Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

The final stages of this years’ Over 60’s Manx Championship will be played to a conclusion at Peel Bowling Club on Tuesday afternoon with action getting underway from 1pm. BCGBA dress code applies. Get yourself there for what promises to be an intriguing afternoon of bowls.

Peter Collister vs Neil Dunwell

Collie is the most decorated player in the field, there isn’t much bigger an accolade than being a June Festival and Tourism winner at the tender age of 21 in 1983. Forty years on he is vying to get his hands on the Over 60’s Manx Championship. Collie came through his qualifying games with a 21-6 win over Bernard Thackrah and a hard fought 21-20 victory over Onchan man Kevin Quirk.

Dunwell should not be written off, as he is more than capable of an upset, he will quietly fancy his chances after taken out Peel’s Andy Kennish 21-16 to qualify for finals day, following a 21-7 win over South Ramsey’s Hakim Thomas in his first game. A keen competitor as he now plies his trade for Onchan A in the night league and Over 60’s.

Whilst Collister is clearly favourite, don’t write off Dunwell, who is more than capable of an upset,

Brian Lindsay vs Derek Allen

Lindsay is getting back into his bowls after a recent mysterious injury, if anyone ever finds out the real reason his arm was bandaged, please do let me know! One of two home greeners in the field, Lindsay has won eight of his last 10 games for Peel, came through qualifying with a 21-12 win over Ray Beattie, then beat David Buck 21-14 in his second game and just got over the line 21-20 against George Foy to reach the quarter finals.

Allen splits his bowls between Port Erin in the night league and Onchan in the Over 60’s, he will be hoping to go one better than 2020 when he reached the final only to come up against Barney. Derek gets in every competition going, is a good supporter of the open competitions all over the island. Allen came through his qualifying games as he beat Over 60’s Onchan clubmate Mark Kelly 21-11, then held his nerve as he held off night league teammate Seamus Whelan 21-20.

An evenly matched contest, could home advantage prove to be the difference?

Lee Dawson vs Brian Colquitt

‘Dawsy’ to most is a former home greener, so has good knowledge of the Peel green, he particularly enjoys playing the edge of the green, although he did start his bowls at Ballaugh. It is great to see Lee back on the green after a difficult winter. Dawson has won an open competition many moons ago, he came through qualifying following three tough games, beating Brian Aspden 21-18, Steve Parker to the same score and then beat Port Erin man Bernie Durcan 21-16 to qualify.

Brian Colquitt is a tough man to shift, he is a former Over 60’s Manx Champion and the only previous winner in the field having picked up the title in 2019. Colquitt came through his qualifying games with a hard fought 21-20 win over South Ramsey’s Bryan Corner and went on to beat Peel man Phil Clarke 21-8 to qualify.

An all-Ramsey battle, this is a tough one to call.

Dougie Allan vs Peter Slinger

Dougie is the second home greener in the draw, is a tough opponent and should not be under-estimated on Peel or indeed any green. Allan is in good form for Peel with nine wins from his last 10 games, with recent wins over James Teare, Tony Dugdale and a crucial 21-9 victory over Harry Barton in the Rayner Plate on Friday night, which went a long way to securing the win for his team. Dougie came through his qualifying games with two comfortable victories. Write Dougie off at your peril.

Onchan night league captain Slinger is in as good form as he has been for some time, with his run to the semi-finals of the Manx Championship taking the scalps of Peter Jones with a 21-5 win and Peter Collister 21-6. In the qualifying third spot play off the Onchan man beat Colin Kelly to secure a place in the British Senior Merit Finals at the end of the month. On Thursday Slinger came through his games with three single figure victories, with his most notable being his qualifying game to reach the quarter finals as he beat home greener Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly who was the three-time champion and the current holder 21-7, despite trailing 5-2, Peter took apart Barney on home turf, later that day Slinger beat Alan Moore in the Rayner Shield semi-final in his fourth game of the day.

This could well be the tie of the round.