It was back to normal after the break for the TT in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Thursday 16 June when the last game of the first half of the season was played. Top scorers were Castletown who dropped just 6 points to Villa who had two winners, Kay McKiernan and Muriel Cain who pipped Barbara Young 21-20.Onchan won 4 games, and with Lynda Clarke winning to single figures, ended with a 15 point lead over Breagle. Moira Anderson and Ann Chapman were the two winners for Mooragh Park at Marown while Maureen Wright fell just short reaching 20 against Shirley Whelan. The closest game at Noble’s saw Kath Looney edge out Sonja Lees 21-19 in a match which league leaders Port St Mary won 4-2, while Ballaugh’s visit to Purt le Moirrey saw them go down 2-4 on games, their two winners being Ann Gale and Brenda Bowyer. There was not much separating the two sides at Peel in a match that ended level on games, with home advantage giving the westerners the win on points over Port Erin.

Shrewsbury is still recovering from its invasion by a party of sixteen ladies from the island, there for the Veteran’s County Championship on Tuesday 14 June. Having arrived on the Monday, the team of eight, plus reserve then played on the Tuesday. After the pleasant weather to which we were beginning to get accustomed to on the Isle of Man, Tuesday turned out to be a bit of a shocker.

Sixteen counties played in groups of four on a round -robin basis, the Isle of Man meeting North Midlands first and going down 89-104, before getting the better of Merseyside 104-98. Half way through the second match the rain and thunder came although the lightning passed either side of the bowls complex, allowing the event to continue. The final match against Lancashire, a team containing several of our Festival regulars, who will be here next week, was played in miserable conditions with the green starting to become water-logged, but dogged determination from the Manx girls meant that although they did not win the score of 101-106 shows the closeness of the contest. Congratulations go to all the team for their efforts, especially Anne Oatea and Margaret Tasker who won all three of their matches. Over all the team scored 294 for and had 308 against, and as an extra boost to their confidence the team they beat, Merseyside, went through to the final where they lost to Cheshire (another team with familiar faces we shall be seeing next week).

Port St Mary A were too strong for Villa in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 17 May, winning all six games, four of them to single figures. The main resistance came from Brenda Williams who reached 20 against Kath Looney. Maureen Quilliam spared Marown’s blushes, her 21-19 win over Jean Quine denying Peel Sunset a full house. It was Flo Price who spoiled the party for Port Erin, although Sonja Lees almost gave Nobles a second game, reaching 19 against Jean Thackrah. Douglas were a player short giving the advantage to Port St Mary B despite ending level on games. At Ballaugh the home side won 4-2 on games, but the visitors, Castletown, showed the value of fighting for every point ending with a 9 point advantage. In a low scoring match Mooragh Park managed a draw on games against Breagle, who were a player short, and ended just 6 points short of their first win of the season.

The sun shone in the west for the Gladys Cowell ladies’ over 60’s singles open played at Peel on Saturday 14 May. With a field of 30, a fast green and the good weather it was an ideal day for playing bowls. Some very close matches of a high standard were enjoyed by the spectators, many of whom stayed to the end.

Quarter-finals: Ann Hollingworth 21, Win Collister 14; Jean Thackrah 21, Voirrey Curphey 15; Margaret Tasker 21, Cath Parker 15; Mary Moffatt 21, Sylvia Kennaugh 19

Semi-finals: Ann Hollingworth 21, Jean Thackrah 10; Mary Moffatt 21, Margaret Tasker 18.

In the final Mary was in imperious form, with Ann having little in response. The Peel player won in 12 ends with seven 2s and a single, Ann scoring three singles in reply.

Final: Mary Moffatt 21, Ann Hollingworth 9

The presentation was made by club president, Heather Horsburgh, who thanked all those who had entered, those who had stayed to watch the final, and, of course, all the Peel ladies’ who had helped in any way in the smooth running of the afternoon.

Castletown claimed a maximum against Mooragh Park in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 10 May with only two of the visiting players, Moira Anderson and Frances Radcliffe reaching double figures. Chris Holland spared Port St Mary’s blushes when her win denied Peel Sunset a full house. The visitors won three of their games to single figures. Port St Mary A won 4-2 on games at Onchan with Margaret Tasker winning to single figures. Two games went all the way with Kath Looney losing out 20-21 to Joyce Gardiner and Flo Kelly losing to Rita Callister by the same score. It was a local derby at Port Erin when Breagle, as the home team, lost out 2-4 on games with Joyce Henry and Steph Swift providing their two wins, Steph just coming through 21-20 against Mavis Franks. The other two matches of the morning were closer, both ending level on games. Nobles’ had an eight point advantage over Douglas with some very close games, Jo Oldam scring 19 against Pat Dacre while Sonja Lees took Patsy Rush all the way before going down 20-21. There were only 2 points in it when Villa entertained Ballaugh, the advantage going to the visitors.

There was a remarkable game at Port Erin on Thursday 5 May, where in a high-scoring match the teams ended all square on points, although Castletown won 4-2 on games. No player on the home side scored less than 18, while two of the players lost 20-21, Jackie Elliott to Joy Stephens and Audrey Gardner to Sue Peach. In reply Anne Oates for Castletown lost out 20-21 to Sylvia Shelbourne. Flo Kelly spoiled the party for Ballaugh by denying them a full house, although Maureen Payne almost gave the visitors a second game reaching 18 points against Ann Gale. Villa were another team to win 5 games, Moira Anderson coming through 21-19 against Joan Murphy to prevent a whitewash for Mooragh Park. Although Port St Mary B fought hard at Marown, Chris Holland was their only winner, Edwina Reid came close with her 20 against Celia Joughin. Douglas ended level with Breagle on games, but a win to single figures by Kath King gave them the advantage on points. Peel Sunset won four games with Joyce Kelly and Mary Moffatt winning to single figures, the two winners for Nobles’ being Sylvia Kennaugh and Flo Price.

DOUGLAS 105, VILLA 77

The derby match between Douglas and Villa, postponed from 28 April, was played Monday 2 May. The home side, Douglas had the advantage 4-2 on games, the winners for Villa being Pat Kelly and Brenda Williams.

Abandoned match from 28 April

PORT ST MARY B 97, NOBLES 81

The match between Port St Mary B and Nobles, which was abandoned after 3 games on 28 April was completed on Friday 6 May. The home side won 4-2 with three wins to single figures and despite Lin Ruscoe’s strong reply, and Josie Harding reaching 19 against Roma Ware Port St Mary B ended with a 16 point advantage.

It was a pleasant morning for bowls on Tuesday 3 May in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league, and with the sun on their backs two teams were able to record maximums. Port St Mary A were merciless against Ballaugh, with Tricia Bull and Margaret Tasker winning to single figures. The best score for Ballaugh was Voirrey Oates’ 16 against Rita Callister. Onchan were even more ruthless against Mooragh Park with four of their players winning to single figures. Ann Keane fought well for the visitors reaching 19 against Jan Kniveton. Joyce Henry spared Breagle’s blushes against Peel, winning her game and denying them a full house. There were some close games with Steph Swift reaching 19 against Joyce Kelly while Gwen Tuck took Lynda Wilson all the way before going down 20-21.Castletown also recorded five wins against a Douglas side who were unfortunately a player short. Jan Osborne was the lone winner for the visitors although Patsy Rush nearly added a second game reaching 19 against Anne Oates. It was a high scoring game at the Villa with all six players reaching double figures. Although winning 4-2 on games, with Muriel Cain and Margaret Corlett reaching 19 for the home side, Port Erin won by the narrow margin of 4 points.

Nobles’ also won 4-2 against Marown with Sylvia Kennaugh winning to single figures as did Mary Alderson for the visitors.

Winter returned with a vengeance on Thursday 28 April. The rain caused the match between Douglas and Villa to be postponed to Monday 2 May, while at Port Erin the match was abandoned at the half-way point, the remaining three games to be played on Friday 6 May. At Peel conditions were pretty dire towards the end of the match and despite winning 4-2 on games with a win to single figures by Mona Kerruish, single figure wins by Anne Oates and Ann Hollingworth together with Barbara Young reaching 19 against Cath Parker and Sue Peach’s 20 against Joyce Kelly the visitors won by 6 points. Port St Mary A recorded a maximum away to Mooragh Park, with Maureen Wright being the only home player to reach double figures, while at Marown Gwen Tuck prevented a whitewash for Breagle. The game of the match saw Hesba Skelly just lose out 20-21 to Margaret Scarffe. It was a draw on games at Port Erin, but a good win to single figures by Carol Kaye, together with no member of the home side scoring less than 15 gave the hosts a comfortable points victory. The postponed match between Douglas and Villa saw Douglas with the advantage 4-2 on games and a 28 point victory.

Four of the six games played in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday ended 5-1 on games. Ballaugh came closest to a maximum, dropping just one point when Maureen Wright edged out Peggy Griffin 21-20. A second game went to the wire when Mary Simmonds had the better of Moira Anderson by the same score. Patsy Rush saved Douglas’ blushes against Onchan, Moire Turner almost giving them a second game when she reached 18 against Rita Callan. Port St Mary A won three of their five games to single figures, the main resistance for Port Erin coming from Carol Kaye, who won her game, and Mavis Francks who lost out 19-21 to Win Collister. Castletown had two wins to single figures in their 5-1 win over Marown, whose lone winner Mary Alderson also won to single figures. Breagle were a player short against Port St Mary B, but managed a draw on games, and Hesba Skelly, with her 90^th. birthday looming, reaching 20 against Edwina Reid, losing the match by a mere 6 points. It was also close at the Villa, ending level on games. Muriel Cain won to single figures for the home side, as did Mary Moffatt and Joyce Kelly for the visitors giving Peel victory by 5 points

It was a full house for Noble’s this week, in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league, as Breagle were two players short. Lin Ruscoe and Pat Robertson won to single figures, but Sonja Lees had a much tougher battle before coming through 21-19 against Joyce Henry. There were some close games when Port Erin hosted Ballaugh with five matches going to double figures. Carol Kaye won to single figures for the home side, Peggy Griffin and Jenny Maddrell being the two winners for the visitors. Ann Gale almost added a third game, reaching 19 against Jackie Elliott. In the west, Peel Sunset had a comfortable win over Onchan with Joyce Kelly and Heather Horsburgh winning to single figures. The two winners for Onchan were Maureen Payne and Flo Kelly who edged out Mona Kerruish 21-20.Port St Mary A had a tough battle on their hands when they visited Douglas. All six games went to double figures, and although the two teams were locked at three games each the home side just had the advantage on points. It was a good day for Marown with a 4-2 advantage over Villa. It was also the start of a good week for Shirley Whelan as she won to single figures. The closest game of the match saw Pat Kelly come through 21-18 against Maureen Quilliam. Port St Mary B and Castletown ended level on games with all the away players reaching double figures. Castletown finished with the advantage on points partly due to Anne Oates’ win to single figures.