Port Erin Bowling Club hosted the F.M. Sowerbutts Memorial Trophy Mixed Doubles on Bank Holiday Monday. This was another competition that was well supported with some pairs needing to play six games to reach the final.

Bowing out at the semi-final stage were Philippa Taylor (Marown) & Alec Taylor (Peel) to Elaine Moore & Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey), whilst in the other semi-final Lyn Bolton (South Ramsey) & Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) were beaten by Jenny Moore & James Teare (South Ramsey).

With the nights drawing in the final started under floodlights with Jenny & James making the better start building up a 13-10 lead, only for Elaine & Glynn to respond to turn the game on it’s head to go ahead 19-13 with Elaine leading well in the corners. Jenny & James got back in and started to eat away at the lead and at 17-19 were lying four for game only for Hargraves to save three with a good second bowl, which didn’t quite count to bring the score to 18-19. On the next end Jenny & James were counting one only for this to be beaten. On the final end Jenny & James were counting two, only for the counting bowls to again be beaten to ensure Elaine & Glynn secured a 21-18 victory to take the title.

The presentation was made by Janet Latham who thanked everyone who had entered, the club members for their support & providing the refreshments. In his speech Glynn thanked Port Erin for running the competition, Janet Latham for once again sponsoring the competition in memory of her father, also remarked on the significant improvement in the condition of the green this season since the club have taken over the maintenance of the green. Glynn also thanked everyone who had stayed to watch the final.

Saturday saw a field of 33 teams of mixed pairs take to the green at Finch Hill on what was a cold but generally sunny day. After losing the main sponsor for this competition earlier in the year Pat Maher came forward to sponsor this enjoyable and well supported competition and it is only thanks to him that Finch Hill was able to host the competition.

One of the novel features introduced by Pat was the lottery to give two pairs their entry fee back and this seemed to be very well received.

With 33 entries we only had one preliminary round match which saw Sid Bolton and Paula Firth come through a tough match against Karl Parker and Helen Withers and showed that they would be serious contenders.

The first round proper saw numerous close matches with the home team of Frank Christian and Iris Kermode just losing out to Celia Joughin and Jay Waters while Les Brookes and Pauline Cowley took a single on the final end to beat Sylvia Kennaugh and Terry Bates 21-20. The first upset nearly came in the match involving Debbie and Evan Leece who led all the way up until the last three ends against Fiona Kennish and Steven Waters but thanks to six points from those three ends it was Kennish and Waters who took the match 21-17. This near shock obviously provided a wake up call for the pairing as you will see later. Expected front runners Glynn Hargraves and Elaine Moore were put under pressure right from the start by Derek and Lynda Cadamy who would lead 20-13 after 13 ends but it took another six ends to get them over the line for a 21-20 win. Preliminary round winners Sid Bolton and Paula Firth were pushed hard by Dave Naughton and Tina Hampson but did just enough to come through 21-18.

Last year’s finalists Philippa and Alec Taylor were tested by the home favourites John Harris and Sue Collier who led 16-13 after 12 ends but a four on the next end from the Taylor’s did the damage and they ran out winners 21-17. Our sponsor Pat Maher partnered by Ann Hon easily overcame Michelle and Pauline Cowley 21-12, while the other home team of Hazel and Peter Hughes were no match for Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly. A number of other strong pairings made it through this first round easily and will be mentioned later but I must mention the young players who took part and showed that the future is bright for our sport. I have already mentioned the strong showing of Evan Leece, and for the first time at Finch Hill we saw Megan Hargraves take to the green and then Ryan Hargraves partnered by Victoria Johnson easily came through their first round match.

First up in the second round were Fiona Kennish and Steven Waters although it took them five ends to get the final point for a 21-17 win over Wayne Roberts and Joyce Ogden. Les Brookes and Pauline Cowley overcame the strong pairing of Sue Gawne and Brian Kelly 21-17, as did Matthew Keggen and Lyn Bolton over Mark Kelly and Caroline Whitehead. Philippa and Alec Taylor put in a strong performance to beat the home team of Pat Maher and Ann Hon and Sid Bolton and Paula Firth continued their good run with a 21-11 win over Celia Joughin and Jay Waters. The young partnership of Ryan Hargraves and Victoria Johnson were unable to match the consistent scoring of the experienced pairing of Derek and Lynda Cadamy.  Chris Price and Dave McCabe had each won this competition with different partners in the past and they easily overcame Shannon McMullan and Lee Dawson. The toughest match of the round saw James Teare and Jenny Moore do just enough to beat Kim Hargraves and Stefan Kelly 21-18.

In the quarter finals Matthew Keggen and Lyn Bolton ended the challenge of Les Brookes and Pauline Cowley 21-13 and Steven Waters and Fiona Kennish started to show their true form as they beat Sid Bolton and Paula Firth 21-12. A slow start from Derek and Lynda Cadamy probably cost them their match against Philippa and Alec Taylor who ran out 21-16 winners. A very even match ensued between the pairings of James Teare and Jenny Moore and Chris Price and Dave McCabe. After 18 ends Price and McCabe led 19-17 only to see Teare and Moore score four points on that final end to take the win.

The semi-finals saw Jenny Moore and James Teare take on Matthew Keggen and Lyn Bolton and it was the former that led from the start and with consistent scoring throughout ran out 21-13 winners. Philippa and Alec Taylor started strongly and ran up a 16-10 lead after 10 ends but were only able to score another three points in the next 10 ends as Steven Waters and Fiona Kennish came from behind to win 21-19.

In the final Jenny Moore and James Teare raced into a 18-12 lead after 11 ends but yet another strong comeback saw Fiona Kennish and Steven Waters reel them in and win 21-19 after 18 ends.

Special thanks go to our generous sponsor Pat Maher , to our ladies for keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the afternoon and to all those stewards, measurers and markers who helped make this such a successful competition

Douglas Bowling Club hosted the Haldane Fisher Mixed Doubles on the bonus Friday Bank Holiday. The competition was well supported with some pairs needing to play six games to reach the final.

Bowing out at the semi-final stage were Alison Keggen (Noble’s) & Bob Clark (Castletown) to Joyce Ogden & Wayne Roberts (Port St Mary), whilst in the other semi-final Derek & Lynda Cadamy (Port Erin) were beaten by Elaine Moore & Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey).

The final started with Moore & Hargraves favourites, however despite lying three down on the first end, Roberts sat out their nearest counting bowl to score a single. On the next end Moore & Hargraves were counting for one, only for Roberts to again play out their counting bowl. From there Ogden played along the edge by the shelter leading brilliantly and was nothing short of relentless with Roberts also scoring well and ably backing up when required. Moore & Hargraves found themselves trailing 6-15 without scoring before finally counting for one. Odgen & Roberts extended the lead to 20-8, only for Moore & Hargraves to respond getting in to the corners to pick up some points over a number of ends to drag themselves back into the game, including a four and a three to recover back to 19-20. Playing into ‘Amen’ corner Ogden jumped at the chance to step in and did so putting up a bowl just over two foot away, which Roberts also added to by counting a second bowl. These bowls remained unbeaten resulting in a hard earned 21-19 win for Ogden & Roberts.

The presentation was made by Mark Kneen who thanked the players for supporting the event and the club members for organising the day and running the competition.

Ballaugh Bowling Club hosted the 31st Keenan Fours on Saturday afternoon. There were 31 pairs entered and although it was two weeks earlier this year the weather was still autumnal with a dry start then a belt of rain sent the spectators seeking shelter. 

Bowing out in the quarter finals two sets of home greeners John Looney & Brian Lace 10-21 in their first ever open quarter final, and Ray Parry & Bobby Clayton (Ballaugh) 15-21 the other two pairings were Paul Cowley & Steve Gregg (Douglas) 7-21 Bob Callow & Shaun Seal (Douglas) 14-21.

Losing semi-finalist were Derek Allen (Port Erin) & Alec Taylor (Peel) 14-21 to Glynn Hargraves & Alan Moore (South Ramsey), along with home greeners Richard Hainge & Paul Cubbon who also lost 14-21 to Paul Dunn & Neil Withers (Marown).

The final was well contested between Alan Moore & Glynn Hargraves and Paul Dunn & Neil Withers. Dunn & Withers took an early lead at 15-10 at the 7^th end, however Moore & Hargraves clawed to back to 17-17 by the 13^th end after scoring a three to level the match. Moore & Hargraves took the next four ends in singles to win 21-17.

The presentations were made by John Keenan who thanked the players for supporting the event and all members for organising the day especially the ladies in the kitchen, John Bolton  and team on the BBQ, and Richard Faragher for running the competition. Thanks also to W.E. Teare’s butchers for the sausages & burgers, Ramsey Bakery for the Baps and rolls and Bry Radcliffe for the onions. Glynn Hargraves in his speech thanked John Keenan for his continued sponsorship of the competition and Ballaugh Club for organising the day, for running the competition together with the measurers and markers.

Onchan Bowling Club are hosting the 2020 Canada Life International sponsored Manx Championship at the Park over the next two weekends it brings the event back to the same green that current holder Colin Kelly won his fifth title in 2011 beating team mate Neil Withers 21-10 in the final. Kelly has yet to hit top form this season, but if there is a competition to hit form in this is the one. With a fantastic entry of 73 it will make for some interesting early round clashes.

Marown have three previous winners with Colin Kelly’s six wins, Neil Withers who himself won his only championship home turf in 2009 and has managed to pick up the first open of the season at Noble’s, whilst Phil Kelly won his title on Noble’s 1 in 1994. Their man in form has to be Paul Dunn, and if there is to be a new name on the trophy you would be hard pressed to back against the Marown captain who has already picked up an open win this season taking home the Ramsey Town Cup last weekend.

Peel have just one previous winner with Andy Kennish, who won the last of his three titles in 1999, whilst newly crowned Over 60’s Manx Champion Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly will have competition from son Stevie to get his name on the trophy for the first time, with Stevie having won the pre-festival Autumn Shield on his home green last year, which was his first singles open title.

Onchan have two previous winners in their ranks with Kevin Quirk having won the title twice, his first in 2005 at Ronairco & 2008 on Noble’s 1, whilst Phil Kerruish won on Castletown in 1986. Both of these players have vast experience and will fancy their chances on home turf. As well as their experienced players Onchan have a couple of younger players who will looking to pick up their first title with Matthew Quirk and last year’s runner up Jordan Cain hoping to go one better.

South Ramsey’s David Bradford will be looking to fire up to win title number two, whilst Glynn Hargraves, who recently won the Douglas Town Cup will be hoping to take the trophy home to add to his two back to back wins on Finch Hill & Castletown in 2012 & 2013. Both players are familiar with the Onchan green having spent over 10 years playing for Onchan up to 2015. Father and Son Dido & Stefan Kelly will also fancy their chances to pick up their first title, whilst Dido has played very little bowls this season, he will not be an easy opponent to get past.

Other players in form include 19-year-old Sam Clague, who picked up his first ever open title last weekend winning the Association Cup on his own green, it will be interesting to see if Clague can kick on from here, whilst Tom Kelly who followed up his Ramsey Town Cup win to take home the Peel Town Cup will be looking to become only the second father & son to have both won the title.

There are eight previous Manx Championship winners in the field, with a further 12 who have won singles titles over the years, who are all capable of winning. As with any Manx Championship there will be shocks along the way, with favourites taking an early bath. A tasty looking encounter in the preliminary round is between Paul Dunn & Phil Kerruish, home greener Matthew Quirk and Neil Withers face off in a repeat of the 2013 June Festival final, which Neil came out on top on last time round, whilst Tom Kelly takes on Wayne Roberts.

Best of luck to all bowlers this weekend, who knows there might just be a new name on the trophy…