Manx Ladies Shine at Festival
The September Bowls Festival, which was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, has once again completed another successful week, with entries up and Manx ladies putting up a good showing.
Although the weather was “iffy” at times with rain showers and strong winds, it did not detract from the players enthusiasm or their standard of bowling.
The finals started on Thursday morning, when the Tourism competitions were played to a conclusion from the quarter-finals. Jenny Moore went out at that stage to Alison Cotton (St Georges ) 21 – 15. In the final Lyn Bolton had the better start against Alison Cotton . She was able to hold on against a come-back mid game from Alison to take the trophy 21-14. This win means that Lyn has qualified to play in the Champion of Champions at Waterloo at the end of September.
They continued in the evening with the doubles events. In the Open Doubles the Manx pairing of Jenny Moore and James Teare lost out in the semi-finals, 11-2, to Joe Cranston and Gaz Lally (Crossgates).
Elaine Moore, paired with Amanda Nicholas ( Gresford Colliery ), reached the final of the ladies’ doubles against Angela Gaut (Wrockwardine Wood) and Sharon Gadd (Shipley). Despite their opponents taking an early 6-2 lead, Elaine and Amanda then dug in, denying their opponents further points and taking the match 11-6.
On Friday, Janet Monk was the only lady in the final four of the visit iom.com Flyer, going out at that stage to David Jackson Knutsford) 9 – 4
In the main event, three Manx ladies made it through to the quarter-finals, Mary Alderson, Fiona Kennish and Jenny Moore.
Mary and Fiona came up against the eventual finalists, Mary going down 21 – 15 to Gill Simm (Lune Rd ) and Fiona losing out 21- 12 to Molly Sullivan ( St Georges ). Jenny got her revenge on Alison Cotton, winning 21-14 to go through to the semi-finals, where she went down 21 – 14 to Molly. This meant that Jenny won the Blanche Kaye Trophy for the Manx lady getting furthest in the main event.
The final was evenly contested, the score being level at 7-7, 11-11, 14-14 with Gill not being behind after the fourth end until at 16-16 Molly won two ends in a row to lead 18-16. Gill then led 20-18 before a 2 from Molly made it 20-20. Gill, who had lost out in the final last year, was not to be denied, winning the last end and the trophy.