There was an entry of 18 pairs for the ladies’ doubles, sponsored by Microgaming, played at Castletown on Saturday 17 June. The event was played in beautiful weather with the green being its usual tricky self and appearing to get faster as the afternoon progressed.

Both semi-finals were hotly contested. In the first, Rita Callister once again showed her fondness for this green as she and her partner, Caroline Whitehead, made their opponents, Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry, work hard for their win. Rita and Caroline had a slender lead over the first 14 ends before a spurt by the Castletown pair, taking seven points in 5 ends, saw them leading 18-14. Their opponents then scored four singles to level at 18s. A 2 and a 1 in the next three ends saw Ann and Heike through 21-19.

The other semi was even closer, with Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve getting off to a stormer against Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett leading 19-12 after fifteen ends. A one and a four in the next two ends brought Lyn and Paula back into contention, trailing by just two points. Chris and Kellie scored a single to take them to “all but”,but a two followed by two singles put Lyn and Paula into the final 21-20.

Semi-finals: Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry 21, Rita Callister and Caroline Whitehead 19; Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 21, Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve 20.
The final was a lot closer than the score suggests with every end being hotly contested. Indeed scores were level at 11-11 after eleven ends, but from that point onwards, in a fascinating game, Lyn and Paula had a slight edge coming through to win 21-11.

Final: Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 21, Ann Hollingworth and heike Perry 11.

The presentation was made by Hilary Kermode on behalf of sponsors, Microgaming. She thanked those who stayed to the end, and those who entered. It may not have been the biggest entry, but one could say it was quality rather than quantity !

She thanked Microgaming for their continued sponsorship, this being the eleventh year Castletown had had their support.
Thanks also went to Lynda and Heike for running the sheet and other club members who had helped in any way.

Despite the heavy rain in the morning a field of 20 convened for the Mooragh Park ladies’ singles open on Saturday 10 June to play for the Ramsey Town Cup. Although the rain cleared the strong winds and the state of the green made for tricky playing conditions. In recent years there have been times when this competition has had to be cancelled due to lack of entries so it was good to see an increase in numbers, but a shame that the event was not supported by more clubs on the island.
Quarter-finals: Maureen Lacey 21, Vicky Lloyd-West 14: Lyn Bolton 21, Janet Monk 20 ; Jenny Moore 21, Fiona Kennish 12; Gill Morgan 21, Bethany Kennish 12
This set up two North v South semi-finals as Lyn Bolton from South Ramsey took on Maureen Lacey , Mooragh Park while Jenny Moore, South, played Gill Morgan, Mooragh Park.
The games went with the form book, seeing the two South Ramsey players going forward to meet in the final.
Semi-finals: Lyn Bolton 21, Maureen Lacey 12 ; Jenny Moore 21, Gill Morgan 13.
In the final Jenny roared away in spectacular fashion, leading 17-8 after eleven ends, at which point Lyn got in taking the next two ends to get into double figures, but it was too little too late as Jenny took three of the next four ends to win 21-13.
The presentation was made by club president, Helen Martin, who said it had been a lovely afternoon despite the wind ! She then thanked everyone who had helped during the afternoon, particularly Julie for running the sheet and all those responsible for the teas, coffees and refreshments. Helen then introduced Ramsey commissioner Juan McGuinness, who presented the prizes.

Twenty-two pairs assembled for the Ladies’ IOM doubles championship at Castletown on Sunday 21 May. Initially the weather was sunny but cold and clouded over mid-afternoon. However the latter stages of the event were played in beautiful, warm sunshine.
The Castletown green was fast-running and its usual tricky self, but despite that there were some very close and exciting games.
The outstanding player in the first few rounds was Rita Callister, showing that age is no handicap as she and her partner, Shelley Kennish, despatched Dot Mylchreest and Pauline Worrall 21-17, Maureen Payne and Chris Price 21-19 then Margaret Tasker and Tricia Bull 2!-20 before losing out in the semi-finals 21-20 to Ann Maddrell and Katy Williams, a game they were ahead in until the last four ends.
Quarter-finals; Sheeley Kennish and Rita Callister 21, Margaret Tasker and Tricia Bull 2o; Katy Williams and Ann Maddrell 21, Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 17; Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry 21, Kath Kinley and Marie Ashurst 17; Debbie Leece and Alison Keggen 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 12.
In the first semi-final Rita and Shelley made the better start being 17-10 up after ten ends. Katy and Ann won five of the next six ends to level at 19-19, then the next end to reach “all but”. their opponents won the next end-20-20. It was all on the last end where Katy and Ann came through to win 21-20.
In the other semi-final, Debbie Leece and Alison Keggen, who had played well all afternoon, kept level with Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry for the first part of the game, but a 4 and a 3 in the last few ends saw the Castletown pair through to the final 21-13.
The home pair shot off to a 15-10 lead before the Port St Mary girls won five of the next six ends to level at 16-16.Ann and Heike then got the jack back and won the next four ends to take the title 21-16.
The Presentation was made by Association president, Rosie Winckle, who thanked Castletown for the use of their green and their help in measuring, marking etc. She also complimented them on the state of the green. Thanks also went to Heather for running the sheet and Elaine for organising the competition.

There was an entry of 21 pairs for the ladies’ doubles, played for the Greeba Cup, at Marown on Saturday 20 May. Although cold the afternoon was sunny and some exciting games took place on a green that was running well.
Three of the quarter-finals were very close, homegreeners Lil Smith and Rosie Wnckle took Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett all the way before going down 20-21.
Quarter-finals: Shelley and Bethany Kennish 21, Josie Harding and Flo Price 17; Elaine Moore and Gill Dixon 21, Kath Kinley and Marie Ashurst 11; Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 21, Lil Smith and Rosie Winckle 20; Chris Price and Maureen Payne 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 17.
The two semi-finals were more competitive than the scores suggest, although in both cases the runners-up could only take four ends from their opponents.
Semi-finals: Elaine Moore and Gill Dixon 21, Shelley and Bethany Kennish 13; Chris Price and Maureen Payne 21, Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 14.
This left a very tasty looking final and the spectators were not disappointed, as every end was hotly contested. Elaine and Gill had the better start, leading 13 10 after eight ends, at which point Chris and Maureen reeled off six ends in a row to gain the advantage 17-13. A three and a one from Gill and Elaine levelled the scores. The next two ends were shared, then a two for the South Ramsey pair put them at 20-18. In a very exciting finish, Chris and Maureen scored three singles to take the match 21-20.
The presentation was made by club Treasurer, Pat Withers, who thanked all those who had entered and everyone who had helped with the event measuring and stewarding, and those responsible for providing and selling the refreshments

There was hardly a cloud in the sky at Port St Mary for the Silvia Cashen Charity ladies’ doubles played on Wednesday 3 May. There was an entry of twenty pairs most of whom found the fast green very tricky, the difficulties being exacerbated by the very strong winds in the latter part of the afternoon.

The competition was hotly contested with some very close games along the way.

Quarter-finals; Val Macfarlane and Jayne Kneen 21, Alison Keggen and Debbie Leece 15; Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 21, Ann Hollingworth and Elaine McElroy 16; Lil Smith and Elaine Dewhurst 21, Elaine Moore and Kim Hargraves 10; Marie Ashurst and Kath Kinley 21, Katy Williams and Ann Maddrell 19.

Both semi-finals were nail biters . In the first Val and Jayne got off to a lightning start taking a lead of 16-10 after nine ends, at which point their opponents dug in to take the next five ends to reach 19-16. A three for the two home greeners on the next end levelled the score before a two on the following end gave them the game. The second semi-final was even closer with the Castletown pair just having the advantage in the early skirmishes, holding a lead of 15-12 after eleven ends. The Marown pairing then showed their class pulling back, then taking a 19-16 lead after 17 ends. Two 2’s put the Southerners in the box seat, although their opponents did level at 20-20 before Kath And Marie came in for that crucial last point.

Semi-finals: Val Macfarlane and Jayne Kneen 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 19; Marie Ashurst and Kath Kinley 21, Lil Smith and Elaine Dewhurst 20.

In the final Val and Jayne showed their class, racing to a 14-7 lead. A 2 and a 3 on the next two ends from Kath and Marie gave hopes of a come-back, but it was their last throw of the dice as Val and Jayne refused to let them have the jack from that point on, taking the title 21-12.

The presentation was made by Port St Mary’s lady president who thanked those who had entered and all those who had helped, both round the green and in the kitchen.

The afternoon raised £350 for the IOM Breast Cancer charity.

There was an entry of 21 pairs for the ladies’ doubles sponsored by Cu-Plas and played at Nobles’ number 2 green on Sunday 30 April. Although the rain stayed away the strong winds made it very cold particularly in the latter stages when the sun decided to go to bed.

There were some entertaining games with a lot of excellent bowling.

Quarter-finals: Alison Keggen and Debbie Leece 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 8; Fiona Kennish and Jenny Moore 21, Clare Cooper and Rebecca Teare 18; Kath Kinley and Marie Ashurst 21, Ann Hollingworth and Barbara Young 16; Lynda Cadamy and Mary Alderson 21, Gill Morgan and Julie Reilly 9.

In the semi-finals Jenny and Fiona were too strong for Alison and Debbie, coming through 21-8, while Kath and Marie put up greater resistance against Lynda and Mary before going down 15-21.

The first half of the final was tense and evenly matched, standing at 12-12 after nine ends. Fiona and Jenny won the next three ends, scoring two singles and a three to give them a five point lead. Despite scoring a single on the next end, Mary and Lynda had to concede defeat when their opponents won the next two ends, to record a winning score of 21-13.

The presentation was made by club chairman, Clare Cooper, who thanked Cu-Plas for their sponsorship and support. She also thanked those who had helped in the smooth running of the afternoon, measuring, stewarding and running the sheet. Further thanks went to those who had provided the magnificent refreshments, which were particularly welcome on such a cold afternoon.