Noble’s Bowling Club hosted the Thurlwell Bowl on Saturday with the rain mostly holding off throughout the day.

The eventual winner was Rob Monk (Onchan) who defeated Paul Skelly (Port St Mary) 21-19 in a hard fought final. Both players performed well making good two’s throughout the game despite their opponent having good bowls. The game changer was at 18-18 with Monk playing a short round peg and Skelly was lying one on and looking to make two resulted in Skelly flicking his own bowl out to leave Monk on to go 19-18 ahead. Skelly got back in next again, however very nearly turned his counting bowl out again. At 19-19 Skelly headed for the corner and couldn’t have had a worse time to play his poorest end of the game to allow Monk to pick up an easy two for game in an otherwise entertaining and high quality game.

In the semi-final Monk ended the challenge of Paul Dunn (Marown) with a good display to book his place in the final, whilst Skelly was pushed all the way by team mate Trevor Quayle with the latter losing out 20-21.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were home greener Alison Keggen, Stefan Kelly (South Ramsey), Harry Barton (Marown) and Mike Hargraves (Castletown).

The presentation was made by Wendy Leece who thanked Clare Cooper for running the sheet throughout the day, the club members who had helped with the running of the competition and for providing refreshments to those taking part.

On Sunday the Maddrell’s Mixed Doubles was played at Ballaugh. The mornings rain necessitated a Green Keepers inspection but he was happy for the competition to be played and by mid afternoon we almost got blue skies. With 26 entries and two pairs that pulled out it made for an easier day for all the Ballaugh team and with some very good games played during the day it made for some absorbing bowls.

The losing quarter finalists were Clare Cooper (Noble’s) and Lee Dawson (South Ramsey), Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly (South Ramsey), another South Ramsey pair Lyn Bolton and Alan Moore along with Katy and Tim Williams (Port St Mary).

Losing out in the semi-finals were Noble’s pair Debbie & Paul Leece and Rebecca Teare (Noble’s) & Thomas Keggen (Port St Mary).

So we came to the final and an all South Ramsey one with Jenny Moore and James Teare versus Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves another corker, nip and tuck up to 16-16 with both taking a four before Jenny Moore and James Teare reached 21 in one’s. The final result being 21-16 to Jenny and James.

The prizes were presented by Jenny Maddrell who thanked everyone for supporting the competition, the Ballaugh Club members for their hard work in running the event especially Richard Faragher and Trevor Jones running the competition hut and the ladies for keeping everyone fed and watered and also congratulated Jenny and James on their win.

There was an entry of 34 pairs for the Derek Killey Memorial held on Sunday at Onchan Bowling Club.

The eventual winners were the South Ramsey/Port St Mary duo of Lyn Bolton and Trevor Quayle who beat the South Ramsey pair of Jenny Moore and James Teare 21-7 in the final which was played under the floodlights.

Losing semi-finalists were the home pairing of Sue Gawne and Rob Cowley, along with another South Ramsey pair Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly.

The presentation was made by Kevin Quirk who thanked Eileen Killey for the continued sponsorship of the competition held in memory of her late husband Derek Killey who was a popular member of the bowls community. Thanks were also given to the club members who had helped officiate and provide refreshments throughout the day. Libby Andrade was then introduced to present the prizes with the finalists generously handing back their prize money to add to the total amount of over £500 raised for Alzheimer’s IOM.

The South Ramsey duo of David Bradford and John Kennish added yet another title to their ever growing CV of open wins when they came from behind to beat Janet and Robert Monk in the final of the Ken Parker Trophy Any Combination Pairs held at the Mooragh Park and hosted by North Ramsey Bowling Club on Saturday.

With a running green and the forecasted rain holding off until just after the conclusion of the competition, it was a good afternoon of bowls enjoyed by the twenty four pairs that entered.

Fallers at the quarter final stage were Onchan pairing of Kevin Quirk and Adrian Skinner, home greeners Tony Smart and John Cannan, southern couple Tom Kelly and Sam Aherne and North and South Ramsey pairing of Steve Parker and Alan Moore.

In the semi-finals Bradford and Kennish dispatched fellow South Ramsey club mates Jenny Moore and Lyn Bolton while the North Ramsey/Onchan mother and son combination of Janet and Robert Monk saw off the spirited challenge of young Madison McMullan and Lee Christian from the home club. It is worth mentioning that 12 year old Madison bowled well all afternoon with a maturity beyond her years.

In the final the Monks raced in to a 14-8 lead and looked favourites to retain the title they won last year, but Bradford and Kennish clawed their way back and ran out 21–15 winners.

The presentation was made by Steve Parker who gave a few words about his father Ken Parker who was a member of both North Ramsey and South Ramsey Bowling Clubs. Steve also thanked everyone who entered, along with those who helped with the running of the competition. The prizes were then presented.

Saturday saw a quality field of 26 pairs of all ages entered for the ZURICH sponsored Mixed Doubles competition with a prize fund of £150. The Finch Hill green was in excellent condition despite the exceptionally dry weather in recent weeks and the sunny weather made for very enjoyable playing conditions.

A number of very strong pairings were entered along with a number of newcomers and it was certainly a baptism of fire in the first round for home couple Helen and Paddy Murphy who came up against the winners from the previous two years, Dido Kelly and Chris Price trying to make it a hatrick of wins.

Other notable wins in the first round saw Bernie McPhee and Caroline Corlett convincingly beat Anne and Wayne Stanton while Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves put in a strong performance against Willie and Pauline Cowley to show they would be in contention come the latter stages.
Setting out their stall were Paul and Debbie Leece who overpowered Derek and Lynda Cadamy while home player Peter Hughes and Maureen Payne overcame Seamus Whelan and Voirrey Curphey. One of the most intriguing matches involved home favourites Jan West and newcomer Zain Abideen up against Fiona Kennish playing with youngster Ryan Hargraves. Although the home team got off to a slow start they came back strongly with a number of two point ends and ran out winners 21-18. Another home team of Sefton Dent and Greeba Paramor won by a similar score against Mary Moffatt and another home player Frank Christian. Philippa and Alec Taylor showed that they too would be in contention as they came from behind to beat Lillian Smith and Walter McCarthy helped by one of the few four point ends of the afternoon. Strangest card of the afternoon covered the match involving Stefan Kelly and Kim Hargraves playing against Rob Cowley and Sue Gawne. With the latter pair winning the first end with a two pointer but then seeing Kelly and Hargraves race away with eleven points in the next seven ends they must have thought their day was over but with thirteen points without reply from the final six ends they ran out winners 21-17. Paul Skelly and Rebecca Teare were pushed hard by Sid and Lyn Bolton but eventually just did enough to win 21-20. Wayne Roberts and Tracey Moore must have thought they were out when trailing 14-20 against Karl and Catherine Parker but heavy scoring in the final four ends also saw them over the line 21-20.

With a number of byes in the first round there were still players of note to take the stage and so it was with Mike Hargaves and Joyce Ogden who overcame Bernie McPhee and Caroline Corlett. Similarly benefiting from a bye was home player Dave McCabe and a rejuvenated Mary Alderson who put in a strong performance to overcome Paul Skelly and Rebecca Teare. Another bye beneficiary was the team of Bernard Thackrah and Caroline Whitehead but they were caught cold by the strong pairing of Paul and Debbie Leece who lead all the way to the line.

Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves continued their good form to beat Wayne Roberts and Tracey Moore. Philippa and Alec Taylor showed their metal when they got stuck on 16 for seven ends but came through with five points in the final three ends. The current champions Dido Kelly and Chris Price cruised into the quarter finals against Rob Cowley and Sue Gawne. James Teare and Jenny Moore raced away in their match winning the first six ends to lead 17-6 against Jan West and Zain Abideen. The latter pairing came back strongly but couldn’t hold off Teare and Moore who would eventually make it to the final. Home favourite Peter Hughes and Maureen Payne were in imperious form as they overcame the other home team of Sefton Dent and Greeba Paramor.

Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves looked as if they would go all the way as they easily dispensed with Paul and Debbie Leece in just eight ends. Strong scoring in the last six ends saw Phillipa and Alec Taylor beat Peter Hughes and Maureen Payne while James Teare and Jenny Moore cruised into the semi-finals against Mike Hargraves and Joyce Ogden. The tightest and longest match of the competition saw Dave McCabe and Mary Alderson put out last year’s champions Dido Kelly and Chris Price.

In the semi-finals James Teare and Jenny Moore got off to a slow start but finished strongly to end the challenge of Philippa and Alec Taylor. In the other semi-final Dave McCabe and Mary Alderson were very much on form as they restricted Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves to scoring on just four ends to ease into the final.

The final saw McCabe and Alderson carry on where they left off in the semi-final with some exquisite bowls as Mary put in a number of delicate touches on the jack and when needed Dave was deadly on his strikes. James Teare and Jenny Moore could not re-kindle the form they had shown throughout the competition and had no answer to the power and consistency of the opposition as Dave McCabe and Mary Alderson won the final in just 12 ends.

The prize presentation was made by Ken Kinrade, Competition Secretary for Finch Hill with the losing semi-finalists each receiving £20, the runners up receiving £40 and the winners £70 and the Mixed Doubles Cup.

Special thanks go to our generous sponsors Zurich, to all who helped in the kitchen throughout the afternoon, to Kevin Skillicorn for stewarding, Malcolm Black and Arthur Halsall for measuring and to all those who helped make this a very successful competition.

Ballaugh Bowling Club hosted the Spar Mixed Pairs on Sunday with 33 pairs taking part. Once again the weather was fine, with the green being extremely tricky.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were the home pair of Jane Teare and Maurice O’Reilly, Alison Keggen (Nobles) and Neil Withers (Marown), father & daughter John and Bethany Kennish (South Ramsey) along with Jenny Moore & James Teare (South Ramsey).

In the semi-finals Douglas pair Paula Garrett and Stuart Garrett had a tough time facing the South Ramsey duo of Elaine Moore & Glynn Hargraves, with the game being close in the early stages, before the Garrett’s built up a four point lead to go 17-13 ahead. Moore and Hargraves worked their way back into the game to sit just one chalk behind at 19-20. Stuart played a great bowl on the last end, which forced Hargraves to strike and just missing secured a 21-20 win for the Douglas duo. In the second semi-final another South Ramsey pair Fiona Kennish and Steven Waters had a comfortable win over Philippa Taylor (Marown) and Alec Taylor (Peel) to book their place in the final.

In the final the Garrett’s got off to a good start against Kennish and Waters, never taking their foot off the throttle to secure a resounding 21-8 win.

At the conclusion of play Debbie Jones of Spar was introduced by Club Chairman Phil Faragher, who thanked the sponsors for their continued support, the ladies of the club for providing the catering, along with Richard Faragher and Trevor Jones for assisting with running the competition.