 18-1 victory was followed up with a 14-3 win over Alan & Tim Harwood before dispatching Francis Farmer and Shane Magennis 10-5. Their run came to an end in the Quarter Finals with a 12-1 loss to Sam Harvey & Alex Kley.

Back into singles action and the British Open was upon us. A tight first match for Pauline and a narrow victory by 11-10 over the ever consistent Jorgen Karlsson of Sweden. This was followed up with a 14-9 loss to newcomer, Callum Malone, who’s aggressive game play paid off in this match. Three further wins, however, did see Pauline progress to yet another Cup knockout stage. A 12-6 win over Welshman Richard Prowse set up a second meeting against Swedish star and former singles winner, Joel Hager. Pauline’s campaign ended here as Joel went on to win comfortably, by 14 shots to 6.

Back at Chelmsford and Pauline was looking to push on and give herself every chance of winning the Order of Merit title. She breezed through group 25, securing five wins from five and a shot difference of plus 57. A great win against the returning James Trott in the Last 64 was followed by wins against Aaron Clare and another victory over Peter Roberts, 9-7. In the Quarter Finals, her run was ended by former top English bowler, Dominic Reed, who was returning to short mat action for the first time in a few years. Dom ran out a 9-5 winner on his way to securing a bronze medal.

Pauline was unable to make it to the final event of the season due to ill health whilst well placed to challenge for the Order of Merit title. She did however manage to finish 5^th in the World rankings and 4^th in the OoM. Pauline also secures yet another appearance for the Irish team in the World Cup in August. She also finishes with a substantial medal haul from an impressive season.

The Short Mat Players Tour’s (SMPT) selection of short-listed players is final. Voting is open to all players who have a SMPT Player Profile on our website.
Players who have previously played in a SMPT event but do not have a Player Profile can register for one by emailing profiles@shortmatplayerstour.com – any player wanting a profile should send their email from the email address that is to be used for their profile, confirming the name of the last SMPT event they entered. Once a Player Profile has been set up, the player is eligible to vote.
Players may vote only once, through one registered profile under their name. Simply login to your Player Profile and register your top three choices in order of preference.
All votes must be received by the SMPT in the required format before 8pm on Sunday 2nd July 2023. The winner will be announced on our website on Tuesday 4th July 2023