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…

South Ramsey Bowling Club hosted this year’s Over 60’s Manx Championship with the competition attracting 64 entries, 32 played on each of the qualifying days on the Tuesday & Wednesday afternoon with players having to win two games on their qualifying day to reach the finals day on Thursday.

Reaching the Last 16 before losing out were Bryan Corner (North Ramsey), Mike Thomas (Onchan), Steve Kelly (South Ramsey), there were five players who pushed their opponents all the way with Andy Kennish (Peel) losing out 19-21 to Steve Bridson (Marown), Geoff Porter (North Ramsey) lost 18-21 to Derek Allen (Onchan), team mate Colin Spence reached 20 against Frank Watson (Peel), as did Mike Alexander (Onchan) against Peter Oates (Castletown), whilst Alec Taylor (Peel) lost 19-21 to Ron Williams (Castletown).

In the quarter finals Harry Kelly (Peel) had his challenge ended by Steve Bridson, whilst home greener Chas Grills was leading 19-14 and lying game against Derek Allen, only for Derek to wick in and go on to run out with a 21-19 win. Frank Watson lost 16-21 to Ron Williams, whilst Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly (Peel) won 21-11 against Peter Oates.

The semi-finals were straightforward with Derek Allen taking a 21-15 win against Steve Bridson to take his place in the final, whilst Dave ’Barney’ Kelly took a comfortable 21-6 win over Ron Williams.

The final started with Derek Allen taking a single on the first end, then putting his jack into the corner which Barney jumped on to score a single to get into the corners, then picking up a two on the next end. Derek capitalised on two poor bowls from Barney to score a good two to level things up at 3-3. This proved to be the last end that Derek scored, and was possibly one game too many on the day for Derek, with Barney eventually coming out of the corners to play a tricky mark over the crown due to not playing up to his usual standard in the corners. Barney scored 18 consecutive chalks to take an emphatic 21-3 victory to seal the Over 60’s Manx Championship title at the first time of asking.

The presentation was made by competition secretary John Ryder, who introduced Roger Thomas to present the prizes. Thanks were given to John & Joan Ryder for running the sheet, South Ramsey for hosting the event over the three days, the greenkeepers for the excellent condition of the green, the ladies for the selection of refreshments provided, and all the club members who assisted with the measuring & stewarding throughout.

Castletown Bowling Club hosted the Association Cup on Sunday with the competition attracting 47 entries. The green was in excellent condition and was running as well as it has done for a number of years.

There were a number of shocks in the first round with some big names Neil Withers, David Bradford, Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly and last year’s winner Colin Kelly all making an early exit, which meant by the quarter final stage there would be a new name on the trophy.  

Losing out in the quarter finals were home greener Nathan Hamilton, who lost out 16-21 to team mate Sam Clague, Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) was beaten 15-21 by South Ramsey’s Stefan Kelly, another home greener Nathan Cooil lost 16-21 to Tom Kelly (Peel) whilst Ron Williams (Castletown) lost out 14-21 to Paul Dunn (Marown).

In the semi-finals Paul Dunn ended Tom Kelly’s run with Dunn taking a comfortable 21-14 victory, whilst in the other semi-final Sam Clague just got over the line 21-19 defeating Stefan Kelly to take his place in the final.

Dunn started as favourite with the form he is in, was looking to win his second open competition of the weekend, whilst 19 year old Clague was looking to win his first singles open competition since taking up the game just over three years ago. Dunn made a good start making a great two on the first end, then moving around the green, constantly changing the mark to build up a 12-6 lead. Clague won the next four ends playing a tricky mark over the crown to trail by one chalk at 11-12. Clague continued to plug away taking three of the next four ends to take the lead for the first time in the game at 14-13. The game swung back and forth from there with Dunn responding to go 17-14 ahead and lying two only for Clague to pull out a great bowl on a long length to count and went on to take the next three ends to lead again at 18-17. Dunn wasn’t done there responding with a single and a double to lead 20-18 and was lying game only for Clague to gently tap the jack to save game and bring the score to 19-20. On the next end Dunn was once again lying game after playing a good first bowl only for Clague to play a great second bowl to once again save game and level the scores at 20-20. With a one end shootout Clague played his jack over the crown with his lead bowl going 18 inches past the jack, which Dunn failed to beat, Clague won one of the Associations top titles. Whilst the defeat was harsh on Dunn who had played his part in a great final, it was great to see Clague win his first open to the delight of his team mates and his grandad Cliff who was watching on proudly, with the final being live streamed a number of the Castletown Ladies who were bowling at Marown eagerly watched on and were said to be in tears after the final.

The presentation was made by Press Officer Glynn Hargraves, who thanked the Castletown green keeper Dave Faragher for the excellent condition of the green, thanked the club members for providing helpers throughout the day and the competition committee for running the competition.