The top prizes in the Isle of Man June Bowls Festival went to two
visitors with Jack Dyson (Thongsbridge) winning the men’s event, whilst Lynsey
Gorman (Wirral) won the ladies event.
Popular Yorkshire man Dyson known throughout the bowling community as ‘Hoover’
– no explanation required, picked up his first June Festival win and the
winners cheque for £3,000. Dyson had to overcome the challenge of Andy Spragg
in a thrilling final on a tricky green. Dyson was quickest out of the blocks
taking a 12-5 lead, then 14-9 and 16-11 to keep his opponent at arm’s length.
Spragg responded with a double to sit just three points behind at 13-16, only
for a determined Dyson to take two singles and a double to sit just one point
away from glory. Spragg counted one next end and headed towards the corner, Spragg’s
first bowl was about 18 inches off the jack, with Dyson putting his first bowl approximately
12 inches away to count one for game. Spragg made sure he reached with his
second bowl, just tipping Dyson’s bowl, however it wasn’t enough to save game
with Dyson taking a 21-14 victory. Dyson’s joy was clear for all to see with
his second bowl still in his hand he threw it up in celebration. Spragg had the
blow softened in receiving a cheque for £1,000.
Dyson reached the final courtesy of a quick fire 21-7 win over Wayne
Jevons (Wirral), whilst Spragg booked his place in the final with a hard fought
21-18 victory over Andy Limbert (Brighouse).
In the quarter finals Dyson ended the challenge of Chris Bly (Hopwood)
with a 21-13 win, whilst Jevons won 21-8 against David Halstead (Kirkham). The
closest game of the quarter finals was between Mark Rose (Royal Oak BC) and Spragg,
with Spragg having to dig deep to get over the line 21-20. Limbert ended the
run of Robert Hopper (Brighouse) with a 21-16 win.
Receiving the George Craine Trophy for the furthest local player was Stevie
Kelly (Peel) who lost out agonisingly 20-21 in the last 16 to Wayne Jevons to
just miss out on finals day.
In the ladies main competition Lynsey Gorman (Wirral) won her first June
title receiving a cheque for £1,000 to take a deserved 21-7 win over Sarah Fox
(Woodlands Park). Fox received £600 as runner up.
In the semi-finals Gorman ended the run of Bev Beeley (Houldsworth WMC)
with a 21-13 victory, whilst Fox ended the hopes of two time June winner Alexis
Lunn-Gadd (Ossett Flying Horse) with a 21-19 win in an entertaining game.
Furthest local player reaching the quarter finals was South Ramsey’s Kim
Hargraves who received the Visit IOM.com trophy to claim bragging rights in the
Hargraves household. Hargraves would have been delighted with her weeks work
and can now take confidence in her own ability going forward, however her challenge
was ended by Fox who won 21-8. Lunn-Gadd ended the hopes of Rachel Quirk
(Crossgates) with a hard fought 21-19 win, whilst Bev Beeley booked her place
in the semi-finals with a 21-20 win over Caroline Bushell (Co-op) with Gorman
taking a comfortable 21-14 win over Wendy Allen (Castle Private).
The Men’s Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on
Noble’s 1 with Mark Hughes (Crossgates) taking the Tourism title defeating Chris
Mordue (Pudsey) with a convincing 21-13 victory.
Losing semi-finalists were Martin Gilpin 15-21 (Kendal Vic) to Hughes,
whilst Chris Ellis (Brighouse) just lost out 20-21 to Mordue.
The Ladies Tourism was also played down to the winner on Thursday
morning on Noble’s 2 green with another entertaining final it was Rebecca Teare
(Noble’s) who held her nerve to take a deserved 21-18 victory over Jenny Moore
(South Ramsey) to pick up her first win in the Tourism event.
Teare earned her place in the final following a fairly comfortable 21-15
semi-final win over Lynsey Gorman (Wirral) with Gorman bouncing back in style the
following day going on to win the main event. In the other semi-final Moore recorded
a 21-16 win over Janet Monk (Mooragh Park) to book her place in the final.
The Men’s consolation was won by Peter Jones (Wirral) who beat Craig
Gant (Thongsbridge) 21-12. The Ladies consolation was won by Lorraine Hirst
(New Mill) defeating Julie Green 21-13.
The Visit.Com Flyer title went to Gerald Merry who wasted no time with
his 9-0 win over Craig Ramell (Rishton), whilst the Last Chance Mixed Final was
won by Jack Bushell (Knutsford) who beat Katie Morgan 21-11.
The men’s Open doubles was won in style by Larry Wells (St Oswalds)
& David Penketh (St Oswalds) who beat the top pairing of Martin Gilpin
(Kendal Vic) and Ian Nicholson (Kendal Vic) with a convincing 11-2 victory in
the final.
The men’s pairs was won by Richard Hodgson (Pudsey) & Craig Shore (Burbage)
beating Michael Andrews (Wirral) & Michael Upton (Myrtle Park) 11-9 in a
close final.
The ladies pairs final was won 11-6 by Debi Davis (Brighouse) & Pam
Nixon (Poynton Sports) who beat Sarah Fox (Woodlands Park) and Eileen Pye
(Acregate).
The Mixed pairs ended in defeat for Sarah Fox (Woodlands Park) &
partner John Colebourne (Eastwood Park) losing out 4-9 to Eileen Pye (Acregate)
and Joseph Cranston (Crossgates) in the final.