News: Reports
Manx Youth Games Bowls
Whilst the champions of today had their turn last weekend at the Men’s Manx Championship, Saturday was a day all about the champions of tomorrow.
Approximately 40 children took part in the multi-coloured spectacle that is Manx Youth Games at Nobles park bowling greens in blistering sunshine, and the standard of bowling just like the weather couldn’t have been better.
As well as regular bowls matches between the regions there was a host of other games such as bowls ‘golf’, target bowls and obstacle bowls as well as the ever popular roll ups.
Crown Green Bowls is a sport for all ages, and this was definitely the case on Saturday with all spectators and parents getting a chance to take part, and leaving with the harsh reality that is was not as easy as their talented children made it look.
Praise must go to co-ordinator Glynn Hargraves and his team for all the hard work throughout the year which has culminated in a fantastic finale which the sport can be extremely proud of. Glynn is himself a double Manx Champion and I don’t think it will be too long before some of his protégés are following in his footsteps.
The Future’s Bright in the Men’s Game
The future is bright for Crown Green Bowls as the sports young lions bared their teeth in a ferocious battle between Castletown A and Onchan A.
Isle of Man Bank Men’s Division One leaders Onchan A will feel lucky to have escaped from the lion’s den with a 7-3 victory, but have not left without the scars from a Town team that was full of fight to the end and who will feel aggrieved not to have picked up at least another point.
Fresh from an Island Championship where the main stays of local bowls showed that they were still the force to be reckoned with, it was the turn of the games fresher faces to fire a warning shot with the young guns from both teams showing their class.
Town’s youth policy is now paying dividends with Captain Bob Clark picking up a strong 21-9 win whilst Nathan Cooil and Michael Collister produced superb displays to beat respective former Island Champions Kevin Quirk and Phil Kerruish. Matthew Quirk and Jordan Cain showed that the title favourites also have some tremendous up and coming talent in their ranks with their own strong single figure wins against quality opposition, although the title favourites had to rely on two more experienced hands, Peter Slinger and Glynn Hargraves, to come back from the death in their games to seal the win for their side.
Champions Marown A used this to their advantaged and capitalised by securing a well-deserved 8-2 victory over Onchan A, to claw one point closer to their rivals. Despite the score line there were some close encounters and both teams will feel they should have another point on the board.
Villa talisman Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly showed his class to scrap to 21-19 win over 2013 June festival winner Neil Withers in a high quality affair. Withers showed some good resistance as he prevented Kelly from getting into his trademark corners however he used all of his green craft to secure victory. Marown stalwart Colin Kelly didn’t have things his own way either against Stuart Garrett and both men were inspired in a game of the highest quality which Kelly just edged by the narrowest of margins, 21-20.
As tipped, South Ramsey A have now leapfrogged both Douglas A and their last opponents Castltown B into third place, as they defeated the latter 8-2 at home. South as expected were too strong for their rivals but it is town who can draw heart as George Peach and Peter Oates picked up wins whilst John Holden and Dave Faragher put in spirited displays, both narrowly losing out 21-18. South will see it as two points lost in the battle for silverware.
North Ramsey A and Port St Mary A are now tied on points in the middle of the table after the former picked up a surprise 7-3 win over the strong southern outfit. Some of North’s new boys were the stars of the show with Steve Walmsley, Alan Callow and Steve Parker all impressing.
Peel A and Ballaugh A will be delighted to build some momentum as they both picked up superb 9-1 home wins to get their season off and running in earnest and move away from the foot of the table.
Finch Hill A remain at the top of Division Two but only after a stern examination by Port St Mary B with honours even 5-5. The league leaders won 5-3 on games but the wily Spaniards took the aggregate points, thanks in a large part to Island Junior Champion Sam Parmer’s tremendous 21-2 win.
Onchan B are still chasing top spot and managed to close the deficit by two points as they slugged out a 7-3 victory at home over aNorth Ramsey B side who are acquitting themselves well since earning promotion last term.
Nobles Mixed are some peoples favourites to end the season as champions and a blistering 9-1 win away from home will not have harmed their chances at all.
Marown B topped Division 3 last week and even with a strong 6-4 win away at Peel D they find themselves slipping down the table to third.
Title favourites South Ramsey B were simply ruthless as they mercilessly white washed Nobles Park B 10-0 away from home to take pole position.
Port Erin B now find themselves in second spot, tied on points with Marown B, after some good work at home as they strolled to an 8-2 win over North Ramsey C.
Capital International Cup
There were 29 pairs who took part in The Capital International Cup mixed doubles at Port Erin Bowling Club. The weather stayed dry for the afternoon. There were some very close games which could have been worthy of a final.
Semi Finals:
Amanda Lawler & Bob Clark 21-20 Paula Firth & Jordan Cain
Chris Price & Peter Slinger 21-9 Joyce Ogden & Mike Hargraves
The Final went to the brother and sister team of Chris Price & Peter
Slinger after some very close ends.
Final:
Amanda Lawler & Bob Clark – 13
Chris Price & Peter Slinger – 21
The presentation was made by club chairman Di Benson & Daren Ward from
Capital International. Thanks went to the sponsor, all the competitors, measurer’s, markers and Janet Shilling for her excellent running of the competition during the afternoon.
Report by Di Benson
Ladies’ League 16th May
South Ramsey found it hard going at Castletown where Kim Foy and Kath Kinley were on top form, while Onchan were unfortunately a player short against Purt le Moirrey. Mooragh Park were top scorers against Marown, where Mary Alderson and Lil Smith were the two winners for the home side. Although Peel Sunset won five games against Port St Mary they lost out on points while Port Erin were able to put the disappointment of the previous night behind them coming through 5-4 on games against Douglas. In a low scoring game Noble’s Mixed won 5-4 on games to beat Ballaugh by 10 points.
Trend Ladies’ Over 60’s Tuesday 13th May
Port St Mary A recorded their second maximum of the season to consolidate their position at the top of the table. Mooragh Park had a battle on their hands as visitors Villa drew with them on games, Peggy Chapman edging out Jean Radcliffe 21-20 while Joan Murphy came through against Rita Callan by the same score. Second placed Peel Sunset had a 4-2 advantage against Onchan A in a high scoring match while Onchan B had a close encounter with Noble’s Mixed, ending level on games and losing out by just four points. Sylvia Maddrell was the lone winner for Port Erin against Douglas although Gwen Tuck almost added a second game reaching 20 against Jo Oldam, while Mary Alderson and Shirley Whelan were the two winners for Marown against Castletown.
Jean Kelly Quarter-Finals
The quarter-finals of the Jean Kelly team handicap competition took place on Thursday 15th May.
MAROWN (+55) 171, PORT ST MARY (SCR) 180
Despite winning 7-2 on games, the two winners for Marown being Pat Withers and Mary Alderson, Port St Mary did not have it easy as Marown’s handicap made it a close match with the Southerner’s coming through by nine points.
NOBLE’S MIXED ( +25) 150, CASTLETOWN (+15) 168
Although close on games, Castletown winning 5-4, their four wins to single figures enabled them to overcome the difference in handicap, despite Rebecca Teare also winning to single figures, and go through to the semi-finals.
SOUTH RAMSEY ( +10) 193, PORT ERIN (+45) 157
Port Erin were unable to repeat their heroics of the first round as they took on the other Ramsey team, losing 7-2 on games with South Ramsey dropping just six points to their two winners, Mavis Franks and Phil Dobson.
DOUGLAS (+40) 187, PEEL SUNSET (+30) 189
This match went right down to the wire as Peel were two points ahead with two matches left on the green. Shirley Corrin edged out Pat Kelly 21-20 to increase the lead to three points with Pat Robertson and Muriel Cain still to finish. Pat reached 20 to give the match to Peel by just two points.
Gladys Cowell Ladies’ Over 60’s Singles
There was an entry of 25 for the Gladys Cowell Over 60’s ladies’ singles played at Peel on Saturday 17th May. The weather was kind although on a very fast green the increasing wind started to have some effect by the end of the afternoon.
Quarter-finals: Lilian Slinger 21, Pat Robertson 11; Jean Radcliffe 21, Heather Horsburgh 14; Sylvia Kennaugh 21, Connie Pettegrew 13; Shirley Whelan 21, Mary Black 13
Semi-finals: Lilian Slinger 21, Jean Radcliffe 10; Shirley Whelan 21, Sylvia Kennaugh 16
Lilian was imperious in the final taking the first four ends and a lead of 12-6 before Shirley put a 2 on the board. Lilian raced to 19-9 before Shirley tried to stem the tide with another 2. However it was too little too late as Lilian finished it with a 2 the following end to win 21-11.
The presentation was made by Heather Horsburgh who thanked all those who had entered, those who had stayed to watch the final and those who had helped in the smooth running of the afternoon.
South Ramsey Ladies Doubles
There was an entry of 13 pairs for the Ladies’ doubles open at South Ramsey on Wednesday 14th May, which was played in a round-robin format. One group of 6 pairs played 10 ends per game while the group of 7 pairs played 8.
The winners of the first group were Lilian Slinger and Jean Radcliffe with 63 points, runners up Philippa Taylor and Shirley Corrin scoring 56 points. The other group were led by Viv Grills and Heather Horsburgh with 60 points with Elaine Moore and Mary Alderson in second place with 53.
The two group winners then played each other in the final, a game to 21 off 6. Viv and Heather started well with a three the first end then it was downhill all the way as Lilian played a longer length and led well, supported by Jean at the back. Although they did win another two ends Viv and Heather had to hand it to Lilian and Jean as they ran out winners 21-11.
The presentation was made by competition secretary Gill Dixon who thanked all those who had stayed to the end, the ladies in the kitchen and all those who had helped in the smooth running of the afternoon.
Ladies’ League Friday 9th May
C. Tarleton Hodgson Sponsored Ladies League
Port St Mary were at their most ruthless against Marown in the C. Tarleton Hodgson and Son Ltd sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 9th May, winning all nine games, five of them to single figures. It was a night when all the matches were a little one-sided. Noble’s Mixed came close to a maximum with Edwina Reid being the only winner for Purt le Moirrey although Dot Mylchreest nearly added a second reaching 20 against Rhona Argallon. Port Erin had a successful trip to play Onchan, with the home side only able to win two games courtesy of Jo Smith and Phyllis Gelling although the games were well fought with everyone reaching double figures. Mooragh Park could only win 5-4 on games against Ballaugh, but a combination of all their players reaching double figures and winning two games to single figures gave them a comfortable lead on points. South Ramsey won 6-3 against Peel with a good points advantage while Castletown’s narrow 5-4 win on games at Douglas was not reflected in the points difference.
Top Lady
The weather was not kind for the ladies’ invitational “Top Lady” competition which took place at Port St Mary on Sunday 11th May, although it did improve as the afternoon progressed. The green was running well and there was some excellent bowling on display
Quarter-finals: Jenny Moore 21, Lin Ruscoe 11; Viv Grills 21, Gill Dixon 18; Shirley Whelan 21, Ann Maddrell 18; Janet Monk 21, Philippa Taylor 19.
As is often the case after three rounds of close matches, the semi-finals were both a little one-sided as the wheels fell off for Viv and Shirley who had both played so well all afternoon, leaving Jenny and Janet to contest the final.
Semi-finals: Jenny Moore 21, Viv Grills 8; Janet Monk 21, Shirley Whelan 5.
Janet was always on the back foot in the final as Jenny played some great bowls coming through to take the title 21-9.
The presentation was made by Association president Pat Robertson who commented on the superb bowling throughout the afternoon, before thanking Port St Mary Bowling Club for the use of their premises and their help during the afternoon, also for the refreshments and the lovely condition of the green. Thanks also went to the organisers for the smooth running of the event.