Marown Bowling Club were the host club on Saturday as they held the Marown Magic Carpets Mixed Singles for the fourth time attracting an entry of 42, with fine weather and a good atmosphere around the green.

The competition was once again played in a big smash style format, which has proved popular in the U.K. and is played over 15 ends with ends 5, 10 and 15 played as ‘power’ ends with the points scored counting double. Players were given a handicap ranging from 0 to 4. If scores were tied after 15 ends a one bowl shootout would take place to decide the winner of the game.

Losing quarter finalists were visiting bowler Ben Phillips by the finest of margins 13-14 to 2023 winner David Bradford (South Ramsey), Paul Quirk (Peel) lost 13-15 to Dave McCabe (Douglas), with South Ramsey’s Kim Hargraves also losing to the same score to Marown man Peter Jones, with Bob Clark comfortably winning 19-10 against South Ramsey teammate Glynn Hargraves.

The semi-finals were low scoring affairs as Bradford won 13-8 against McCabe, whilst Clark held off Jones 14-9 to book his place in the final.

The final got underway with a close contest expected between the South Ramsey clubmates, however Bradford proved he is back to his best as he won eight of the first nine ends taking a 12-1 lead to realistically put the final out of reach of Clark. With two points scored on the power end and a two on the next end the score stood at 5-12 with four ends left, however Bradford got the single he needed to seal the win and in doing so retained the trophy.

At the conclusion of play the presentation was made by competition secretary Phil Kelly, who thanked Magic Carpets for their continued sponsorship, the Ladies for the refreshments, the players for entering, with Ken Bawden then presenting the prizes.

South Ramsey Bowling Club held the Chas Grills Memorial Trophy for the second time on Sunday. The format of triples once again proved to be popular amongst the Islands bowlers as 22 teams – 66 bowlers took part. The competition was supported by CTH Insurance.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were the South Ramsey trio of Jenny Moore, James Teare and John Kennish 12-21 to Marown’s Glenn Boland, Peter Jones and visiting bowler Jamie Box, with Andy Clark (Castletown), Kian Bradford and Dad David Bradford (both South Ramsey) losing out to 11-21 to South Ramsey’s Kim Hargraves, Fiona Kennish and Peter Collister.

In the other half of the draw Lynda Cadamy, Jayne Smith and another visiting bowler Danny Barwise took a 21-8 win against Marown’s Debbie Leece, Clare Cooper and Rebecca Teare, whilst Marown’s Colin Kelly, Walter McCarthy and Tom Kelly led 19-10 against Jordan Cain, Glynn Hargraves (both South Ramsey) and Matthew Quirk (Onchan) only to concede 11 chalks over three ends to lose 19-21.

Both semi-finals were keenly contested as Boland, Box and Jones led 17-9 against Hargraves, Kennish and Collister, only for a spirited fightback from the latter team to level the game up at 18-18, with the visiting trio seeing the game out with a single and double to book their place in the final 21-18. The other semi-final went to the wire as Cain, Hargraves and Quirk only won seven ends to their opponents nine ends, however a five and two three’s ultimately got them over the line 21-20 against Cadamy, Smith and Barwise.

In the final Boland, Box and Jones won the first two ends, were unfortunate not to pick up a five on the first end as Quirk saved four points with his last bowl. The first scoring end for Cain, Hargraves and Quirk was a five, followed by three singles and a six which quickly moved them into a 19-8 lead. Two singles pulled the score back to 19-10 and with Boland, Box and Jones counting for four only for a superb last bowl from Quirk which won the end to put the score at 20-10, instead of what could have been 19-14. The next end the game finished with Cain, Hargraves and Quirk getting the one chalk needed to secure the superb trophy with a 21-10 victory.

At the presentation, competition organiser Glynn Hargraves thanked the sponsors, competition secretary James Teare for running the sheet, the ladies for the superb choice of refreshments, along with everyone who had supported the competition with their generous donations. Arlo’s Adventure were the charity supported, having recently supported members of the bowling community, with this a grand sum of £1,500 was raised on the day with thanks to the generosity of everyone who had entered the competition, with Charity Trustee Sarah Owen and her family present to present the prizes and accept a cheque for the funds raised for Arlo’s Adventure throughout the day, with the charity supporting Manx Residents and their family members who require Hospital treatment in the United Kingdom, also provided bereaved families with emotional and practical support.

Spot prizes were also awarded to the furthest Junior – Kian Bradford (South Ramsey), the team to score the first six of the competition, and the losers in the longest game, with a £50 note roll up being held before the semi-finals, which was won by Peter Collister.