Author Archives: Mark Kelly

Ladies – Onchan Commissioners Cup

Onchan Ladies Commissioners Cup Winners 2022 - Sue Gawne and Lynda Cadamy

Photo: Mark Kelly

Onchan hosted the Ladies Doubles competition on a bright sunny day with a fast running Green.

The quarter finals stage saw the Douglas pairing of Pauline Cowley & Jane Lothian struggle to find their length scoring three singles before bowing out to the South Ramsey duo of Sue Collier & Judy Kelly. A four on the seventh end gave homegreeners Caroline Corlett & Lynda Clarke brief hope before losing out to Marown ladies Philippa Taylor & Joyce Ogden. Lynda Cadamy (Marown) & Sue Gawne (Onchan) beat off the challenge of Libby Andrade (Onchan) & Dee Lewis (Onchan) 21-19 over 24 ends. At 19-15, the Peel combination of Lynda Wilson & Shirley Corrin looked to have done enough to book a semi-final place. However, a three and three singles saw them thwarted by Sue McCourt & Sandra May of Onchan.

Cadamy & Gawne hit the ground running in their semi-final as they went 18-4 up against Taylor & Ogden. A brief recovery by the latter allowed them to reach 11 before succumbing. In the other semi-final Collier & Kelly proved too strong for McCourt & May. They did, however, stutter at ‘all but’ allowing their opponents to reach 16 before crossing the line.

The final was a close affair at the halfway stage (11-9) but, experience told in the end with Cadamy & Gawne running out with a 21-10 victory. The experience will stand the South Ramsey team in good stead for the future.

Onchan’s Club President presented the Cup along with souvenir silver plates from the Commissioners. Thanks were given to all those involved in an enjoyable afternoon & especially to the Greenkeeper for the Green condition & to the ladies for the refreshments.

Post published by Mark Kelly

Gawne & Kennish Win Commissioners Cup

Onchan Commissioners Cup Winners 2021 - Sue Gawne & Andy Kennish with Kathryn Williams of Onchan Commissioners

Photo: Glynn Hargraves

The Onchan Commissioners Any Combination Doubles took place on Sunday with a strong field of 33 pairs.

The unfortunate prelim round losers were Sam Clague & Dean Kinley (Castletown) beaten 21-18 by Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey) & Bob Clark (Castletown). The Round of 32 went to form with no great shocks. Amanda & Martha Butler (Marown) took a creditable 9 against Paul Dunn & Neil Withers (Marown). Marown’s Evan Leece played well to carry Arnie Withers to 15 against Derek Allen (Port Erin) & Bernard Thackrah (Port St Mary). Closest game saw Steve Parker & Kevin Quirk (Onchan) narrowly beat the South Ramsey team of Alan Moore & Chas Grills 21-20.

Last 16 saw Paul & Willie Cowley (Douglas) win to single figures as did Trevor Quayle & Wayne Roberts (Port St Mary). The progress of Parker & Quirk was halted by home greeners Mark Kelly & Reg Temporaza. Walter McCarthy & Glenn Boland (Marown) narrowly missed out 21-20 to Sue Gawne (Onchan) & Andy Kennish (Peel). A similar fate was met by Dunn & Withers at the hands of Hargraves & Clark. The local derby saw Mike Thomas & Neil Dunwell overcome Jo Kelly & Paul Clinton 21-16.

The quarter finals saw Kim Hargraves & Peter Collister (South Ramsey) defeat the Cowley Boys. Roberts & Quayle ran out from 17 across against Kelly & Temporaza. Zain Naeem (Finch Hill) & Jan West (Douglas) saw their earlier form leave them against Gawne & Kennish. Hargraves & Clark (of pink hat fame) rounded off the quarters by beating Dunwell & Thomas.

Semi-finals lined up Kim Hargraves & Collister against Roberts & Quayle; Gawne & Kennish versus Glynn Hargraves & Clark. It was good to see larger than usual numbers stay to watch these very competitive match ups. Going through to the Final were Roberts & Quayle winning 21-13 along with Gawne and Kennish by a margin of 21-11.

As the clouds thickened, the final got under way with some very evenly contested ends. Roberts & Quayle began to take control & were leading 18-12 before their opponents began to regain their touch. A result of 21-19 in favour of Gawne & Kennish bore testament to their ability to dig in.

Thanks were given to all those that helped on the day. The trophy & prizes were presented by Kathryn Williams, Vice Chair of Onchan Commissioners to whom the Club are grateful for the continued support.

Post published by Mark Kelly

Hargraves Wins Ken Williamson Memorial Trophy

Ken Williamson Trophy Winner 2021 - Glynn Hargraves

Photo: Arnie Withers

Saturday afternoon saw Onchan host the Ken Williamson Memorial Trophy men’s singles held in memory of Hall of Famer, Ken Williamson with 48 players entering the competition.

Play commenced in breezy conditions on a slightly heavy green following Friday’s rain. The 16 preliminary round games went pretty much to form with no major shocks. In the first round, every player managed to achieve double figures. Arguably, the shock of the games came when Walter McCarthy (Marown) beat home A team captain Peter Slinger 21-20. 


Wayne Roberts won his second round derby game against Port St Mary teammate Trevor Quayle, whilst Colin Kelly (Marown) did similar to McCarthy. David Bradford (South Ramsey) took two on the final end against Neil Withers (Marown) to secure a 21-20 win. Quietly working their way through the round were Bob Clark (Castletown) & Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey). Local hero Kevin Quirk, winner of the trophy for the previous three years, succumbed to Paul Dunn (Marown) ending hopes of an Onchan victor. Making up the final eight were slight outsiders James Teare (South Ramsey) & Paul ‘Pooky’ Quirk (Peel).

By the time the quarter finals commenced, the sun had made an appearance providing a slightly faster green for the contestants. Dunn, Kelly & Clark brushed aside Quirk, Roberts & Teare whilst Hargraves won the battle of the South Ramsey ‘blue boys’ against Bradford taking four from the last three ends to win 21-17.

Starting together, the semi-finals were made up of Kelly versus Clark, with Hargraves up against Dunn. Each game was closely fought with only one two in the first 11 ends of each match. From 14-14 after 14 ends, Kelly began to pull ahead eventually running out 21-16 against Clark. In the other semi Hargraves was 15-17 down after 20 ends, however Hargraves dug in to overcome Dunn 21-18. The standard of bowling in each game was excellent & a joy to watch. 

The final saw Hargraves race into a 14-7 lead after seven ends before Kelly took three consecutive doubles. After 15 ends the scores were tied at 17-17. Kelly was leading 19-17 at the 17th end. A close measure gave Hargraves the jack from which he never looked back running out 21-19.

Presenting the trophy & awards was Mike Thomas, Onchan Chairman. Thanks were given to Ken Williamson’s family for continuing to generously support the competition. Also thanked were the ladies for organising the raffle & catering, the measurers, markers, stewards & anyone who had contributed to another successful day’s bowling. In his speech Hargraves thanked Onchan for organising the day’s proceedings. This was the first time he had won the competition & admitted to being old enough to remember Ken in his playing days!

Post published by Mark Kelly

Payne & Gawne Seal Home Win

Maureen Payne & Sue Gawne - Onchan Ladies Doubles Winners 2021

Photo: Mark Kelly

Congratulations to Maureen Payne & Sue Gawne on their win in yesterday’s Ladies Doubles Open played at Onchan. A total of 17 pairs took to the Green on a sunny, if chilly, afternoon.

The one Prelim game saw the PSM pairing of Margaret Tasker & Tricia Bull see off the local all stars of Lynda Clarke & Lesley Nicholl 21-12 in an epic battle lasting over 70 minutes.

Some closely contested first round games included Christine Price & Mavis Franks 21-19 win over Sue Collier & Norma Cowell whereas Caroline Whitehead & Rita Callister will have felt unlucky to lose by the same score to home greeners Dee Lewis & Libby Andrade. Perhaps the best performance came from the Peel duo of Gill Clarke & Terri Berry who scored 18 before losing to the eventual competition winners.

The quarter finals saw competition favourites (winners for the previous 3 years) of Elaine & Jenny Moore brush past Price & Franks. Philippa Taylor & Joyce Ogden left Onchan newbies Sylvia Kennaugh & Paula Firth in their wake. Marown pair Lil Smith & Rosie Winckle put an end to the hopes of Lewis & Andrade. In an Onchan derby, Gawne & Payne got the better of team mates Caroline Corlett & Jo Smith.


Team Moore started strong in the first semi final but had no answer to Taylor & the trick shots of Ogden; eventually losing out 21-14. The second semi saw Smith & Winckle run out of steam & their challenge wilted losing 21-12.

After a long day of quality bowling, Taylor & Ogden matched up against Gawne & Payne. Unfortunately for the former, their luck had run out. Although the ends were close, Gawne & Payne were steadily picking up singles & eventually ran out 21-8.

A big thank you to the ladies for the catering. Thanks also to those who contributed raffle prizes. On a personal note, a thank you to Matthew Keggen for getting the online entry ready in time for the competition. We wish everyone an enjoyable season & hope to see you back at Onchan in the near future.

Post published by Mark Kelly

Marown Pair Take The Spoils

Onchan Commissioners Cup Winners 2018

Photo: Arnie Withers

24 pairs competed for The Onchan Commissioners Any Combination Doubles Cup on Sunday 12 August.

Perhaps the surprise result from the first round was the defeat of defending champions Stefan Kelly & Glynn Hargraves to Eddie Carlyle & Nathan Hamilton 14-21. The latter would come unstuck in the quarter final to David ‘Dido’ Kelly & Ryan Hargraves.

In the other quarters, an all South Ramsey contest would see Jenny Moore & James Teare see off George Brew & Alan Moore. Matthew Quirk & Jordan Cain (Onchan) would succumb to Walter McCarthy & Colin Kelly whilst Trevor Quayle & Lyn Bolton (Port St Mary/South Ramsey) would be seen off by Kevin Quirk & Steve Parker.

The losing semi-finalists were David ‘Dido’ Kelly and Ryan Hargraves & James Teare and Jenny Moore.

The final saw home greener Kevin Quirk team up with North Ramsey’s Steve Parker against the Marown pair of Colin Kelly & Walter McCarthy. Quirk & Parker were quickest to find their touch racing to a 14-6 lead after the first five ends. The seventh end, however saw a change in fortunes as Kelly & McCarthy took two followed by a further seven points over the next four ends to lead 15-14. By the 17th end their lead had extended to 19-16 but a disappointing lead allowed Quirk & Parker to take a maximum four. With rain starting to fall, Kelly & McCarthy held their nerve to take two & run out 21-20 winners.

A big thank you was made to all those that helped with refreshments & the green keeper for providing, probably, the best green on the Island at present. It was also pleasing to see so many people stay behind to watch an enthralling final.

Post published by Mark Kelly

Father Is Still The Master

Ken Williamson Winner 2018

An entry of 40 contested the Ken Williamson Trophy at Onchan on Saturday. A hot summer’s day provided a fast green which would ultimately prove beneficial to the home players.

Eight preliminary round games were played with the highlight being young Ryan Hargraves’ first Open game win coming back from 20-13 down to win 21-20.

First round games saw players begin cautiously as finding a length proved difficult. Eight Onchan players eventually progressed through to the second round.

The most impressive result of the second round was Trevor Quayle’s (Port St Mary) defeat of home captain Peter Slinger.

Local knowledge proved decisive in the quarter finals with four Onchan players progressing through to the semi-finals with Quayle losing out, along with the Marown trio of Ian Kissack, Brian Kelly and Paul Dunn.

In the first semi-final Kevin Quirk defeated Mike Thomas 21-13 in the battle of the ‘old masters’ whereas Matthew Quirk came out on top against Rob Monk in the ‘young guns’ contest.

A tense final saw Kevin take an early lead only to be overtaken by Matthew on the 18th end. Kevin regained the block soon after, however, to run out a winner by 21-18.

A note of thanks to Ken Williamson’s family for their continued support & provision of replicas, also to the Onchan Ladies for providing the refreshments throughout the day.

Post published by Mark Kelly