News: Men’s General
Clague Kermeen
The Clague Kermeen was played on Saturday 20th July in glorious sunshine with 28 men taking part.
The eventual winner was home greener David Bradford who retained the trophy with a 21-14 win over Colin Kelly of Marown. Losing semi finalists were Edward Trustham (Ballaugh) and Tony Hart (South Ramsey). Losing quarter finalists were Mike Alexander, Alan Moore, Peter Karran and Neil Withers.
Dreswick Cup
The Dreswick Cup, sponsored by the Albert Hotel, Port St Mary, was played for on Port St Mary Green on Thursday 18th July and attracted an excellent entry of 46 competitors.
The weather was hot and sunny and the Green was in superb condition and the bowling throughout the day was of a very high standard.
The eventual winner was Trevor Quayle who beat Mathew Quirk 21-17 in a closely contested final. In the semi finals, Quayle beat Glynn Hargraves 21-11 and Quirk beat Juan Hargraves 21-13. Losing out in the quarter finals were Seamus Whelan, Arnie Withers, Colin Kelly and Neil Withers.
At the conclusion of the competition the prizes were presented by the sponser Mr Pat Omeara, from the Albert Hotel.
Report by Sean Lillie
Ramsey Town Cup
David Bradford was the worthy winner of the magnificent Ramsey Town Cup at Morragh Park on Saturday with a dominant 21-9 final win over Paul Leece. Bradford got ahead and stayed there and on this occasion was too good for his opponent, who must also be commended as he played excellently all day to reach the final.
In the Semi- Finals Bradford knocked out newcomer Geoff Porter 21-11. Porter may have fell short this time but he is one to watch after only just taking up the sport this season. In fact in his quarter final he eliminated Island Champion Glynn Hargraves 21-13 which goes to show the progress he has already made!
In the other Semi-final Leece had his work cut out against the hard to handle Syd Bolton before progressing with a narrow 21-18 win. Other Quarter finalists were Brian Colquitt, Tony Smart and Peter Collister. At the conclusion of the competition prizes were presented on behalf of Ramsey Town Commissioners by Dr Alanson, head of parks and leisure.
Report by Mark Kneen
RNLI
Neil Withers lifted his second cup in two day last Sunday, as he won the RNLI cup at Nobles Mixed Bowling club, after finding himself on the right side of an epic 21-20 final encounter with Matthew Keggen.
It was a truly brilliant final with Keggen doing all the work in the early stages before Withers stepped in and found his customary length over the middle, moving through the gears to go from 13-10 in arrears to lead 20-13.
Keggen didn’t give in however and after trailing the jack set off to the corners where he picked up three quick two’s to draw level. With a great lead bowl he must have thought it was his day however Withers made sure he reached and ran the block for the final point required to secure victory.
Both players were at the top of their game in the semi-finals with Withers beating Trevor Qualye 21-8 and Keggen overcoming June Festival finalist Matthew Quirk 21-7. Fallers in the quarter finals were Arnie Withers, Paul Kelly, Phil Kerruish and Peter Lees. At the conclusion of the competition Douglas Lifeboat President Peter Cain presented the prizes and £150 was raised for the RNLI.
Peel Town Cup
Neil Withers (Marown) was the talk of the town as he picked up the magnificent Town Cup to add to the June Festival trophy he recently acquired. He was in magnificent form all day but made to fight to the end by in form home greener Jerome Surridge, in a simply superb to and fro final.
Surridge set the pace in the early phases of the game moving into an 11-6 lead before Withers arrested the block. The Marown man then moved through the gears racing into a 20-14 lead with a spectacular display of leading, however the Peel man was not done yet. Surridge rallied and looked like he might pull of an Houdini like display but fell just short as his opponent picked up the point he needed to seal a 21-19 victory.
The over 60’s brigade were out in force and fine form as two of their stalwarts made it to the semi-finals with Mike Hargraves losing out to Withers and John Alderson going out at the hands of Surridge.
Fallers at the quarter final stage were Bernie Durcan, David Bradford, Stuey Clague and Alan Moore. At the conclusion of the competition Mr Davison from Peel Commissioners presented the prizes.
Report by Mark Kneen
R & A Grimshaw Trophy
Twenty six pairs made the annual pilgrimage to Marown bowling club on Tynwald Day to search for the holy grail of men’s doubles titles, the Grimshaw Trophy.
All eyes were on Colin & Tom Kelly to see if Colin could keep his run of winning all of the doubles competitions with a different partner going, but an early first round exit at the hands of Paul Kelly & Ken Williams put pay to this.
It was defending champions Kevin Quirk & Peter Slinger who found their form and their way to the title with a strong 21-16 final win over Onchan team mates Phil Kerruish & David Braford. Quirk & Slinger built a healthy lead in the early part of the game before Kerruish & Bradford rallied to try and make a comeback, but it was too little too late.
In the semi-finals Kerruish & Bradford saw off the challenge of Douglas pair Keith Rise & Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly whilst Quirk & Slinger put out last year’s doubles merit winners Jordan Cain & Bob Clark at the same stage.
Report by Mark Kneen
Threesomes Cup
The Threesomes Cup, sponsored by COLAS ( Isle of Man) Ltd. was played for on Port St Marys Green on Sunday 30th June and attracted a very good entry of 20 teams.
The weather was good apart from the odd shower later in the afternoon, which had the effect of slowing the green down. This did not affect the high standard of bowling however. The winners were the team of Juan Hargraves, Mike Hargraves and Ewan Cooil, who beat the team of Bob Clark, Mathew Quirk and Jordain Cain 21-16 in closely contested game.
In the semi finals, Hargraves, Hargraves and Cooil, beat the team of Trevor Quayle, Mike Collister and Nathan Cooil 21-7, and in the other semi Clark, Quirk and Cain beat the team of Mark Kneen, John Kennish and Glynn Hargraves 21-15. Losing out in the quarter finals were Peter Oates, Andy Clark and Derek Lewney. Ben Dugdale, Tony Dugdale and Steve Cook. Alan Moore, James Teare and George Brew. Paul Leece, Dave Pease and John Ruscoe.
The presentation was made at the end of the final by Mr Ian Dunbar, representing the sponsors, Colas.
Report by Sean Lillie
Summer Shield
Report by Mark Kneen
A strong field of 47 irrepressible men made the annual pilgrimage to Peel bowling club to take part in the Summer Shield on Sunday for the last chance to win silverware during the June festival period. The gale-force winds and ever changing weather made the conditions almost unplayable and at times a lottery, but it was Glynn Hargraves (Onchan) who cashed in the winning ticket with a formidable 21-12 final win over David Corkill (South Ramsey).
Once Hargraves settled into his rhythm in the final he went about systematically grinding out the victory required to win the coveted shield, and never really let his opponent get into the game. Praise must go to Corkill who handled the treacherous conditions exceptionally well throughout the afternoon, and non-more so than in his semi-final where he defeated newly crowned festival champion Neil Withers 21-14.
Hargraves had a battle on his hands at the same stage where he had just enough to overcome the fierce challenge of wily competitor David Faragher 21-18 to book his final berth. Fallers at the quarter final stage were Kevin Dutchburn, Sid Bolton, Alec Taylor & regular visitor Gerry Buckley.
At the conclusion of the competition Mr Davidson of Peel Commissioners presented the prizes.
Jim Kernan
John Kennish got his festival off to winning ways beating Phil Kerruish 21-11 in the final of the Jim Kernan trophy held at South Ramsey bowling club on Saturday. John played exceptionally well all day, and after moving back to his spiritual home this season it is hard to see anyone beating him on his home green, which was in immaculate condition.
Kennish was in control of the final from the off and dominated with some exceptional leading which saw his bowls shadow the jack for much of the encounter. Despite not being allowed to get into his stride in the final Kerruish also put in some great performances throughout the day, backing up the fine form he has shown in the league of late.
In the semi-finals Kennish put out ex Onchan teammate David Bradford 21-13 whilst Kerruish has to see of the challenge of visitor John Colebourne 21-17. Fallers at the quarterfinal stage were Colin Kelly, Neil Withers, Ian Kissack and Jordan Cain.
As development officer for the sport the only thing better for me than the high standard of play was the strong entry of 49 players made up prominently with new faces on the Island scene, and it is great to see new player putting themselves out there and getting into the open scene.
Thanks to George Brew for his continued sponsorship of the competition
Ballacashtal
A bumper entry of 80 players converged on Castletown’s superb bowling surface to battle it out for Sunday’s annual Ballacashtal Cup competition which, together with South Ramsey’s Kernan Trophy, always heralds the start of the June Bowling Festival week for the male competitors.
Some magnificent bowling was shown throughout the day and the following quarter final scores typified many of the day’s tight games.
Ian Johnson (Chesterfield) 21, James Wilcox (Crossgates) 18; Mike Hargraves (Castletown) 13, Charlie Roberts (George and Dragon) 21; Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly 20, Aaron (Bob) Clark (Castletown) 21; John Kennish (South Ramsey) 19, Mark Bramhall (Kirkham Cons) 21.
The semis were just as exciting with Johnson falling agonisingly close at 20 against Roberts and in doing so he failed to emulate the successes of his father, Arthur, who won the Ballacashtal back in 1977 and again in 1989.
Bramhall got off to a good start in his game against the exciting talents of the young home player but Clark was equal to the task and he came back well to beat the fancied Kirkham player to 18.
In front of a big – and noisy (for local bowling!) – crowd Bob Clark raced into a brilliant 14-7 lead but then in trying to make a double which could well have sealed the victory he knocked Roberts’ wood in and with edge bowling the George and Dragon man soon pulled himself back to 14-across. The home club captain retaliated and he rallied his supporters by then scoring a double but it was not to be for the 21 year old even though he got back onto his favourite mark as Roberts went on to accept the Cup from the home club’s President, Hilary Kermode, thanks to a 21-18 victory.