News: Reports
Manx Championship Preview
The highly anticipated Manx Championships takes place at South Ramsey this weekend and I am metaphorically salivating at the prospect of the most explosive and open championships in history.
Whilst seven times Island Champion John Kennish must be the clear favourite on his home green to win the title for the first time since 2006 there is literally a shopping list full of contenders who stand in his way.
Five times Island Champion Colin Kelly won the title last time it was contested on the green and will again be amongst the favourites along with double champions Kevin Quirk and Glynn Hargraves, who currently wears the crown. Neil Withers and Phil Kerruish are other former champions who have had recent success on the green and could definitely be in the shake up at the end.
There are a host of players looking to pick up their first title with David Bradford and Paul Skelly heading a list littered with young up and coming talent such as Jordan Cain, Bob Clark and Matthew Quirk however there will be no more popular winner than if Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly breaks his duck and adds this title to his collection.
Ladies’ League 2 May
Friday 2 May
Despite losing 4-5 on games Port St Mary had a comfortable win on points when they travelled to Ballaugh, with four of their players winning to single figures and no-one scoring less than 15 points. Two games went all the way with Tricia Bull and Rita Callister losing out 20-21 to Brenda Bowyer and Peggy Griffin. Shirley Whelan and Rosie Winckle were Marown’s two winners at South Ramsey while Moira Anderson edged out Mary Alderson 21-20.The Douglas v Onchan fixture was played at the Villa and was a tight affair, Douglas winning 5-4 on games with an advantage of just 8 points. Castletown had a successful trip west taking 6 games, two to single figures. Peel did not let them have it all their own way, also winning a game to single figures, and a good fight-back saw Shirley Corrin reaching 19 against Marie Ashurst. Noble’s Mixed also recorded a win on points despite going 4-5 down on games. Their wins were all to single figures, as was Voirrey Curphey’s for the home side, while Paula Firth reached 19 against Mavis Franks. Mooragh Park dropped just 10 points on their visit to Purt le Moirrey, the two winners for the home side being Amanda Lawler and Debra Cooper.
Ladies’ over 60’s 1 May
Thursday 1 May
The match between Onchan A and Onchan B had to be postponed because of the inclement weather. League leaders Port St Mary extended their lead with a maximum at Douglas where Tricia Bull won to single figures, while Mooragh Park suffered another set-back going down 4-2 to Noble’s Mixed. Lilian Slinger’s win to single figures was balanced by Sylvia Kennaugh’s result while Pat Robertson won her battle with Rira Callan 21-19.It couldn’t have been much closer at Ballaugh with both teams winning 3 games, one each to single figures, the home side coming through by just one point. Villa put up a strong performance against Port St Mary B with Peggy Chapman and Joan Murphy winning to single figures in a 4-2 win, Brenda Hawkard and Roma Ware being the two winners for the visitors. Marown fell just short of 100 points in their 4-2 win over Port Erin for whom Sylva Shelbourne and Voirrey Curphey were the two winners.
Postponed Jean Kelly Match
The postponed Jean Kelly match between Onchan and Port St Mary was played at Finch Hill on Thursday 1 May. Port St Mary proved too strong for Onchan winning 7 of the 9 games, Phyllis Gelling and Marilyn Ellison, to single figures, being the two winners for the home side. Despite Port St Mary winning five of their games to single figures, Onchan’s +55 handicap made it a close affair the victors coming through by just 8 points.
ONCHAN (+55) 159 (2), PORT ST MARY (SCR) 167 (7)
IOM Ladies’ Pairs
There was an entry of 14 pairs for the IOM Ladies’ Pairs played at Noble’s Mixed on Saturday 3 May. There were some excellent bowls and close games throughout the afternoon.
The semi-finals were a little disappointing as Joyce Ogden and Sonja Lees never got going against Lilian Slinger and Helen Martin, while Shirley Whelan and Rosie Winckle threatened an upset as they stayed level with Janet Monk and Chris Price to 13-13. However at this point the Mooragh Park pair switched up a gear and the Marown pair were unable to put another point on the card.
Semi-finals: Lilian Slinger and Helen Martin 21, Joyce Ogden and Sonja Lees 6; Janet Monk and Chris Price 21, Shirley Whelan and Rosie Winckle 13
Janet and Chris had the lead in the final from the start, although their opponents did pull up to 12-13 at one point. The sisters then won the next three ends to 17-12, and although Lilian and Helen managed a 3 and a 2 to threaten a come-back Chris and Janet held on to win 21-17.
The presentation was made by Association vice-president, Rosie Winckle who thanked Noble’s Mixed for their hospitality, all the players for entering, the ladies’ for doing the refreshments and anyone who had helped in any way during the afternoon.
Kennish Cains the opposition at Castletown
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.
Ladies’ Over 60’s 29 April
Tuesday 29 April
After five games Port St Mary A have opened a significant gap at the top of the table ahead of Peel and Ballaugh, who are level on points, closely followed by Mooragh Park. The leaders fell just short of a maximum on their visit to near neighbours, Port Erin, where Gwen Tuck was the lone winner for the home side. Second placed Peel Sunset fought well to be level on games with Mooragh Park, and despite Lilian Slinger’s win to single figures, the westerners ended with the advantage on points. Ballaugh won a high scoring game against Onchan B, the match ending 3-3 with all games going into double figures.Noble’s Mixed won five games against Marown with Joan Walton being the only winner for the visitors. Two games went all the way with Lin Ruscoe coming from behind to edge out Shirley Whelan 21-20 while Pat Dacre came through against Celia Joughin by the same score. Onchan A also won five games against Douglas, Jan Osborne spoiling their party with a win to single figures while Kath King gave Phyllis Gelling a good game before going down 19-21. Muriel Cain and Kay McKiernan took two games off Castletown but with Anne Oates and Marie Ashurst winning to single figures the home side had a comfortable win on points.
Sylvia Cashen Ladies’ Charity Doubles
The weather cleared during the afternoon for the Sylvia Cashen Charity ladies’ doubles played at Port St Mary with the entry of 23 pairs staying dry despite a threat of rain at the semi-final stage. The money raised during the afternoon, just over £300, will be donated to the new Dedicated Breast Care Centre.
At the semi-final stage we had two pairs from Mooragh Park and two from Port St Mary. Ann Maddrell and her daughter Katy faced Jean Radcliffe and Chris Price while Lilian Slinger and her daughter Janet played Margaret Tasker and Tricia Bull.
Semi-finals: Margaret and Tricia 21, Janet and Lilian 19; Ann and Katy 21, Jean and Chris 12
This set up an all Port St Mary final, where the early stages were evenly matched the score at one point being 10-10. Tricia and Margaret only won one more end as good leads from Katy followed by Ann’s destructive work at the back gave the game to the mother and daughter combination 21-12.
The presentation was made by president Ann Maddrell, who thanked everyone for entering and for their generosity. She also thanked Andy for his work on the sheet, the ladies for their work in the kitchen, Ray for the green and Doug for his work on the surroundings.
It’s All About the Length at Ramsey
There was some tremendous bowling in the team event at South Ramsey on Sunday with ‘Its All About the Length’ running out winners over ‘Lil’s Legacy’ in a hotly contested final.
The team of Bob Clark, Mark Kneen, Michael Collister and Neil Withers had just enough to see out a 60-56 win over the family team comprising matriarch Lillian Slinger, her daughters Janet Monk and Chris Price and grandson Robert Monk in a fiercely fought finale to an epic days bowling.
The eventual victors didn’t have things their own way in the final however with one singles game level, being 12-7 down in the doubles and Neil Withers trailing 16-12 to Janet Monk things looked bleak.
The pendulum of momentum however swung and with Michael Collister finishing off his singles game 21-17 against Chris Price and Withers scrapping to a great 21-18 win it left them firmly in the driving seat and at 18-12 up in the doubles to job was done. Credit must go to Lillian Slinger and Robert Monk who managed to see out a magnificent 21-18 win in the pairs.
Fallers at the semi-finals stage were ‘Rosemary’s Boys’ (Kevin Quirk, Roemary Quirk, Matthew Quirk & Glynn Hargraves) and Misserabowls (Alan Moore, Andy Kennish, Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly and Stefan Kelly).
South Ramsey put on another first class competition on and praise must go to the green keepers for a simply immaculate playing surface.
Bowling Back the Years
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.
