The competition, an any combination doubles format is sponsored by Lilian’s family and took place at Mooragh Park on Sunday 26^th May.

An excellent entry of 31 pairs played some tremendous games in a very friendly atmosphere. The games started at 12 noon. The weather was overcast to start with but stayed dry until light rain started to fall before finally clearing up before the quarter finals. These changing conditions challenged the players on length as the running pace of the green changed throughout the afternoon.

Losing out in the quarter finals were Kevin Quirk and Steve Parker (Onchan) 15-21 to Rob Monk (North Ramsey) and Matthew Quirk (Onchan). Home greeners Steve Waters and Paul Allison 20-21 to clubmates Allan Callow and Ray Skelly. Patrick Grant and Maria Dinsdale (Ballaugh) 16-21 to Bryan Corner and Caroline Parker (North Ramsey/Mooragh Park) and Janet Monk and Madison McMullan (Mooragh Park) 13-21 to Paul Dunn and Neil Withers (Marown).

In the semi-finals Dunn and Withers controlled their game from the start, displaying the high standard of bowls they had shown all afternoon to beat Callow and Skelly 21-8 and in the other game Monk and Quirk also played exceptionally well to beat Corner and Parker 21-6.

And so, into the final and what a match it was. After eight ends they were 10-11 and end 16 saw them 16 across. Monk and Quirk picked up three points in the next two ends, but Dunn and Withers got the jack back gaining two then three singles over the last three ends. The match finished 21-19 to Dunn and Withers.

Paul Slinger presented the prizes following a lovely tribute to Lilian from Helen Martin. Neil Withers said the green was in excellent condition and a pleasure to play on and thanked everyone at North Ramsey for a well organised competition.

North Ramsey Bowling club are most grateful to Lilian’s family for their sponsorship and to everyone who entered the competition.

The Rheuben Thomas Memorial Junior Trophy was played for on Saturday in very hot conditions at North Ramsey Bowling Club. This is its second year of competition and attracted 28 junior bowlers.

The competitors were divided into seniors and juniors dependent on age. The juniors were then divided into two groups, A and B, who then played a round robin format of seven ends. The winner of Group A was Bailey McMullan and the winner of Group B was Olivia Johnson. Both girls then played a seven end final which was very close with Bailey McMullan just finishing in front to claim the under 11 round robin title.

The senior group of 17 bowlers played a knockout competition of 11 ends with some excellent bowling on display for the large number of spectators to watch. The early rounds left eight bowlers in the quarter finals. Grace Gawne beat Clark Kelly 10-6, Madison McMullan beat Shannon McMullan 13-3, Ryan Hargraves beat Alex Hampson 8-6, while Aalish Moore beat Alex Colquitt 7-6.

The semi-final between Ryan and Aalish was very close with Aalish winning 9-7 but a more convincing win in the other semi between Madison and Grace 13-3 took Madison through to the final.

The final was played over 13 ends and Madison managed to maintain the quality of bowling she had shown all morning winning 17-2 however the score does not reflect how well Aalish had played all morning in tough matches to reach the final.

At the end of the competition Rheubens wife Heidi presented the prizes along with a bronze medallion for each competitor to mark the occasion. Her daughter, Milli, thanked North Ramsey Club for running the event and all the competitors for taking part.

In glorious sunshine and on a much-improved green 31 any combination doubles bowlers played in the Lilian Slinger competition at Mooragh Park. It was lovely to see so many coming from so many clubs and getting to the green before the roads closed for a 12noon start. The competition was watched by members of Lillian’s family for most of the afternoon and they were able to witness some great games taking place.

The opening rounds saw some close games. Lilian’s daughter Janet Monk and Shannon McMullan (Mooragh Park) very nearly knocked out Marown Pair Neil Withers and Paul Dunn being 18-11 up at one point but just losing out 20-21. Last year’s winners Trevor Quayle and Wayne Roberts (Port St Mary) were seen off by Matthew Keggen and Paul Kelly (Marown) 15-21. 

In the quarter finals a South Ramsey squad of Billy Blair and Bryan Corner played Sue Collier and Judy Kelly winning 21-15. Home greeners Brian Colquitt and Ray Skelly were seen off by Eddie Carlyle and James Teare (South Ramsey) 6-21. Home team Gary Merrill and Allan Callow ended Matthew Keggen and Paul Kelly’s run 21-14 and Dunn and Withers won convincingly against Steve Waters (South Ramsey) and Steve Walmsley (North Ramsey) 21-7.

In the first semi-final we saw a very close game between the Corner and Blair pair who were pipped at the post by Carlyle and Teare 19-21, but the second semi-final was not so close with Merrill and Callow being seen off by Dunn and Withers 10-21.

With the sun still shining and a good crowd remaining the final was played. Dunn and Withers continued with their good form taking an early lead ahead of Carlyle and Teare who played very well but just could not retain the jack and lost 21-13.

The prizes were presented by Lilian’s daughter Janet who was thanked by one of the competition organisers, Mike Skelly, for sponsoring the event and providing the winners and runner ups with individual trophies to keep. Neil thanked the club for organising the event and his partner for a great competition and congratulated North Ramsey for the improvement of the green and everyone who had taken part in the competition.

Port St Mary pair Wayne Roberts and Trevor Quayle returned to North Ramsey to win another of this year’s Open pairs competitions.

Twenty-six sets of bowlers from all areas of the Island played a great afternoon of bowls at Mooragh Park.

Some good bowling took place in the opening rounds leading to the quarter finals and some very close games. Willie and Pauline Cowley (Douglas) just lost out to John Cannan and Tony Smart (North Ramsey) 17-21. Paul Dunn (Marown) and Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey) fought hard against home greeners Ray Skelly and Brian Colquitt but were pipped at the post 20-21. Paul Cowley and Bob Callow (Douglas) played well but lost against Roberts and Quayle 16-21. Derek Allen (Port Erin) and Bernard Thackrah (Port St Mary) had a real tussle against juniors Lily Gawne (Onchan) and Alex Hampson (Noble’s) who played brilliantly but just lost out 21-19.

The first semi-final was an all-North Ramsey game between Cannan and Smart against Skelly and Colquitt with each pair playing some fantastic shots to finish 19-21 winning Skelly and Colquitt a well-deserved place in the final. In the second semi Quayle and Roberts had a convincing win against Allen and Thackrah 21-9.

A robust crowd of supporters remained around the green and were rewarded with a thrilling final. As the cloud thickened and some light drizzle fell conditions on the green changed challenging the players, especially on pace. Both pairs played well in a very close match. The south team took an early lead, but the Ramsey duo caught up leaving them neck and neck in the final end 20-20. It could not have been a closer final, but Quayle and Roberts got the final point leaving them the winners of the Ken Parker Cup 2021.

Prizes were presented by Mike Skelly, President of North Ramsey and the Club secretary Pat Lenton. Mike thanked Steve Parker and his family for their generous sponsorship and everyone who worked so hard to make the day so enjoyable. Wayne and Trevor also thanked the sponsors, helpers and everyone who took part in the competition.