Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

The Keenan Fours was held on Saturday with 30 pairs making the annual pilgrimage to Ballaugh despite the forecast of heavy rain. The day started dry, however as the day went on the rain set in, became heavier making for tough conditions.

At the quarter final stage Ballaugh pair Andy Young and Chris Pedley lost out 17-21 to Castletown’s Willie Corkill and Davey Garrett, with visiting bowlers Lee and Mick Longland losing out 18-21 to South Ramsey pair John Kennish and David Bradford. In the bottom half of the draw Breagle men Wayne Roberts and Ewan Cooil defeated Marown’s Glenn Boland and Peter Jones 21-7, while Glynn Hargraves and Jamie Box (South Ramsey/Marown) beat home pair Ed Trustham and Richard Hainge 21-10.

The semi-finals saw Kennish and Bradford in a tussle early on with Corkill and Garrett, with the conditions now so heavy that going for distance and ‘cobbing’ – sending the bowls through the air came into play, as the South Ramsey managed to see the game out 21-15. The other semi-final was a more comfortable win for Hargraves and Box, as they were in the opposite corners to get over the line 21-10 to take their place in the final.

The final got underway with the heavy rain persisting, and four already soaked players getting a further soaking. Hargraves and Box won the first end with a single, however Kennish and Bradford took control of the game to go into an unassailable lead, as they strolled to a 21-9 victory in the final in the same corners they had enjoyed success on in the semi-finals.

The presentation was made by Mark Dimsdale who thanked the club members, everyone for entering, the catering team, and those who had stayed to watch the final. John Keenan the sponsor of the competition, presented the trophy.