Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

The Felton’s Manx Masters took place on Sunday in fair weather conditions and on a good playing surface. The 48 invited bowlers -16 ladies and 32 men – competed in their respective competitions, while a good crowd watched the events unfold.

Felton’s Ladies Manx Masters

In the ladies’ event, Lynda Cadamy lost 21-6 to home greener Jenny Moore at the quarter-final stage, while Shannon McMullan was also held to single figures, losing 21-8 to Mooragh Park clubmate Janet Monk. In the other half of the draw, 2024 winner Louise Tebay recorded a comfortable 21-10 win over Hilary Kermode (Castletown), while recent Isle of Man September Festival winner Lacey McMullan (Mooragh Park) held off former teammate Caroline Parker (Ballaugh) 21-18 to advance to the semi-finals.

At the semi-final stage, Moore recovered from a 13-9 deficit on a longer length to defeat Monk 21-16. Tebay had complete control of her semi-final encounter with McMullan, leading 17-6 and then 20-9. McMullan fought back on a longer length, winning five consecutive ends to close the gap to five chalks at 20-15; however, Tebay secured her place in the final with a single to win 21-15.

Moore began the final as the overwhelming favourite, as she often is in any game on the Island, and would not have forgotten her 21-15 defeat to Tebay at the semi-final stage in 2024. Jenny was quickest out of the blocks, taking an early 8-3 lead after four ends. Tebay fought back, winning six of the next seven ends to level the game at 10-10 after 11 ends.

Moore stepped up a couple of gears from there, winning seven of the next nine ends and conceding just two chalks. She scored four doubles on her way to a fully deserved 21-12 victory, playing two great bowls on the final end as she headed into the corner on a round peg to finish the match in style.

This was Jenny’s seventh win in the competition, following a two-year gap since her previous title. Before that, she had won the competition for six consecutive years (2018-2023).

Felton’s Men’s Manx Masters

In the men’s event, several first- and second-round matches were closely contested.

Neil Withers (Marown) lost at the quarter-final stage to John Kennish (South Ramsey). Kennish was in complete control in the corners at 18-9, but Withers fought back with a five-end winning streak to reduce the deficit to one chalk at 18-17. Kennish regained the lead at a vital moment to finish the game 21-17. Breagle man Ewan Cooil lost 21-11 to home greener Dido Kelly, with the South Ramsey player scoring nine doubles and no singles throughout the game.

In the other half of the draw, Stevie Kelly (Peel) had a battle with North Ramsey’s Rob Monk. With the Mooragh man counting one for game with the score at 20-20, Stevie played a great final bowl to run the jack and seal his place in the semi-final with a 21-20 win. Onchan’s Matthew Quirk faced Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey), with Quirk retaining the lead throughout the early part of the game. After 16 ends, Quirk was two chalks ahead at 15-13 before finishing strongly with five singles and a double to progress to the next round with a 21-13 win.

Both semi-finals ended in comfortable wins for Kennish and Quirk. With Kennish leading 12-11, a flourish of doubles sealed his place in the final with a 21-13 win over South Ramsey teammate Dido Kelly.

The other semi-final saw Quirk face Peel man Stevie Kelly. Kelly won six of the first 10 ends, but being restricted to singles meant the score was tied at 9-9 after 10 ends. Quirk then returned to the short round-peg mark that had served him well in the previous three rounds and ran out a 21-9 winner.

Quirk appeared to be the in-form player going into the final; however, Kennish found a way to win once he settled into the game after conceding singles on the first two ends. After nine ends, the South Ramsey man had built a six-chalk lead at 12-6, having scored three doubles along the way.

The Onchan man responded by winning three ends in succession, although Kennish restricted him to singles. With three ends going in Quirk’s favour and two in Kennish’s, the deficit had been reduced to two chalks after 16 ends, with Kennish leading 14-12.

From there, Kennish made his move, scoring three doubles and a single to secure a 21-14 win. This was the 12^th time Kennish had won the trophy, including victories when it was played in its previous Champion of Champions format. This matches the number of times the South Ramsey man has won the Manx Championship.

The presentation was conducted by South Ramsey Chairman Steve Moore, who thanked everyone who had accepted the invitation to play and everyone who had helped to run the competitions. He also thanked the ladies, who once again outdid themselves with the catering, and the club members who assisted throughout the day. Long-term supporters of the event, Chris and Lynnette Perry of Felton’s Ironmongers, were then introduced to present the prizes. Without their support, the event would not be possible.