Grown Green Bowls on the Isle of Man has seen resurgence as of late with a lot of development work taking place at all levels of the game. Neil Withers is working tirelessly to make the sport truly accessible from the grass roots up with the new ‘Bowls for All’ project.

The work he has started could see him meet, and potentially exceed, his aspirations of making the game more accessible by providing more coaches, more equipment and providing more sessions where newcomers to sport can try for free in the very near future.

Neil is looking to achieve his aims by sourcing funding to purchase necessary equipment and coaching aids, and subject to meeting the criteria requested this project will be a massive step forward for the sport.

He is also keen that clubs wanting to benefit from the scheme put something back and really open themselves up to people wanting to try the game. To achieve this he has tied it in with existing work in the bowls development plan to launch a charter standard.

Development officer Mark Kneen has adjusted the charter to encompass all the aspirations of the ‘Bowls for All’ scheme and a draft of the proposed three tiered charter will be circulated around clubs soon.

It is envisaged that clubs achieving level 1 Charter Club status will reap the rewards by receiving equipment and support to continually develop their club as a breeding ground for new players. Neil should be commended by his vision, foresight and tireless effort to achieve his goal which will definitely seal a victory for bowls on the Isle of Man.

 David ‘Drof’ Bradford (Onchan) etched his name into the record books as he beat Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) 21-15 to win the Canada Life International Manx Championship. The final was a breath taking conclusion to an enthralling two days action with both players playing their part.

Bradford, who is fast becoming a colossus of the local game, added the coveted trophy to his ever increasing collection and despite being only Thirty years old will be relieved to have got this monkey off his back, as many past greats have failed to get their hands on the illusive holy grail of Manx bowls.

In the final, despite an even start, Bradford eventually moved through the gears quicker surging into a 16-8 lead over Quayle, who had played like a champion all day. Just when it looked like he might be running away with it his opponent dug deep, and using all his resolve mounted a spirited fight back. It was not to be for Trevor, and after seeing one of his best leads beaten at 20-15 adrift; he saw his second bowl go through a seemingly impossible gap to fall just short of his own quest for glory.

Whilst Bradford deserves all the plaudits and accolades afforded to him, spare a thought for Quayle who was at times equally brilliant over the course of the weekend. He started finals day in ruthless form with a 21-8 win over Mike Hargraves (Castletown) before turning on the style to eliminate eight times champion John Kennish (South Ramsey) in the quarter finals and followed this up with a hard fought 21-18 win over double champion Glynn Hargraves (Onchan) to book his final berth.

In my mind Trevor has been one of the most underrated players in the local game over the past few years, and this final appearance comes as no shock to me, and I by no means think it will be the last time we see him vying for silverware on the big stage. As they say in bowls ‘next end lad’ and I expect to see Trevor straight back in and gunning for glory the next time he steps onto the green.

Our champion had a trickier start to the day, however, and trailed 16-19 to former champion Neil Withers (Marown). With the scores finely poised at 19-19, and Neil lying in two for game his luck changed as a strike he sent flicked off the short wood to cut his opponent down to one and save game. It didn’t stop there and with him lying one next end to go to all but across his opponent went all out for the win with a questionable full blooded strike at his bowl, and in the process took his own wood off the green to see Bradford through by the narrowest of margins.

It takes a champion to come through at seemingly impossible odds and Bradford is a true champion. In the quarter finals he was too hot to handle for Alan Moore (South Ramsey) running away to a 21-9 win before meeting a battling Ewan Cooil (Port St Mary) in the semi-finals who made him work all the way to get over the line at 21-16. Cooil can also be pleased with his weekends work and he played some great bowls, none more so than beating home greener Paul Kelly (Douglas) 21-10 in the quarters.

With an entry of over 60 players for the first time in a good few years there were many highlights of the weekend but two players who shone for me were Michael Collister (Port St Mary) and Mervin Sayle (Finch Hill).

Despite his tender age Collister has struggled in the past few seasons, since winning the Clague Kermeen Trophy, and his performance was a real return to form and he should be very proud of his efforts. He not only qualified for finals days but made it to the quarter finals where he pushed Glynn Hargraves all the way 21-20.
Sayle, who is now playing in division one, showed his true pedigree with the upset of day one eliminating two time champion Kevin Quirk (Onchan) 21-9 with a devastating display.

At the conclusion of the competition IOMCCGBA President Phil Kerruish thanked Douglas for hosting the competition and Canada Life International for their continued support and sponsorship of the event, but the day belonged to Bradford.

It is the end to what has been a long wait for him after he sprung to the fore in 2002 by becoming the youngest ever winner of an Isle of Man Bowls Festival, at the tender age of seventeen. Since then he has emerged as true talent with the potential to reach the highest level, not only on our shores but also in the UK. Now he has a title under his belt the only question I have left to ask is how many more will he add?

His win qualifies him for the British Senior Merit and the famous Champion of Champions competition and with the Island team now represented at Senior County Level I know he will turn a few heads on every green he steps on. Well done Drof, this is your moment lad and you deserve to enjoy every second of it.

18 Pairs entered the last Open of the 2014 Season – The R.H. Green Fours (Men’s Doubles) which was held at Finch Hill Green on Sunday 28th September, on a pleasant sunny afternoon.

Some well known names did not progress beyond the first two rounds, which made the competition all the more interesting!

The semi – finals consisted of four pairs who had been on sparkling form all afternoon, with Mark Moorley and Jeff Kinley pitted against Dave ( Barney) Kelly and Bob Clark. Which resulted in a 21 – 15 win for Kelly and Clark.

The other semi was an all home green affair – Steve Bridson and Paul Doughterty versus Mervyn Sayle and Keith Fearnley. The result was 21 – 13 in favour of Bridson and Doughterty.
The final was between Dave ( Barney ) Kelly and Bob Clark versus Steve Bridson and Paul Doughterty.

Steve and Paul did not continue their earlier form and had no answer to the extremely accurate long marks set by Barney and Bob who were most certainly worthy winners.

The Prizes and Cup were presented by long time Finch Hill Official Eric Cain.

Report by Peter Hughes

Colin Kelly (Marown) was in imperious form as he won the coveted Jim Kernan trophy at South Ramsey on Saturday. Kelly, who had been in devastating form all day, saved his best for the final where he beat visiting bowler Matt Gilmore (Wirral).

Both players were on top form in the final however Kelly just hit a devastating length from the off and it always looked like it was going to be his day.

Neither player had it easy in the semi final either with Kelly battling his way past Dave ‘Dido; Kelly (South Ramsey) whilst Gilmore got the better of David Bradford (Onchan).

A fantastic entry of 61 players were treated to one of the best yet tricky playing surfaces around and the green keepers should be congratulated for doing an immaculate job. Thanks also go to George Brew for his continued sponsorship of the competition.

Seven times Island champion John Kennish was imperious form as he dominated the Cain Cup at Casteltown on Saturday from first bowl to last.

Its frightening with the Island Championships this weekend just how easily Kennish cut through a quality field of 41 in a scratch competition he clearly used as a warm up for the main event, and if he carries this form with him will be a formidable force of nature and almost impossible to stop, especially on his home green.

Kennish competed his rout defeating Paul Skelly in a high quality final, however Skelly was unable to make much impact into the game as Kennish just settled on a length from the off.

Skelly will draw confidence from his performance in making the final and will take this with him next weekend where he is a definite contender on a South Ramsey green which has brought him success in recent seasons.

Kennish made the final at the expense of the evergreen Ian Kissack who played exceptionally all day to make it that far but was unable to live with Kennish. Skelly dispatched John’s brother Andy Kennish at the same stage.

Thanks go the Castletown bowling club for providing a green in good condition and running what is now becoming one of the most popular dates in the men’s calendar.

It was a case of déjà vu for 1996 Island Champion Gary Conwell as he won the Henry Kissack trophy at Marown on Saturday for the third time.

Conwell, who’s last open success came in this very same competition in 2009, was in imperious form all day but saved his majestic best for the final where he beat Michael Collister 21-11.

He was unplayable in the final and every time it looked like Collister would get a foothold to climb back into the game he produced winner after winner to claim the title.

Collister should also be lauded for exploits on the day and particularly his 21-17 semi-final win over Castletown stable mate Aaron ‘Bob’ Clark. Conwell knocked out home greener Brian ‘Boothy’ Kelly at the same stage.

Losing out in the quarter finals were Arnie Withers, Phil ‘Rambo’ Kelly, Bobby Thorne and David Proctor. Marown bowling club should once again be congratulated for putting on another superbly well run competition.

Ian Kissack & Mike Hargraves turned back time as these two evergreen over 60’s put in some tremendous performances to win the men’s doubles at Peel Bowling Club on Saturday.

There was another blast from the past in the final and it was great to see multiple Island champion Andy Kennish back on the open circuit partnered by Lee Dawson. Kennish & Dawson played brilliantly all day but were no match for Kissack & Hargraves in the final who put their foot on the gas from the off and never backed off with a 21-9 win.

In the semi finals our eventual victors were equally as ruthless against Jordan Cain & Bob Clark beating the youngsters 21-11 whilst our runners up just had the edge to see off the challenge of homegreeners Frank Watson & Jerome Surridge.

As always it was a well run competition on a tricky playing surface and our winners fully deserve every accolade afforded them as they were the class act on the day – well done fellas!