In the Ladies main event Marown bowler Debbie Leece secured the Isle of Man September Festival to pick up her biggest win to date, with a resounding victory over South Ramsey’s Jenny Moore, as the latter reached the final playing off a handicap of scratch, giving most of her opponents a five start this was an achievement in itself.

The stage had looked set for Moore to defy the handicap, and pick up another Festival title, however Leece had other ideas with a superb display. With Leece winning the toss for who would get the jack on the first end, Moore won the first end to get an early feel of the jack, however Leece went on to win the next seven ends, scoring 10 chalks to put the game almost out of reach by going into the lead 15-1 leading well and playing good second bowls any time that she was in trouble.

With Moore getting back in with a double, the score was now 3-15, Moore headed for a longer length, but in doing so sent the jack off to allow Leece to go on the same mark she had enjoyed success on throughout the game to get back in and score two singles. The South Ramsey player got in with a good two and a single to offer some hope, however this was extinguished on the following end with the Marown player making the most of the room offered to her.

With the score 19-6 Leece was back on her favoured mark, however an unusually loose end was punished fully by Moore to put the score at 8-19. Moore headed for the sanctuary of playing over the crown over a decent length of the green, however Leece once again played a great second bowl to lead 20-8. Leece was counting for game on the following end, with Moore saving game with a reaching bowl. With no sign of nerves from Leece, the following end proved to be the final end as Leece jumped in on the room offered to her to seal a superb 21-9 victory.

There can be no arguments about the winner, despite the handicap in the final as this never came into play, with Leece taking a deserved win to etch her name into the history books, in doing so qualified for the Champion of Champions Event at Owley Wood at the end of September.

Both finalists had to battle for their place in the final, with Leece leading 20-14 against Castletown’s Stella Watterson, only for the latter to get to within touching distance of the winning line at 19-20, however Leece settled herself to play a good first bowl to see the game out 21-19. Moore got the handicap back after just three ends against Caroline Whitehead (Breagle Glen) to lead 6-5, however the game turned into a back-and-forth battle from there. Moore got into a 17-14 lead; however two doubles saw Whitehead edge ahead 18-17. A three-end winning streak from Moore resulted in a 21-18 victory to book her place in the final.

Leece started her day as one of six locals still in the running, with a hard fought 21-19 win over Marown teammate Lyn Bolton, while Watterson had a more comfortable 21-15 win over Madison McMullan (Mooragh Park). In the other half of the draw Moore recorded the biggest win with a 21-13 victory over Clair Russell (Alkincoats PWA), while Whitehead’s game with 2019 winner Gill Simm (Lune Road) went to the wire with a 21-20 win for the Breagle player.

Ladies Tourism

The Ladies Tourism was also played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 2 green, with the final having both local and visiting bowler interest, with Nicola Boulton (Broughton) taking on Fiona Kennish (South Ramsey). Kennish made the better start ensuring Boulton never won two ends in the early stages of the game to lead 10-6, 13-9, and 15-12. Boulton stepped up a gear to win six of the last eight ends to seal a 21-17 victory, scoring five doubles in total to set herself up for the win.

Boulton booked her place in the final with a comfortable 21-15 win over Sarah Weaver (Wrockwardine Wood), whilst Kennish took on fellow local bowler Lyn Bolton (Marown), trailed 17-20, managed to creep over the line 21-20 with two singles and a double to progress to the final.

In the quarter finals Boulton progressed with a 21-16 victory over Clair Russell (Alkincoats PWA), whilst Weaver beat Linda Rowland (Knutsford) to the same score. In the other half of the draw Kennish won 21-14 against Caroline Bushell (Lindal BC), while Bolton had to work for her 21-18 win over Lynn Bennett (Garswood Hall).

One of the biggest events on the bowls calendar – The Isle of Man September Bowls Festival took place last week, with the competition played out in mixed weather conditions throughout the week, however the weather turned out better than the forecast.

In the Men’s event it was Gareth Coates (Ackroydon Victoria) who secured his second September Festival title, following his first success in 2023. Coates made the better start against South Ramsey man David Bradford, as he went into a 12-7 lead in the corners. Two singles saw the deficit at just three chalks at 9-12 for the local man, however Coates managed to keep Bradford at arm’s length extending the lead to 15-10.

A good hit from Bradford on the following end resulted in a single scored, however Coates again went on to extend the lead to 18-11, with Bradford killing an end, and then another play through securing a double.

A strike from Coates along the heavy edge of the green killed the end, with Bradford heading back along the same edge on the following end, as two great bowls from the local man were applauded by his opponent leaving no target, with the Yorkshire man striking, hitting and getting a favourable result to score a single to lead 19-13 with his ability to strike proving crucial. Another single for Coates put him just one good bowl away from sealing the win, however Bradford scored a single with a good second bowl.

A double on the following end, could have put some doubt into Coates, as two good bowls from Bradford were missed by Coates who struck. Bradford headed to the side of the crown on a round peg mark, with a good second bowl leaving the South Ramsey man counting for one. The last bowl from Coates proved to be the winner, as he played a great bowl to sit out the counting bowl to seal a superb 21-16 victory.

Coates took home the winners’ cheque for £3,200, whilst Bradford received a cheque for £1,250 for his week’s work, also received the Chris Quayle for a third consecutive year as the furthest Manxman in the competition.

At the semi-final stage Coates made light work of Ross Hatzer (Bar Lane) who had performed brilliantly in his quarter final match, as Coates won 21-8 to ensure safe passage to the final.

The other semi-final was between arguably the two most consistent players on the Island this year, with several good battles between the pair already this season, this proved to be the toughest as Bradford took on Paul Dunn (Marown). Bradford performed well playing up to the crown and back to the corner to lead 17-9. As predicted, this match was not over by any means, with Dunn digging deep to close the deficit to just two chalks at 17-19. A single from Bradford saw the room allowed to him fully punished by Dunn to score a double. With the score now 19-20 Dunn headed for the heavy corner, however the Marown man left his second bowl short to allow a free shot at the counting bowl, however a miss from Bradford put the score at 20-20. Dunn led out on a sweeping round peg putting up a great lead eight inches to the side forcing Bradford to change his peg to play a reaching bowl to connect with the bowl and jack to leave over four foot of room. The second from Dunn only just crept in, leaving Bradford room to bowl in to seal a 21-20 victory and his place in the final.

The quarter finals saw Coates in his toughest battle of the day, as he trailed Mark Taylor (Crossgates) 9-16 and 12-18. A superb finish saw Coates win six consecutive ends, scoring nine chalks to run out with a 21-18 win, with Coates visibly breathing a huge sigh of relief. Hatzer turned in a fine performance as he took a 17-6 lead over 1989 winner Jon Teretta (Norton Arms), with Teretta threatening a comeback Hatzer sealed his spot in the next round 21-13. In the other half of the draw Bradford took on another Marown man, Neil Withers, with Bradford always in control as he won 21-15. Dunn had a battle with Joseph Cranston (Crossgates), trailing 12-17, with a strong finish from the Crosby man seeing him go on to win 21-17.

Men’s Tourism

The Men’s Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 1, and it was four-time festival winner Graeme Wilson (AEU Alstom) who managed to see off two previous festival winners on his way to picking up the title, beating James Wilcox (Crossgates) who has won two festival titles 21-14 with a solid display using all his experience as he moved around the green, changing the mark to never allow Wilcox to settle in to the game.

In the semi-finals Wilson had a battle against 2008 winner and furthest local Colin Kelly (Marown), with the local man leading 16-10, a stirring fightback from the AEU man ensured he got over the line 21-19. Wilcox made light work of Crossgates teammate Joseph Cranston 21-9 to book his place in the final.

The quarter finals saw three comfortable wins and one game going to the wire, with Wilson starting his morning with a 21-16 win over Chris Bly (Hollinhurst BC), while Kelly beat new Isle of Man resident Jamie Box (Quarry Vikings) 21-13. In the other half of the draw Wilcox had to scrap for his 21-20 win over Jon Guess (Fairfield), with Cranston the best winner of the round with a 21-11 win over Paul Bradley (Fairfield).

Other Events

The Men’s Consolation was won by last September’s Tourism winner Zach Walker (King Alfred) who beat previous Festival winner Robert Fitzpatrick (Hoylake) 21-20 in a keenly contested and entertaining final.

The Ladies Consolation was won by Sally Turner (New Mill) with a comfortable 21-12 victory over fellow clubmate Lorraine Hirst, following a strong finish from the former with the score at 15-12, a four-end winning streak sealed the win.

The Visit.Com Flyer title went to Callum Wraight (Llanrwst) who had a good 9-3 win over Mitch Toft 9-3, with this unusually being Wraight’s only success of the week. The Last Chance Mixed final was won by Paul Kissock (Netherfield), who held off Whitby man Ken Wale 21-15.

In the doubles competitions the Open doubles were won convincingly by Jack Dyson and Jon Palmer (Thongsbridge/Castlefields) with an 11-2 victory over John Bailey and Paul Bailey – no relation (Llanrwst/Belvedere). Dyson and Palmer reached the final with a solid 11-2 win over David and Steven Baskerville (Knutsford), whilst the Bailey pairing beat Sam Butler and Anthony Briddon (Fairfield) 11-6.

The Men’s doubles were won by Joseph Cranston and Joshua Mordue (Crossgates/Pudsey) as they convincingly beat Matty Gilmore and Gareth Coates (Quarry Vikings/Ackroydon Victoria) 11-2 in the final. Cranston and Mordue beat Callum Wraight and John Bailey (Llanrwst) 11-8 in the semi-final, whilst Gilmore and Coates had to work for their 11-9 win over Robert Fitzpatrick and Michael Coupe (Hoylake/Wirral).

The Ladies doubles were won by Clair Russell and Sharon Gadd (Alkincoats PWA/Cononley) as they beat local pairing Fiona Kennish and Jenny Moore (South Ramsey) 11-7 in the final. Russell and Gadd just got over the line in the semi-final as they trailed 3-10 to Sarah Weaver and Carol Faulkner (Wrockwardine Wood), only to see the game out 11-10 with a six-end, eight-point scoring streak. Kennish and Moore beat fellow local pair Sue Gawne and Lynda Cadamy (Nobles/Marown) 11-8 in their semi-final game.

Winning the Mixed pairs were Sara Boyd and Simon Tyler (Bolton-le-Sands/Gresford Village BC) with an emphatic 9-0 win over Susan Page and Richard Lockett (Bare/Wem BC).

The Triples was held once again this year with the competition due to be played on three greens over seven ends on Wednesday morning down to the winner from each green. The heavy rain put paid to the use of the Villa green, however both Noble’s greens were deemed playable. Winning on Noble’s 1 green for a second successive year were Joseph Cranston, Joshua Mordue, and Ryan Clark (Crossgates/Pudsey/Lower Hopton), whilst Adam Bishop, Richard Hindley, and Matt Sands (Lloyds) were the winners on Noble’s 2 green.

Castletown Bowling Club hosted the Wilfrid Quayle mixed doubles on Sunday with the competition attracting 22 pairs with the competition sponsored by the Sidings Pub. Just one pair did not brave the horrific conditions that awaited them, with the rain getting heavier throughout the afternoon and more puddles forming.

Falling at the quarter final stage were Peel pair Beverly Wilson and Andy Kennish to Kim and Glynn Hargraves with a 21-5 win. Home greeners Hannah Drewett and Dean Kinley came through a good battle with South Ramsey pair Jenny Moore and James Teare. In the bottom half of the draw Rebecca Kelly and Sam Stannard-Duke lost out to Town duo Stella Watterson and Nathan Hamilton, while Alison Kearsley and Billy Cooil got the better of father and son David and Kian Bradford.

Losing out at the semi-final stage were Drewett and Kinley to the Husband and Wife Hargraves pairing, with the former pair having trailed for most of the game they got in front 18-16 thanks to a four on a single end. Three singles and a double from the South Ramsey pair was enough to see them over the line 21-18 to book their place in the final.

The conditions hit breaking point by the start of the final with the heavens opening, with further and deeper puddles forming as a short jack on the first end from the Town pair allowed the South Ramsey pairing to head for the corners. Winning the first end Hargraves was back on the mark that had served him well all day. The early stages of the game saw Watters and Hamilton pick up three singles over five ends, however the Hargraves pairing led 11-8 after seven ends. This proved to the last points picked up by the Town pair with the jack never coming out of the corners, with ‘cobbing’ the bowls the order of the day as a three kicked off a six end scoring streak to see the game out with a well-deserved 21-8 to pick up their first mixed doubles win together.

The presentation was made by Castletown Bowling Club competition secretary Nathan Hamilton who thanked the sponsors for their support, everyone who had entered despite the forecast, along with the catering team and the club members who had helped with the smooth running of the competition throughout the day.

Noble’s Bowling Club hosted the Thurlwell Bowl on Saturday with a good entry of 58 taking part after a great week of Festival bowls, an increase of 14 on the 2024 entry.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were Rob Middleton (Peel) 8-21 to Paul Dunn (Marown), along with Rob Monk (North Ramsey) 20-21 to Glenn Boland (Marown), as the former got stuck on 20, with Boland recovering from a 16-20 deficit.

In the other half of the draw Neil Withers won 21-10 against Breagle’s Margie Tasker, while new Marown man Jamie Box recovered from a 11-17 deficit against Noble’s B team captain Steve Cain to claim his spot in the next round with a 21-18 win.

At the semi-final stage Boland claimed a second consecutive win in a week against his captain as he beat Dunn 21-17 to progress to the final. The other semi-final saw Withers take on new clubmate Box, with the former always in control of the game, taking a 21-15 victory.

Withers made a strong start in the final, getting out of the blocks the quickest taking a 17-7 lead after just eight ends. Boland got in as he clawed his way back in to the game to close the deficit to just three chalks at 15-18 after 15 ends. A final rally saw Withers get back in, as three singles secured the title and a 21-15 victory.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Lisa Bradshaw who thanked the sponsors IOM Steam packet for their continued support of the competition, along with the club members who had helped with the running of the competition. The winners were awarded with IOM Steam Packet vouchers.