North vs South Charity Challenge: Teams Announced for a Day of Sport and Fundraising

The stage is set for one of the most eagerly awaited community sporting events of the year, as the North and the South prepare to go head-to-head in the inaugural Charity Challenge, taking place on Saturday, 20th September 2025, at Nobles Greens 1 & 2. With a start time of 10:00, spectators can look forward to a full day of competition, camaraderie, and charity, all in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

This year’s event, proudly sponsored by IQ-EQ, Canada Life, and EVF, promises to deliver both entertainment and purpose. Thanks to their generous support, every bowl delivered on the day will help raise vital funds for the MNDA, an organisation providing essential care, research, and hope for those affected by the condition.

The match format has been designed to ensure plenty of variety and excitement. Spectators can expect to see contests across men’s doubles, ladies doubles, mixed doubles, mixed triples, and, to bring the day to a thrilling conclusion, men’s and ladies singles on the main green. With such a mix of styles and formats, there will be no shortage of drama, skill, and friendly rivalry on display.

Both teams have now confirmed their line-ups, with captains carefully selecting who will take to the greens in each match type. Importantly, every player is guaranteed to feature in at least two games, meaning fans will have ample opportunity to cheer on their local favourites throughout the day. The balance of competition promises a close contest, with bragging rights for either North or South on the line – but always in the spirit of fundraising and togetherness.

The Charity Challenge has grown into far more than just a sporting fixture; it is a celebration of community spirit. Friends, families, and supporters are encouraged to come along, lend their voices to the cheers, and soak up the atmosphere of what promises to be a memorable day. Whether you’re an avid bowls enthusiast or simply looking for a fun, family-friendly day out, this event offers something for everyone.

So mark the date in your calendar, dust off your team colours, and join us at Nobles Greens. The bowls will be fiercely contested, but the real victory lies in raising funds for such an important cause.

North or South – who will claim the honours in 2025? One thing is certain: the true winners will be the MNDA.

Ballaugh Bowling Club hosted the Dave McTaggart Memorial Trophy on Sunday, with an entry of 32 pairs on a green that became trickier to handle as the day went on it proved a challenge for the bowlers.

Losing out in the quarter finals were home greeners John Kneen and Barbara Graham 14-21 to South Ramsey’s Alan Moore and Glynn Hargraves, while Marown pair Philippa Taylor and Lynda Cadamy lost out 9-21 to Jordan Cain and John Kennish (South Ramsey).

In the other half of the draw Dido Kelly and Billy Cooil (South Ramsey/Castletown) got the better of South Ramsey’s Elaine Moore and Fiona Kennish 21-13, while home greeners Barry & Christine McDonald beat James Kelly and Trevor Quayle (Marown/Breagle Glen) 21-14.

At the semi-final stage an all South Ramsey affair was won comfortably by Cain and Kennish 21-8 against Moore and Hargraves, with the latter pair kept down to scoring two singles. The other semi-final saw Kelly and Cooil put an end to the home greeners challenge as they beat the McDonalds 21-11.

The final saw Kelly and Cooil start strongly, with the pair playing together for the first time in a competition, you would easily think they had played together for a number of years as they linked up well throughout the day, with Kelly leading well at the front on his favoured corner to crown mark and back, and Cooil playing the shots needed when they weren’t counting. The South/Town pairing had managed to build up a 15-10 lead, ensuring that Cain and Kennish never got a run of the jack, and crucially winning the ends in the corners to prevent the South men from getting in the corners.

The following end heading up to the crown saw a good four scored by Cain and Kennish to close the deficit to just one chalk. With the jack in the middle of the green heading to a corner was the only option. The South men were counting for one when a strike from Cooil had an element of good fortune about it hitting a short bowl onto the jack and killing the end.

With the jack in hand in the corner this was the opportunity Cain had been waiting for to get on a longer mark, however a good first bowl from Kelly ensured the hopes of getting a run in the corners were short lived, as Kelly and Cooil kept their opponents down to scoring just one more point to win 21-15.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Julie Reilly, with prizes paid down to the quarter finals. Julie thanked everyone who had entered, the catering team for the refreshments provided throughout the day. The sponsor Ann Gale was then introduced to present the prizes.

The Onchan Commissioners Any Combination Doubles took place on Sunday with a field of 29 pairs taking part on a green that got trickier as the day went on.

At the quarter finals stage Caroline Whitehead and Joyce Ogden (Breagle Glen/South Ramsey) lost out 9-21 to Marown’s Paul Dunn and Neil Withers, while another Marown pair lost out Walter McCarthy and Sid Bolton lost out 17-21 to South Ramsey’s Glynn Hargraves and Dido Kelly. In the bottom half of the draw Glenn Boland and Peter Jones (Marown) beat Lacey McMullan and Janet Monk (Mooragh Park) 21-14, while South Ramsey duo Jordan Cain and John Kennish beat Colese Creer and Lisa Bradshaw (Nobles) 21-11.

At the semi-final stage Dunn and Withers progressed to the final with a 21-17 win over Hargraves and Kelly, despite winning one end fewer throughout the game, as they scored three doubles and two three’s. Cain and Kennish made light work of Boland and Jones as they won convincingly 21-9 in just eight ends.

In the final Cain and Kennish started strongly scoring heavily to lead 14-8 after just four ends. This was the end of the heavy scoring until the 20th end as the next 15th ends were singles to show what a tight contest the final was. With the score at 20-16 to Cain and Kennish they were counting for game, however the Dunn and Withers got the result they needed to pick up a single to put the score at 17-20. The South Ramsey pair were still the favourites at this point, however two quickfire doubles saw the Marown men get over the line 21-20.

The presentation was made by Kevin Quirk and competition secretary David Tait, thanks were given for the running of the competition, the refreshments provided throughout the day, with the trophy & prizes presented by Oliver Lockwood of Onchan Commissioners to whom the Club are grateful for the continued support.

North Ramsey Bowling Club hosted the Ken Parker Memorial Rose Bowl at Mooragh Park on Saturday, with 23 pairs entered on a much improved surface, which was running well.

At the quarter final stage all four games were keenly contested with John Kennish and David Bradford (South Ramsey) beating Glenn Boland and Jordan Cain (Marown/South Ramsey) 21-16. Onchan pair Kevin Quirk and Steve Parker got over the line 21-18 against the home pairing of John Piekalns and Bryan Corner. In the bottom half of the draw Mooragh pair Rob Monk and Paul Allison were trailing 11-16 against Marown pair Philippa Taylor and Lynda Cadamy, as the home duo went on to win 21-18 on a longer length. The closest game of the quarter finals was between South Ramsey’s Dido Kelly and Glynn Hargraves and Marown’s Matthew Keggen and Paul Kelly, with the South men edging home 21-19 to take their place in the next round.

It was the end of the road for Quirk and Parker at the semi-final stage, as they were defeated 19-21 to Kennish and Bradford in a keenly contested game. In the other semi-final the home pairing of Monk and Allison were tied 13-13 with Kelly and Hargraves, as the Mooragh men went on to see the game out 21-13.

In the early stages of the final neither pairing was able to get a run of the jack with the score tied 9-9 after six ends, with six singles scored. Kennish and Bradford made their move as they went on to win five of the next six ends scoring heavily to take the lead 18-10.

What looked to be an unlikely comeback from the Mooragh men, after taking two singles, and a four to put the score at 16-18, which was followed by three good singles to put Monk and Allison ahead 19-18. To get into this position Monk had led brilliantly at the front to his own jack, putting pressure on with every bowl played, while Allison came to the rescue when they weren’t counting.

A single was picked up by the South Ramsey men to level the game at 19-19. On the following end Kennish played a short round peg, putting up two great bowls, with Monk taking the time to consider playing a reaching bowl which connected perfectly to count for one. Allison put the pressure on playing a good bowl to count for two, with Bradford saving one to buy another end. On the following end a great lead from Monk over distance ultimately went unbeaten to seal the comeback and a 21-19 victory. A final which was played with great sportsmanship between both pairings in the right spirit.

North Ramsey competition secretary Gary Merrill thanked those who had entered the competition. Ken was a popular member at both North & South Ramsey clubs. Gary introduced Ken’s daughter in law Caroline Parker to present the prizes. Thanks were also given to those that had helped run the competition, for the preparation of the green & running of the afternoon in particular the ladies in the beehive.