Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

One of the biggest events on the bowls calendar – The Isle of Man September Bowls Festival took place last week, with the competition played out in mixed weather conditions throughout the week, however the weather turned out better than the forecast.

In the Men’s event it was Gareth Coates (Ackroydon Victoria) who secured his second September Festival title, following his first success in 2023. Coates made the better start against South Ramsey man David Bradford, as he went into a 12-7 lead in the corners. Two singles saw the deficit at just three chalks at 9-12 for the local man, however Coates managed to keep Bradford at arm’s length extending the lead to 15-10.

A good hit from Bradford on the following end resulted in a single scored, however Coates again went on to extend the lead to 18-11, with Bradford killing an end, and then another play through securing a double.

A strike from Coates along the heavy edge of the green killed the end, with Bradford heading back along the same edge on the following end, as two great bowls from the local man were applauded by his opponent leaving no target, with the Yorkshire man striking, hitting and getting a favourable result to score a single to lead 19-13 with his ability to strike proving crucial. Another single for Coates put him just one good bowl away from sealing the win, however Bradford scored a single with a good second bowl.

A double on the following end, could have put some doubt into Coates, as two good bowls from Bradford were missed by Coates who struck. Bradford headed to the side of the crown on a round peg mark, with a good second bowl leaving the South Ramsey man counting for one. The last bowl from Coates proved to be the winner, as he played a great bowl to sit out the counting bowl to seal a superb 21-16 victory.

Coates took home the winners’ cheque for £3,200, whilst Bradford received a cheque for £1,250 for his week’s work, also received the Chris Quayle for a third consecutive year as the furthest Manxman in the competition.

At the semi-final stage Coates made light work of Ross Hatzer (Bar Lane) who had performed brilliantly in his quarter final match, as Coates won 21-8 to ensure safe passage to the final.

The other semi-final was between arguably the two most consistent players on the Island this year, with several good battles between the pair already this season, this proved to be the toughest as Bradford took on Paul Dunn (Marown). Bradford performed well playing up to the crown and back to the corner to lead 17-9. As predicted, this match was not over by any means, with Dunn digging deep to close the deficit to just two chalks at 17-19. A single from Bradford saw the room allowed to him fully punished by Dunn to score a double. With the score now 19-20 Dunn headed for the heavy corner, however the Marown man left his second bowl short to allow a free shot at the counting bowl, however a miss from Bradford put the score at 20-20. Dunn led out on a sweeping round peg putting up a great lead eight inches to the side forcing Bradford to change his peg to play a reaching bowl to connect with the bowl and jack to leave over four foot of room. The second from Dunn only just crept in, leaving Bradford room to bowl in to seal a 21-20 victory and his place in the final.

The quarter finals saw Coates in his toughest battle of the day, as he trailed Mark Taylor (Crossgates) 9-16 and 12-18. A superb finish saw Coates win six consecutive ends, scoring nine chalks to run out with a 21-18 win, with Coates visibly breathing a huge sigh of relief. Hatzer turned in a fine performance as he took a 17-6 lead over 1989 winner Jon Teretta (Norton Arms), with Teretta threatening a comeback Hatzer sealed his spot in the next round 21-13. In the other half of the draw Bradford took on another Marown man, Neil Withers, with Bradford always in control as he won 21-15. Dunn had a battle with Joseph Cranston (Crossgates), trailing 12-17, with a strong finish from the Crosby man seeing him go on to win 21-17.

Men’s Tourism

The Men’s Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 1, and it was four-time festival winner Graeme Wilson (AEU Alstom) who managed to see off two previous festival winners on his way to picking up the title, beating James Wilcox (Crossgates) who has won two festival titles 21-14 with a solid display using all his experience as he moved around the green, changing the mark to never allow Wilcox to settle in to the game.

In the semi-finals Wilson had a battle against 2008 winner and furthest local Colin Kelly (Marown), with the local man leading 16-10, a stirring fightback from the AEU man ensured he got over the line 21-19. Wilcox made light work of Crossgates teammate Joseph Cranston 21-9 to book his place in the final.

The quarter finals saw three comfortable wins and one game going to the wire, with Wilson starting his morning with a 21-16 win over Chris Bly (Hollinhurst BC), while Kelly beat new Isle of Man resident Jamie Box (Quarry Vikings) 21-13. In the other half of the draw Wilcox had to scrap for his 21-20 win over Jon Guess (Fairfield), with Cranston the best winner of the round with a 21-11 win over Paul Bradley (Fairfield).

Other Events

The Men’s Consolation was won by last September’s Tourism winner Zach Walker (King Alfred) who beat previous Festival winner Robert Fitzpatrick (Hoylake) 21-20 in a keenly contested and entertaining final.

The Ladies Consolation was won by Sally Turner (New Mill) with a comfortable 21-12 victory over fellow clubmate Lorraine Hirst, following a strong finish from the former with the score at 15-12, a four-end winning streak sealed the win.

The Visit.Com Flyer title went to Callum Wraight (Llanrwst) who had a good 9-3 win over Mitch Toft 9-3, with this unusually being Wraight’s only success of the week. The Last Chance Mixed final was won by Paul Kissock (Netherfield), who held off Whitby man Ken Wale 21-15.

In the doubles competitions the Open doubles were won convincingly by Jack Dyson and Jon Palmer (Thongsbridge/Castlefields) with an 11-2 victory over John Bailey and Paul Bailey – no relation (Llanrwst/Belvedere). Dyson and Palmer reached the final with a solid 11-2 win over David and Steven Baskerville (Knutsford), whilst the Bailey pairing beat Sam Butler and Anthony Briddon (Fairfield) 11-6.

The Men’s doubles were won by Joseph Cranston and Joshua Mordue (Crossgates/Pudsey) as they convincingly beat Matty Gilmore and Gareth Coates (Quarry Vikings/Ackroydon Victoria) 11-2 in the final. Cranston and Mordue beat Callum Wraight and John Bailey (Llanrwst) 11-8 in the semi-final, whilst Gilmore and Coates had to work for their 11-9 win over Robert Fitzpatrick and Michael Coupe (Hoylake/Wirral).

The Ladies doubles were won by Clair Russell and Sharon Gadd (Alkincoats PWA/Cononley) as they beat local pairing Fiona Kennish and Jenny Moore (South Ramsey) 11-7 in the final. Russell and Gadd just got over the line in the semi-final as they trailed 3-10 to Sarah Weaver and Carol Faulkner (Wrockwardine Wood), only to see the game out 11-10 with a six-end, eight-point scoring streak. Kennish and Moore beat fellow local pair Sue Gawne and Lynda Cadamy (Nobles/Marown) 11-8 in their semi-final game.

Winning the Mixed pairs were Sara Boyd and Simon Tyler (Bolton-le-Sands/Gresford Village BC) with an emphatic 9-0 win over Susan Page and Richard Lockett (Bare/Wem BC).

The Triples was held once again this year with the competition due to be played on three greens over seven ends on Wednesday morning down to the winner from each green. The heavy rain put paid to the use of the Villa green, however both Noble’s greens were deemed playable. Winning on Noble’s 1 green for a second successive year were Joseph Cranston, Joshua Mordue, and Ryan Clark (Crossgates/Pudsey/Lower Hopton), whilst Adam Bishop, Richard Hindley, and Matt Sands (Lloyds) were the winners on Noble’s 2 green.