The 2019 Haldane Fisher Mixed Doubles took place at Douglas Bowling Club at the Villa on Sunday 26th May with some great bowls played on a green that was running well despite some overnight rain.

When the competition reached the quarter final stage we saw Amanda Lawler and Jordan Cain beat Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves 21-14, while Mike Hargraves and Fiona Kennish were beaten 11-21 by Lil Smith and Edward Carlyle. Wayne Roberts and Mavis Franks lost 12-21 to Rebecca Teare and Paul Skelly, while in the remaining quarter final a great battle was eventually won by Trevor Quayle and Lyn Bolton who beat Clare Cooper and Lee Dawson 21-20.

The semi-finals turned out to be just as exciting as the preceding games and in an epic battle we saw Amanda Lawler and Jordan Cain beat Lil Smith and Edward Carlyle 21-20 and Trevor Quayle and Lyn Bolton beat Rebecca Teare and Paul Skelly 21-16.

The final had an evenly matched start with Quayle and Bolton leading 13-11 but then Lawler and Cain put on the pressure to win 21-15.

At the presentation Jordan thanked Haldane Fisher the event sponsors and Douglas Bowling Club for hosting the event and gave special thanks to the greenkeeper for providing a superb playing surface.

Port Erin was the venue on Sunday for the Capital International Cup with 32 pairs entering the competition at Breagle Glen.

The winners after a close final in an all South Ramsey affair were the pairing of Elaine Moore & Glynn Hargraves who defeated Jenny Moore & James Teare 21-18. The latter pair started the strongest taking a 10-6 lead before Moore & Hargraves turned the game round to take a 17-11 lead, then went to 19-15. Moore & Teare picked up a two and a single on the next two ends to bring the score back to 18-19. Moore & Hargraves played two good bowls on the last end to take the win.

Losing out at the semi-final stage to the winners were another South Ramsey pairing, Fiona Kennish & Steven Waters who clawed back from trailing 11-19 to eventually lose 16-21. Also losing out at the semi-final stage to Moore & Teare were the Noble’s/Marown partnership of Alison Keggen & Neil Withers (21-12).

The presentation was made by Janet Shilling who ran the competition, thanked the sponsors Capital International for their continued support and the club members for their assistance throughout the day.

Saturday 13th April saw the staging of the Avant Amenity Mixed Doubles played on what many described as a superb playing surface on Douglas Bowling Club Green at the Villa Marina.

The conditions however could be described as challenging with a very strong and cold wind coming off the sea and the green running quickly for so early in the season.

With an entry of 31 pairs we saw some good early games and at the quarter final stage we saw Voirrey Curphey and Lee Dawson beat Derek Allen and Margaret Tasker 21-20, Stefan Kelly and Kim Hargraves beat Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly and Chris Price 21-20, Glynn Hargraves and Elaine Moore beat Lyn Bolton and Trevor Quayle 21-15 and Matthew and Alison Keggen took a 21-17 victory from Stuart and Paula Garrett.

The semi-finals then saw the Hargraves/Moore pairing win a very tough battle against Matthew and Alison Keggen to take the honours 21-20, whilst Stefan Kelly and Kim Hargraves defeated Voirrey Curphey and Lee Dawson 21-10.

The final was played in bitterly cold conditions, but with the green still running well it was Glynn Hargraves and Elaine Moore who put on a show of great bowls to take the win 21-9 from Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly.

At the presentation which was performed by Mike Atherton of Avant Amenity, Glynn thanked the sponsor and Douglas Bowling Club for staging the competition and remarked on the great condition of the green.

A good entry of 40 bowlers contested this seasons C. Tarleton Hodgson Insurance sponsored Jubilee Cup at Port St Mary.

Traditionally a mixed triples format, this season was changed to a mixed singles in order to promote mixed singles competitions. Blessed with sunny weather after a week of chilly conditions, it turned out to be a pleasant day to play, and watch.

The first quarter final was between Alec Taylor (Peel) & Matthew Keggen (Marown), after coming through three tough matches, Taylor lost out 13-21 against an in form opponent. The next quarter final between two home greeners saw Trevor Quayle beat Bernard Thackrah 21-13. Thackrah had a good win in the previous round beating Lee Dawson (South Ramsey) 21-17, who had himself beaten Barney Kelly (Peel) before that. The third quarter final between Philippa Taylor (Marown) & Brian Lowe (Port St Mary) went all the way, with Philippa scoring two on the last end to win 21-20. The last quarter final was a good battle between two top players with Matthew Quirk (Onchan) winning 21-16 against Janet Monk (Mooragh Park).

The first semi-final saw a great match between Keggen & Quayle. This one could of gone either way, but Keggen scored the last point to win 21-20. The second semi-final was between Philippa Taylor & Matthew Quirk. Quirk built up a good lead early on. Philippa fought back well but Quirk was bowling very well and won 21-12.

In an excellent final between the two Matthew’s, both players had been on top form all day. Every point was hard earned in the final, and Matthew Quirk was slightly more consistent in the final winning 21-13 to seal his first singles open win.

The presentation was made by Wayne Roberts, thanking the sponsors, C. Tarleton Hodgson Insurance, the Port St Mary ladies for their excellent catering, Ray Watterson for the excellent condition of the green, everyone who helped in anyway and to those that took part.

Sunday saw a quality field of 54 entered for the inaugural running of drawn doubles competition Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup at Finch Hill. With showers in the morning and further showers and a cold breeze in the early stages of the competition playing conditions were challenging to say the least, although the green was in excellent condition albeit a little slow.

With this drawn format there is less chance of two top players being paired together but even so there were indications from an early stage which would be the most competitive pairings. In the first round Alison Keggen & Lyn Bolton dispensed with Libby Andrade & Caroline Corlett 21-7 while Eddie Carlyle & Rebecca Teare came through 21-15 against Shirley Corrin and Reg Temporaza. Bryan Masterton & Sue Gawne overcame Paul Quirk & Frank Christian 21-11 while Nathan Hamilton & Bernie McPhee came through 21-16 against Kevin Firth & Derek Allen. Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton had a reasonably comfortable win against Sylvia Kennaugh & Brian Lindsay.

In the second round Rebecca Teare and & Eddie Carlyle continued their winning ways with a 21-16 win over Sam Clague & Steve Waters. Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves started their campaign with a 21-15 win over Brian Masterton and Sue Gawne. Steve Parker & Austin Hart came from behind to beat Helen Murphy & Gordon Corrin 21-19 and so did Nathan Hamilton & Bernie McPhee with two four pointers in the final two ends against Mike Ashmole & Lynda Clarke. Sam Stannard Duke & Gary Lenton cruised past Hazel Hughes & Terry Bates 21-13 while John Harris & Jenny Moore picked up three points in the last two ends to beat Walter McCarthy & Alan Moore 21-18. Closest match of the day was between Alison Keggen with Lyn Bolton and Frank Watson with our youngest player Ryan Hargraves but with a three pointer on the final end it was the ladies who came through 21-20. Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton were finding their length and went into a 19-8 lead against Peter Venables and home favourite Paddy Murphy before running out winners 21-13.

In the quarter finals Rebecca Teare & Eddie Carlyle cruised to a 21-12 victory over Steve Parker & Austin Hart whilst in the same part of the draw Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton scored consistently to beat Sam Stannard Duke and Gary Lenton 21-13. In the bottom half of the draw it was John Harris & Jenny Moore who took the honours against Nathan Hamilton and Bernie McPhee 21-12 while Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves did just enough to hold off Alison Keggen & Lyn Bolton 21-18.

In the first semi-final Stefan Kelly and Sid Bolton scored strongly and only losing three ends ran out 21-11 winners against Rebecca Teare & Eddie Carlyle. Despite getting off to a good start with a four pointer on the first end John Harris & Jenny Moore could not hold off Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves who took the game 21-16.

In the final, Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton continued their strong scoring and in just eleven ends they beat Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves 21-9.

The prize presentation was made by Deputy Mayor of Douglas, Mr. Ian Clague with the losing semi-finalists each receiving £15, the runners up receiving £40 and the winners £60 and the Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup. Special thanks go to Douglas Corporation for supplying the new Challenge Cup, to Greeba for keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the afternoon, to Peter Hughes and Sefton Dent for stewarding and to all those who helped make this the most successful open competition of the year at Finch Hill.

The last Mixed Doubles competition of the season The Kennish Cup was held on Saturday with the competition postponed at the end of July due to poor weather. The competition still managed to attract 24 pairs.

The winners were the home pairing of Elaine Moore & Glynn Hargraves who beat Chris Price (Port St Mary) & Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly 21-19 in the final. The game was close throughout with both pairs taking some good counting bowls off their opponents throughout with neither pair able to break away from the other until the last few ends. With the score standing at 15-14 to Moore & Hargraves they conceded a four and a single to fall 15-19 behind. From there Moore & Hargraves dug deep to take three consecutive singles and counting with three good bowls on the final end to secure the title with a 21-19 win.

Losing semi-finalists were the two home pairings of Fiona Kennish and Steven Waters to the eventual winners (8-21), whilst Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly lost out 10-21 to the runners up.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were new bowlers Sue and Geoff Collier (South Ramsey) who only took the game up in June, Lil Smith (Marown) and Edward Carlyle (Onchan), Caroline and Steve Parker along with Janet Monk and Rob Monk (all North Ramsey).

The presentation was made by competition secretary John Kennish on behalf of the Kennish family who sponsored the competition, with thanks given to everyone who had helped with the running of the competition, the ladies for once again putting on a fantastic selection of refreshments throughout the afternoon, and the green keepers for preparing the green.