The 2026 non winners competition was played at Ballaugh Bowling Club on Sunday attracting an excellent entry of 34 lady bowlers with spectators being treated to some exceptional bowling throughout the afternoon.  Getting through to the quarter finals were Margaret Tasker and Alison Stockham (Breagle); Keri Hampson (Nobles); Fiona Kennish (South Ramsey); Tracy Moore (Castletown); Julie Reilly (Ballaugh), and junior lady bowlers (and sisters) Bailey and Lacey McMullan (Mooragh Park).   First quarter final saw stablemates Margaret  and Alison  play each other with Alison taking the honours 21-17.  Second quarter final saw Lacey in fine form winning 21-7 against Keri. Third quarter final resulted in a 21-16 win for Tracy against Fiona with Bailey convincingly winning the fourth quarter final 21-9 against home-greener Julie. 

First semi-final was between Alison and Lacey.  This game could have gone either way as Lacey came back from 20-16 down to level the score 20 across. On the final end, and with Lacey lying two, Alison played a near perfect last wood to win the end and game 21-20.   The other semi saw Bailey take on Tracy.  Although both ladies played some good bowls, Bailey got her head in front and not looking back won 21-13. 

And so to the final between Bailey and Alison. Bailey again came out of the blocks strongly taking control of the game leading 19-7 on the eleventh end.   Despite Alison getting singles on the next four ends, Bailey was in no mood to take any prisoners and after two more ends won 21-11 for a well deserved title win.  I stand to be corrected, but I think Bailey, at 14 years of age, is the youngest winner of this competition.  Well done Bailey!

Presentation of trophy and prizes was made by Clare Cooper, Ladies Competition Secretary, who thanked Ballaugh for holding the competition and providing excellent refreshments throughout the afternoon;  all the lady bowlers for keeping the spectators entertained and the competition committee for their help in the smooth running of the competition before handing over the trophy and congratulating Bailey on her win.

The 2026 ladies crown green bowling got underway last week.  With clubs having new members and player transfers,  it’s promising to be an interesting season!

Ladies Open Age League :  the ladies open age league kicked off the season last Wednesday night (1^st April).  Current league title holders Castletown A started their defence off strongly with a 7-2 home win (178-114) against Nobles with four of the Town ladies winning to single figures.  Closest games of the night saw Stella Watterson having a tussle with Colese Creer before getting the all important point to win 21-20; Hilary Kermode winning to 18 against Tina Hampson, and Joanne Kelly for Nobles just getting the better of Kellie Maddrell to win 21-18.  The other winner for Nobles was Paula Firth who won to 12 against Jenny Saunders.  Last season’s second placed team Marown A also started off well putting in a solid performance at home against Douglas winning 7-2 (174-120). Win and points tally was helped by Louise Tebay, Lyn Bolton and Clare Cooper all winning to single figures.  Two winners for Douglas were Paula Garrett who won to 11 against Zoe Pearson and Emma Sayle who won to 16 against Lynda Cadamy.  Another strong performance saw last year’s third placed team South Ramsey win 7-2 at home to Castletown B dropping only four points (185-102) with four of South’s ladies winning to single figures.  Two winners for Castletown B were Rachel Palmer who won to 18 against Lorraine Moore and Joy Stephens winning 21-20 after a good battle with Sue Collier.  Peel were at home to Breagle Glen A and although Peel won the match 5-4 they lost on points (141-170) with three of Breagle’s ladies (Tricia Bull, Nicola Cain and Alison Stockham) winning their games to single figures.  Two nip and tuck games resulted in 21-20 wins for Peel’s Diane Flemming and Helen Cowley against Mavis Franks and Caroline Whitehead.  Ballaugh A took on Mooragh Park at home winning the match 6-3 and by one point only (154-153) with Janet Monk and Madison McMullan for Mooragh plus Cath Harvey for Ballaugh all winning to single figures. Caroline Parker for Ballaugh and Shannon McMullan for the Park ladies just managed to cross the line 21-20 against Katie Johnson and Ali Quaggan.  Marown B made their way south to Breagle Glen B coming away with a solid 7-2 win dropping only eight points (181-141) with  Elaine Dewhirst for Marown being the only player to win to single figures.  Dot Mylchreest for Breagle and Lillie Barrett for the Crosby ladies both won 21-20 after tough games against Martha Butler and Edwina Reid. Three other close games for the Crosby ladies resulted in 21-18 wins for Annette Barrett and Jo Kelly against Jean Thackrah and Anita Roberts, and a 21-17 win for Grace Cooper against Claire Cain.

Ladies Over 60s league :  The ladies  over 60s league commenced last Thursday morning (2^nd April).  Last season’s league champions Nobles started their defence of the title strongly with a 5-1 win at home against Breagle Glen C dropping only six points (120-54).  Nobles points tally was helped by Jo Smith, Sue Gawne and Paula Firth winning their games to low single figures.  Lone winner for Breagle was Gwen Tuck who won to 15 against Libby Andrade.  Castletown A who finished second last season also started off in fine form winning 5-1 (114-74) away at South Ramsey B with Sue Peach and Barbara Young for Town and Jackie Murley for South winning their games to single figures.  Closest game of the match saw Jenny Saunders win to 16 against South’s Anne Buck.  Third placed team last season, Breagle Glen A, had a tough battle away at Peel; although match finished three all, Peel won by three points (109-106). Two closest games resulted in Breagle’s Margaret Tasker winning to 18 against Joyce Kelly and Mavis Franks winning to 17 against Shirley Corrin.  Again it’s not very often a match finishes three all and tied on points (104-104) but this happened when Mooragh Park A travelled the short distance to nearby Ballaugh A.  With no games being won to single figures, closest games saw Barbara Graham for Ballaugh winning to 17 against Lynn Mayers and Chris Sims for the Park ladies winning to 18 against Alison Millard.  Breagle Glen B hosted a player short Finch Hill; match finished three all but Breagle won on points (95-75).  Pauline Worrall and Alison Stockham for Breagle and Brenda Williams for Finch all won to single figures with Sue Caley for Finch crossing the line 21-13 against Jenny Cain.  Another three all scoreline was the outcome when South Ramsey A visited Marown with South  just taking the honours on points 108-97.  South’s Judy Kelly and Philippa Taylor for the Crosby ladies both won to single figures.  Closest games saw Marown’s Lyn Bolton just pip Lorraine Moore 21-20 with Lynda Cadamy (Marown) and Lesley Murray (South) both winning to 18 against Joyce Ogden and Mair Moore.  Onchan ladies travelled to Castletown B coming away with a 4-2 win (109-90).  Pauline Cowley and Sue McCourt for Onchan both won to single figures whilst the two winners for the Town were Linda Dobinson and Elaine McElroy who won to 11 and 14 against Jane Lothian and Kay McKiernan respectively.  Ballaugh B put in a solid performance away to Mooragh Park B winning the match 4-2 dropping only seven points (119-83) with three of their players Carol Holt,  Elizabeth Faragher and Ann Kinvig winning to single figures.  Ballaugh’s Gillian Malpass had a nip and tuck game with Diane Robinson winning 21-20 as did Joan Henderson for Mooragh who won to 19 against Gill Clarke.

On Tuesday morning this week, South Ramsey A scored maximum points at home to Castletown B (126-59) with three of South’s ladies winning to single figures.  Helen Caley for South had a long hard fought game against Elaine McElroy eventually winning 21-18.   Another strong home performance saw Onchan A winning 5-1 against South Ramsey B dropping only six points (120-71).  Anne Bannan and Maureen Payne both won to single figures with the lone winner for South, Sue Collier, winning to 15 against Jane Lothian.  Breagle Glen A took on Ballaugh A at home and although the match finished three all on games, Breagle won by 10 points (117-110).  Ballaugh’s Michele Cubbon and Julie Reilly both won to 19 against Caroline Whitehead and Angela Bennett with Margie Tasker for Breagle crossing the line 21-17 against Barbara Graham.  The Nobles ladies made their way to Mooragh Park A coming away with a solid 5-1 win (119-72); win was helped by Paula Garrett and Sue Gawne winning to single figures.  Lone winner for Mooragh was Janet Monk who won to 14 against Sylvia Kennaugh.  Another good home performance resulted in a 4-2 win (117-79) for Ballaugh B against visitors Breagle Glen B with Gillian Malpass and Gill Clarke for Ballaugh winning their games to single figures.  Two winners for Breagle were Alison Stockham who won to 14 against Elizabeth Faragher and Voirrey Curphey who after a tough game with Brenda Clayton eventually ran out to win 21-19.  Marown travelled the short distance to Finch Hill winning 5-1 on games (113-85).  Closest games resulted in 21-18 wins for Marown’s Philippa Taylor and Rosie Winckle against Sue Caley and Brenda Williams. Lone winner for Finch was Lil Smith who won to single figures. Castletown A ladies were at home to Peel with the match finishing 4-2 to Town (112-106).  Two winners for Peel were Mary Moffatt who won to single figures and Joyce Kelly who pipped Hilary Kermode to the post 21-19.  Shirley Corrin for Peel nearly made the scoreline three all when losing to 20 against Sue Peach.  The remaining match between Breagle Glen C at home to Mooragh Park B was played the following morning (Wednesday).  Breagle won 4-2 on games but the match was drawn on points (97-97).  Two winners for Mooragh were Joan Henderson who won to 11 against Win Collister and Pat Lenton who won to single figures, as did Edwina Reid for Breagle.  Closest game was a 21-19 win for home-greener Gwen Tuck against Karen McGurgan.