News: Reports
Ladies’ league Friday 26 June
Only four matches took place in the C Tarleton Hodgson and Son Ltd sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 26 June. The men’s Super 16 was taking place at South Ramsey and I believe Noble’s went to watch. Could I please ask captains to keep me informed of changes and let me know, as soon as possible, the dates that the matches are going to be played.
Of the four matches that were played Port St Mary won by the biggest margin, 6-3 on games with three wins to single figures. The three winners for Marown were Rosie Winckle, to single figures, Pat Withers and Mary Black. Despite winning 5-4 on games, Castletown found themselves seven points adrift of Purt le Moirrey. The closest game of the night saw Roma Ware just lose out 20-21 to Joy Stephens. Port Erin had the edge 5-4 on games with Voirrey Curphy and Kay Primrose-Smih winning to single figures. With all their players reaching double figures they came away with a comfortable points win. It was close at Onchan the result showing the value of fighting for every point. Although only winning four games the Peel Sunset girls all reached double figures giving them victory by a mere five points.
South Ramsey Super 16
If John Kennish didn’t have enough on his plate winning the Festival he also found time to arrange the Super 16, which was a sublime finale to a brilliant festival week.
In its inaugural running sixteen of the UK’s top bowlers lined up at South Ramsey bowling club to play for £500 in an invitation competition, which was an exhibition and master class of crown green bowling.
The final was contested between two former festival winners with Matthew Gilmore ending the run of Andy Farmer with a 21-14 win.
Gilmore was on fire all night and nobody really got close to knocking him out. In the Semi-Finals he eliminated another former festival champion Robbie Fitzpatrick 21-15 after getting out 21-12 against Shropshire’s Ben Harris in the quarters.
Farmer was in brilliant form himself and ended the challenge of tourism winner Callum Wraight 21-15 in the semis after stopping Richie Goddard 21-13 the round before.
Other fallers at the quarter finals stage were Wayne (the Beast) Ditchfield and one of the true characters of the game Barry Booth.
Prise must go to Kennish and South Ramsey for running the competition which is a fantastic addition to the festival calendar, and long may it continue. There are too many people to thank but I must thank Everest and the DED for their support of the competition and of course green keeper George Brew for an immaculate playing surface.
Ken Williamson Trophy
John Kennish ended a great week with another win this time lifting the Ken Williamson Trophy at former club Onchan with a 21-14 over Manx Championship finalist Trevor Quayle.
In the Semi-finals Kennish ended the challenge of home greener Kevin Quirk 21-16, whilst Quayle ended the run of another Kennish knocking out Andy 21-18, to ruin the final showdown that many would have paid to see.
Fallers at the quarter finals stage were Mike Hargraves, Stefan Kelly, Jordan Cain and Bernie Durcan.
Castletown Ladies’ Doubles
Their was an entry of 21 pairs for the ladies’ doubles, sponsored by Microgaming, played at Castletown on Saturday 20 June. Despite entrants from other parts of the island expecting phone calls to say the event had been cancelled because of rain, the weather in Castletown had remained good and the competition went ahead. The green was, as usual, a little tricky and took some getting used to but once mastered was running well and allowed for some good bowls.
Semi-finals: Mary Alderson and Karen Hill (Ossett Flying Horse ) 21, Kath Kinley and Mary Kinrade 11; Paula Firth and Lin Ruscoe 21, Ann Gale and Jenny Maddrell 18.
In the final Lin and Paula had the better of the early exchanges winning 3 of the first 4 ends to lead 10-9 at which point their mojo deserted them and Mary and Karen took control winning eight ends in a row to come out 21-10 winners.
The presentation was made by Hilary Kermode who thanked Microgaming for their continuing sponsorship, and also for their corporate gifts for all the participants.
Thanks went to the faithful few who had stayed to the end of the competition, and special thanks to Linda for her efforts in running the competition.
Jean Kelly Semi-finals
Port St Mary were too strong, and determined, for their fellow club colleagues in the first semi-final of the Jean Kelly memorial team handicap competition. Purt le Moirrey had two winners in Chris Price and Pauline Worrall but Port St Mary won the other seven games with ease three of them to single figures, so that even a healthy handicap of 40 points was not enough to rescue their hapless opponents.
It was a similar tale at South Ramsey with the home side winning seven of the nine games. The two winners for Onchan were Rita Callan and Maureen Payne, Rita having a tough tussle with Bethany Kennish before coming through 21-18.With South Ramsey winning two games to single figures and the highest losing score for Onchan being 13 an advantage of 40 points on handicap was not enough to affect the result.
The Final, between Port St Mary and South Ramsey will be played on Thursday 9 July, venue to be announced.
Ladies’ league Friday 19 June
There were only two high scores in the C Tarleton Hodgson and Son Ltd sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 19 June, but one of the two was a maximum by Port St Mary against Port Erin. With the visitors winning all nine games, four of them to single figures, only Voirrey Curphey threatened to spoil the party reaching 18 against Alison Keggen. Castletown dropped just 10 points as they won 6-3 on games at Onchan with Kim Foy and Anne Oates winning to single figures. Rita Callan put up a good fight against Hannah Kermode, reaching 19 while Joy Stephens just lost out 20-21 to Wendy McDowell.It was a close fought thing at Marown where Peel Sunset, winning 5-4 on games scraped victory by 2 points. Two games went all the way, Heather Horsburgh edging out Elaine Dewhirst 21-20 while Mary Black came through against Cath Parker by the same score. Ballaugh lost on games, 4-5, to Douglas but triumphed by 5 points. The highlight of the evening was a “ding-dong” battle between Christine MacDonald and Kath King, Kath taking it 21-20.Despite having six wins, one to single figures for Lin Ruscoe, and a 19 by Paula Firth against Janet Monk, good wins to single figures by Lilian Slinger and Kim Hargraves kept Noble’s total down while two wins to single figures for each side meant that the Purt le Moirrey match against South Ramsey was also a low scoring affair.
Ladies’ over 60’s Thursday 18 June
It could not have been much closer at Ballaugh in the Trend sponsored ladies’ over 60’s league on Thursday 18 June. Ending level on games the home team ended with a one point advantage. Jenny Maddrell won to single figures for the home side whileRita Callister and Tricia Bull did the same for the visitors. Noble’s were the highest scorers of the morning on 113 and although ending all square on games with Pat Robertson winning to single figures and no player scoring less than 16 points they ended up with a 20 point advantage. Unfortunately Villa were a player short, giving Mooragh Park a 4-2 advantage on games and the second highest total of the morning. Marown had a healthy win over Onchan B on points, although the match ended level on games, while at Onchan A the home side won 4 games with Hazel Hughes winning to single figures as did Sylvia Maddrell for Breagle. Kay Primrose-Smith was the other winner for the visitors.. Port Erin and Castletown had a close encounter with Castletown coming through by just 6 points despite winning 4 games. The two winners for Port Erin were Carol Kaye, to single figures, and Voirrey Curphey. Jean Thackrah almost levelled the game score reaching 20 against Barbara Young. Douglas and Peel Sunset also had a good battle, the match ending level on games with the westerners coming through by 6 points.
Association Pre-Festival
The weather stayed fine again on Sunday 21 June for the Ladies’ Association pre-festival competition played at Marown. There was an entry of 32, including 11 visitors, which produced a mixture of very close games and other not so close games. There were two 21-20’s in the quarter-finals and another in the semis.
Quarter-finals: Margaret Tasker 21, Mary Alderson 20; Lyn Bolton 21, Elaine Moore 16; Tricia Bull 21, Jenny Moore 19; Karen Hill (Ossett Flying Horse) 21, Ronnie Lyon 20
Semi-finals: Margaret Tasker 21, Lyn Bolton 20; Karen Hill 21, Tricia Bull 19
By the final Karen had really got the feel of the green, and, despite her best efforts, there was little Margaret could do to prevent her running out a 21-11 winner
The presentation was made by Association president, Pat Robertson, who thanked Marown for the use of their facilities and for the efforts of their ladies in providing refreshments and helping with measuring .
She also commented on the high standard of the bowling she had watched during the afternoon.
Jim Kernan Cup
David Bradford showed why he is amongst the favourites to win the June Festival with a brilliant display in the Jim Kernan Competition at South Ramsey on Saturday.
Bradford is fast becoming the favourite in almost all games he plays and showed why with a commanding final victory over visitor Mark Bramall. He was in control from the off and never really looked threatened as he added another trophy to his ever growing collection.
In the semi-finals Bradford ended the challenge of Barney Kelly, who himself had a great day taking the scalps of three former festival winners, Matt Gilmore, Colin Kelly and John Kennish.
Bramall who himself played excellently all day had to be at the top of his game to make the final as he just got the better of seasoned campaigner John Colbourne to book his final place.
Credit to South Ramsey for running a great competition on an immaculate green and special thanks go to George Brew for his continued sponsorship of one of the Islands premier competitions.
Ballacashtal Cup
Warwick & Worcester’s Ben Harris won the Balacashtal Cup at the first time of asking with a thrilling 21-20 win over compatriot Steve Freer in the final at Castletown on Sunday.
Harris, a newcomer to the Island, improved with every bowl he sent on the tricky Castletown green to secure his first win of the week showing he is a genuine contender for both the main festival and the Friday night’s star studded finale, the South Ramsey Super 16.
Harris played well throughout and booked his place in the final with a quarter final 21-12 win over Mick Burns, followed up by a strong showing in the semis to eliminate the talented Mark Bramall 21-9.
Freer ended the challenge of popular local Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly, who has been showing fine form this weekend, in the quarter finals before getting the better of Alan Belsher 21-18 in the Semi’s.
Alan Moore from South Ramsey had a good run to the quarters before his quest for glory was cut short by Mark Bramall and Belsher knocked out teammate Jack Holland at the same stage.
Castletown should be commended for putting on another fabulous competition with 100 competitors on the day.