The postponed Jean Kelly match between Onchan and Port St Mary was played at Finch Hill on Thursday 1 May. Port St Mary proved too strong for Onchan winning 7 of the 9 games, Phyllis Gelling and Marilyn Ellison, to single figures, being the two winners for the home side. Despite Port St Mary winning five of their games to single figures, Onchan’s +55 handicap made it a close affair the victors coming through by just 8 points.
ONCHAN (+55) 159 (2), PORT ST MARY (SCR) 167 (7)
There was an entry of 14 pairs for the IOM Ladies’ Pairs played at Noble’s Mixed on Saturday 3 May. There were some excellent bowls and close games throughout the afternoon.
The semi-finals were a little disappointing as Joyce Ogden and Sonja Lees never got going against Lilian Slinger and Helen Martin, while Shirley Whelan and Rosie Winckle threatened an upset as they stayed level with Janet Monk and Chris Price to 13-13. However at this point the Mooragh Park pair switched up a gear and the Marown pair were unable to put another point on the card.
Semi-finals: Lilian Slinger and Helen Martin 21, Joyce Ogden and Sonja Lees 6; Janet Monk and Chris Price 21, Shirley Whelan and Rosie Winckle 13
Janet and Chris had the lead in the final from the start, although their opponents did pull up to 12-13 at one point. The sisters then won the next three ends to 17-12, and although Lilian and Helen managed a 3 and a 2 to threaten a come-back Chris and Janet held on to win 21-17.
The presentation was made by Association vice-president, Rosie Winckle who thanked Noble’s Mixed for their hospitality, all the players for entering, the ladies’ for doing the refreshments and anyone who had helped in any way during the afternoon.
Tuesday 29 April
After five games Port St Mary A have opened a significant gap at the top of the table ahead of Peel and Ballaugh, who are level on points, closely followed by Mooragh Park. The leaders fell just short of a maximum on their visit to near neighbours, Port Erin, where Gwen Tuck was the lone winner for the home side. Second placed Peel Sunset fought well to be level on games with Mooragh Park, and despite Lilian Slinger’s win to single figures, the westerners ended with the advantage on points. Ballaugh won a high scoring game against Onchan B, the match ending 3-3 with all games going into double figures.Noble’s Mixed won five games against Marown with Joan Walton being the only winner for the visitors. Two games went all the way with Lin Ruscoe coming from behind to edge out Shirley Whelan 21-20 while Pat Dacre came through against Celia Joughin by the same score. Onchan A also won five games against Douglas, Jan Osborne spoiling their party with a win to single figures while Kath King gave Phyllis Gelling a good game before going down 19-21. Muriel Cain and Kay McKiernan took two games off Castletown but with Anne Oates and Marie Ashurst winning to single figures the home side had a comfortable win on points.
The weather cleared during the afternoon for the Sylvia Cashen Charity ladies’ doubles played at Port St Mary with the entry of 23 pairs staying dry despite a threat of rain at the semi-final stage. The money raised during the afternoon, just over £300, will be donated to the new Dedicated Breast Care Centre.
At the semi-final stage we had two pairs from Mooragh Park and two from Port St Mary. Ann Maddrell and her daughter Katy faced Jean Radcliffe and Chris Price while Lilian Slinger and her daughter Janet played Margaret Tasker and Tricia Bull.
Semi-finals: Margaret and Tricia 21, Janet and Lilian 19; Ann and Katy 21, Jean and Chris 12
This set up an all Port St Mary final, where the early stages were evenly matched the score at one point being 10-10. Tricia and Margaret only won one more end as good leads from Katy followed by Ann’s destructive work at the back gave the game to the mother and daughter combination 21-12.
The presentation was made by president Ann Maddrell, who thanked everyone for entering and for their generosity. She also thanked Andy for his work on the sheet, the ladies for their work in the kitchen, Ray for the green and Doug for his work on the surroundings.
There was an entry of 31 for the Pearl Kaighin ladies’ singles open played in the sunshine at Ballaugh on Saturday 26 April. Despite some tricky marks the green was running well giving excellent bowls and some very close matches.
Quarter-finals: Rita Callan 21, Sylvia Kennaugh 19; Rita Callister 10, Maureen Payne 21; Gill Dixon 21, Chris Price 16; Janet Monk 21, Tricia Bull 13
In the first semi-final Rita got off to the better start at one point leading 18-14 before Maureen fought back to come through and win 21-19.In the other the scores were level at 10-10 when Gill won seven of the next nine ends to lead 19-12. Janet won the next three ends before Gill got the jack back and ran out 21-16.
Semi-finals: Maureen Payne 21, Rita Callan 19; Gill Dixon 21, Janet Monk 16.
Despite Maureen’s best efforts Gill was in control for most of the final winning 21-13
The presentation was made by Bernard Kaighin who thanked everyone for coming. He gave special thanks to Jenny for running the sheet, the ladies for their work in the kitchen and to the green keepers for the condition of the green.
It was a miserable wet night for the C Tarleton Hodgson and Son Ltd ladies’ league on Friday 25 April. After their heroics in the Jean Kelly Competition on Wednesday night, Port Erin travelled north to meet Mooragh Park for a second time in the week. History was not to repeat itself as, on their own green, The home side proved too strong for their visitors, winning 6-3 on games. The three winners for Port Erin were Sylvia Maddrell, Voirrey Curphey and Caroline Whitehead who won to single figures, as did three of the home team. Onchan were unfortunately a player short on their trip to Noble’s Mixed, and fell just short of 100 points as the home side piled on the pressure winning six games, three to single figures. The winners for Onchan were Heather Reynolds, Viv Rush and Phyllis Gelling who edged out Sylvia Kennaugh 21-19.Port St Mary did not have it all their own way against Purt le Moirrey coming through 5-4 in a low scoring match with the home team winning two games to single figures and the visitors one.The games all went to double figures at South Ramsey where the home side had a 6-3 advantage on games. For Ballaugh Voirrey Oates reached 19 against Casey Bolton while Maureen Trustham was pipped 21-20 by Jenny Moore. Peel Sunset showed the value of fighting for every point as despite losing 7-2 on games to Douglas they recorded a reasonable score with three games going to 19 and one to 18.Heather Horsburgh and Joyce Kelly, to single figures, were the two winners for the visitors. Castletown were too strong for Marown, winning six games, three to single figures. The winners for Marown were Celia Joughin, Lil Smith who edged out Kim Foy 21-19 and Mary Alderson who won to single figures.
The preliminary round of the Jean Kelly Took place on Wednesday 23 April, The game between Onchan and Port St Mary had to be postponed because of a water-logged green at Finch Hill.
PORT ERIN (+40) 186, MOORAGH PARK (Scr) 146
The holders, Mooragh Park, travelled to Port Erin where things didn’t go their way, the home side winning five of the nine games with three of their players winning to single figures. With Chris Price also winning to singles figures the chalks ended all square at 146 each before Port Erin’s +40 handicap came into play to give them the match. There were some close games, particularly Caroline Whitehead edging out Jean Radcliffe 21-20.
CASTLETOWN (+10) 166, BALLAUGH (+45) 152
Castletown proved too strong for Ballaugh winning six games, five of them to single figures. Voirrey Oates and Christine MacDonald also won to single figures, Ann Gale being their other winner. With the score at 156-107 on the green even Ballaugh’s handicap advantage could not save them.
DOUGLAS (+40) 207, PURT LE MOIRREY (+60) 192
With Douglas winning six games, three of them to single figures, and their other three players reaching double figures, they went through by 15 points after the handicaps kicked in. A high point of the match was the game between Paula Garrett and Pauline Worrell, the home player scraping through 21-20.
There were no maximums recorded in the Trend sponsored ladies’ over 60’s league on Tuesday 22 April. The top three teams all won five of their six games with Mooragh Park leading the way with a score of 125 against Marown, Shirley Whelan spoiling the party by edging out Mary Kinrade 21-20. League leaders, Port St Mary A also won five games, scoring 120, with Val Macfarlane and Rita Callister winning to single figures while Meg Williams was the lone winner for the visitors. Pauline Worrall was the star for Port St Mary B, taking a game off third-placed Peel Sunset who scored 115 with Rose Corfield winning to single figures. Ballaugh drew on games with Douglas, but wins to single figures by Maureen Trustham and Peggy Griffin gave them a comfortable win on points. The closest game of the match was the tussle between Mary Simmonds and Elaine Vincent with Elaine coming through 21-19. Villa had the better of Onchan B, winning 4-2 on games with Peggy Chapman and Kay McKiernan winning to single figures while the two winners for Onchan b were Viv Rush and Dee Lewis who also won to single figures. It was a hard fought match between Onchan A and Port Erin with all six games going to double figures. The home side had the advantage 4-2 on games with the star match being that between Phyllis Gelling and Hesba Skelly where Phyllis just edged through 21-20..
Tuesday 15 April
The weather was fine for the matches in the Trend sponsored Ladies’ over 60’s matches played on Tuesday 15 April. Despite the match ending drawn on games, Peel Sunset recorded the highest score of the day, with their lowest score being 18, Mona Kerruish reaching 20 against Marilyn Ellison and Joyce Kelly and Cath Parker both winning. to single figures. Last year’s top two teams met at Ramsey, the visitor’s, Port St Mary A, winning 4-2 on games with everyone reaching double figures. Val Macfarlane won to single figures while Margaret Tasker edged out Lilian Slinger 21-20. Marown put up a strong performance against Onchan A, winning four games the winners for Onchan A being Phyllis Gelling, who just pipped Celia Joughin 21-20, and Heather Reynolds. At Ballaugh the home team came through 4-2 with Ann Gale winning to single figures While Flo Price fought well to reach 19 against Voirrey Oates. It ended level on games at the Villa, but a win to single figures by Brenda Williams gave the home team the advantage on points.Port St Mary B had the points advantage against Castletown in a match that ended level on games, Roma Ware and Pauline Worrall winning to single figures as did Marie Ashurst and Ann Hollingworth for the visitors.
Thursday 17 April
There were some high scores on Thursday 17 April with two maximums and a 123. Champions, Mooragh Park were too hot for Port St Mary B to handle as they won all six games with Lilian slinger winning to single figures. The other five home players fought well ti=o get into double figures with Edwina Reid and Pauline Worrall both scoring 18.Ballaugh were ruthless on their visit to Port Erin, with Ann Gale and Pauline Needham both winning to single figures. Sylvia Shelbourne posted the best score for the home side reaching 18 against Jane Teare. Shirley Whelan was the fly in the ointment as Port St Mary A fell just three points short of a maximum thanks to her 21-18 win against Rita Callister. Margaret Scarffe nearly gave Marown a second game, losing out 20-21 to Tricia Bull. Villa did not fare well on their travels, losing out 4-2 on games to Douglas. Villa‘s two winners were Peggy Chapman, and Pat Kelly who edged out Kath King 21-19.. Lesley Nichol’s win to single figures together with Heather Reynold’s 21-20 win over Josie Harding meant that Noble’s Mixed did not have it all their own way against Onchan A, although they did win by 4 games to 2 with Pat Dacre winning to single figures. Peel Sunset travelled to Castletown with several of their players taking some time to get to grips with the pace of the green. Marie Ashurst’ win to single figures was matched by Mona Kerruish, while the rest of the games were close, Sue Peach being the other winner for the home side.
Wednesday 16 April
The closest match in the C Tarleton Hodgson and Son Ltd ladies’ league on Wednesday 16 April was at Ballaugh where the away team finished with just a seven point advantage despite winning 7-2 on games showing the value of fighting for every point even when you are losing. Christine Macdonald and Ellie Faragher were the two winners for Ballaugh while Ann Gale lost out 20-21 to Hilary Kermode. Noble’s Mixed and Peel Sunset posted the highest scores of the night, Mixed facing a Douglas Team who were a player short. The other games all went to double figures the closest being Kath King’s 21-19 win over Joyce Ogden. Peel Sunset won 7-2, the winners for Marown being Lil Smith and Shirley Whelan, while the battle between Pat Robertson and Mary Alderson went Pat’s way 21-20.In Onchan’s match wins by Heather Reynolds and Phyllis Gelling to single figures kept down Mooragh Park’s score despite them winning 7-2 on games with three wins to single figures. Port St Mary won 6-3 at Port Erin with Jayne Kneen and Val Macfarlane winning to single figures. Caroline Whitehead put up a good fight against Margaret Tasker, coming away with 19 points. South Ramsey had a successful trip “down South” winning 6-3 on games with Gill Dixon and Lyn Bolton winning to single figures. Lauren Groen had a tough match against Chris Holland, just taking it 21-20.