In good conditions in the Mooragh Park on Saturday North Ramsey Bowling Club hosted the Ken Parker Memorial Rose Bowl, with 16 pairs entered. With the green looking good and playing well this ensured that we were all in for an excellent afternoons bowling.

Games in the first round were mostly one sided with comfortable wins in most games. With the closest game seeing home greeners Lacey & Bailey McMulllan losing out to Jordan Cain (South Ramsey) & Amanda Lawler (Castletown) 21-14.

The quarter finals turned out to be much closer affairs.Cain & Lawler lost out to home greeners Steve Parker & Rob Monk 21-17. Joyce Ogden (Marown) & Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) started well & were 17-12 up against Marown pair Peter Jones & Andy Kennish with the latter pair coming back strongly before eventually losing out 21-18.
Greg Barlow & Bryan Corner took on another South Ramsey pairing of Glynn Hargraves & Alan Moore in the closest game. Barlow & Corner started strongly going into 18-11 leading, before Hargraves & Moore replied with seven points over four ends to make it 18 across. Barlow & Corner took two points on the next end to leave them needing a single point to secure the win, however a three on the final end secured a place in the semi-finals for Hargraves & Moore.

South Ramsey’s John Kennish & Dido Kelly secured the remaining semi-final spot with a 21-13 win over the North Ramsey pairing of Paul Allison & Allan Callow.

In the first semi-final Kennish & Kelly took an early lead 16-8 against Hargraves & Moore, who fought back before eventually losing out 21-15. The remaining semi-final saw Steve Parker & Rob Monk take on Joyce Ogden & Caroline Whitehead. It was level after the 6th & 11th ends, before Parker & Monk took a 19-14 lead however Joyce & Caroline got it back to 17-19 before a single on end 20 left Parker & Monk requiring a point. However it was not to be with Ogden & Whitehead booking a place in the final with some excellent woods winning the next three ends to win 21-20.

The final saw Joyce & Caroline starting well leading 8-3, John & Dido came back with some excellent bowling, scoring 12 chalks in the next six ends to lead 16-10. With Joyce & Caroline unable to put a good run together it was the South Ramsey pair who ran out 21-13 to secure a victory and the Ken Parker Memorial Cup.

North Ramsey competition secretary Gary Merrill thanked those who had entered the competition in memory of Ken Parker. Ken was a popular member at both North & South Ramsey clubs. Gary presented the prizes & thanked all who had helped in the preparation of the green & running of the afternoon in particular the ladies in the beehive. John Kennish thanked North Ramsey for running the event, and of his fond memories of playing with Ken Parker at both North & South Ramsey.

In glorious conditions in the Mooragh Park on Saturday North Ramsey Bowling Club hosted the Ken Parker Memorial Rose Bowl. This year the club were pleased to welcome on board Blackford Financial Services as new sponsors of the event. A 33 strong field competed in the Any Combination Doubles event.

With the green looking brilliant and playing well this ensured that we were all in for an excellent afternoons bowling. Close games in the first round saw home greeners John Garrett & Lee Christian, Irene & John Cannan winning through to the next round by a single chalk.

In the second round the closest games saw North Ramsey pairing of Allan Callow & Steve Walmsley lose out to Caroline Parker (Mooragh Park) & Alex Yates (Noble’s) to 17, also losing out to Onchan’s Kevin Quirk & Steve Parker by the same score was Victoria Johnson (Mooragh Park) & Grace Gawne (Onchan).

The quarter final stage was as far as defending champions Wayne Roberts & Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) could manage this year as they lost 16-21 against Caroline Parker & Alex Yates. Kevin Quirk & Steve Parker ensured there would be a Parker in the final by securing the second semi-final place in the top half of the draw by beating Sue Gawne (Onchan) & Tracy Moore (Castletown) 21-16.

In the bottom half of the draw Steve Waters (South Ramsey) & Paul Allison (North Ramsey) eased past the South Ramsey pairing of Austin Hart & Alan Moore 21-12. Dave Naughton & Tina Hampson (Noble’s) were leading well and had a 17-10 lead against Sid & Lyn Bolton. However losing the jack proved costly as Sid & Lyn ran out playing longer marks.

In the first semi-final Kevin & Steve quickly secured the win over Caroline & Alex winning seven of the 11 ends eventually winning 21-14. The second semi-final saw Sid & Lyn Bolton get off to a flying start, taking a 17-6 lead against Steven Waters & Paul Allison. Despite a mini revival by ‘Geordie’ & ‘Nuts’ it was the South Ramsey pair who secured their place in the final.

In the final it was Quirk & Parker who had a strong start racing into a 17-7 lead. Sid & Lyn replied scoring five over the next two ends. However it was Kevin & Steve who sealed the victory by picking up single chalks in four of the following five ends to eventually win 21-13. It seemed very fitting that Kevin & Steve secured the victory, as the trophy was put up in memory of Steve’s father Ken Parker. Kenny was a member of both North & South Ramsey clubs and is fondly remembered by many.    

North Ramsey competition secretary Gary Merrill presented the prizes on behalf of Blackford Financial Services Ltd. Gary thanked everyone that had helped organise and arrange the day. Kevin thanked North Ramsey for running the competition and in particular the ladies in the Beehive who had worked tirelessly though out the day for both this event and the Rheuben Thomas Memorial Junior event held earlier in the day. Steve reiterated what Kevin had said and was moved to have secured the trophy in his father’s memory.