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.

30 pairs contested this year’s Isle of Man Farmers sponsored ‘Port St Mary Cup’ mixed doubles open at Port St Mary Bowling Club on what was a glorious bank holiday Monday afternoon.

Bowing out at the quarter final stage were Bethany and John Kennish, losing 19-21 against Rob and Janet Monk. Derek and Lynda Cadamy lost out 10-21 against Glynn Hargraves and Shelley Kennish. Mike Hargraves and Joyce Ogden lost 19-21 against Lyn Bolton and Trevor Quayle. Wayne Roberts and Jayne Kneen lost 16-21 against Paula and Stuart Garrett.

In the first semi-final it was Janet and Robert against Glynn and Shelley, with the latter pair scoring two three’s and three two’s on the way to winning 21-12. In the other semi-final it was Trevor and Lyn against Paula and Stuart. Trevor and Lyn were ahead in the early part of the game, from leading 16-13, they went 16-20 down after Paula and Stuart scored a single and then two three’s. Trevor and Lyn then scored a one and a two to get to 19-20 before Paula and Stuart got the one they needed to get to the final.

As expected the final was nip and tuck. With the score at 13 across Paula and Stuart scored a one, a three and a two in three consecutive ends to go 19-13 up. Glynn and Shelley then responded with a one, a three and a one also in consecutive ends to get back to 18-19 before Paula and Stuart got the two they needed to win the Port St Mary Cup for the second time.

At the Presentation Life member Ann Maddrell thanked the members at the Club that have helped in anyway in the running of the event. Ann then thanked and introduced Mike Caley of Isle of Man Farmers for their continued sponsorship of the Event. Mike presented the prizes to the losing semi-finalists, the runners up and finally to the winners Paula and Stuart.

Sunday 27th May saw the Haldane Fisher sponsored Mixed Doubles held at the Villa with a good entry.

After some hotly contested games in the early rounds the Quarter Finals saw Alison Keggen and Glenn Boland go down 21-8 to the ever consistent pairing of Lyn Bolton and Trevor Quayle.

The next game up was an all South Ramsey affair and saw a closer battle with Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves finally pipping Fiona Kennish and Alan Moore 21-17.

In another all South Ramsey game we saw Jenny Moore and James Teare beating Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly 21-15 while the last of the Quarter Finals saw Janet Monk and Rob Monk beating Paula Firth and Jordan Cain 21-13.

The first of the Semi Finals saw Lyn and Trevor being too strong for Elaine and Glynn on the day as they ran out 21-12 winners and in the other we saw a titanic battle with Jenny and James eventually beating Janet and Rob Monk 21-20 and although I know that Janet loves to win she also just loves to play on the Villa Green so I am sure she got some consolation from that.

So as we came to the Final we knew this was going to be a battle and after some very good bowls it was Jenny and James who took the honours by winning 21-19 from Lyn and Trevor.

So that concluded a great day’s bowls on a very good green and many thanks are due to Sponsors Haldane Fisher and to Douglas Bowling Club Members with special thanks to Paula and Stuey Garrett and Andy Cannell.

On Sunday 29^th April, a surprisingly sunny and warm spring day, Nobles Bowling Club hosted the Cu-Plas Callow pairs competitions, with 19 ladies pairs and 23 mens pairs taking part.

There was some extremely good bowling on both greens all afternoon, on number one it was the South Ramsey sisters Shelley and Bethany Kennish taking on the home greeners Rebecca Teare and Clare Cooper in the first semi-final, with two time winners Jenny Moore and Fiona Kennish taking on Chris Price and Jan West in the other semi-final. Both Rebecca and Clare, and Jenny and Fiona started well, with some strong ends, to secure their places in the final.

In the final Jenny and Fiona started very strong, having the home greeners worried with a huge lead of 12-3. Once Rebecca and Clare settled into the game they fought back well to take the trophy with a 21-15 win.

In the Mens competition on number two it was the father and son pairing of Bod and Glenn Boland who contested the final against Sid Bolton and Mike Hargraves. It was another victory for a Nobles pair, with Bod and Glenn beating Sid and Mike to 21-13.

The losing semi-finalists in the Mens competition were Les Brookes and Reg Temporaza and Alec Taylor and Derek Allen.

Thank you to everyone involved in the running of the competition, the lovely catering, all the supporters, and to anyone who stepped in to measure.