Port Erin Bowling Club hosted the F.M. Sowerbutts Memorial Trophy Mixed Doubles on Bank Holiday Monday. Entries were slightly lower than the previous day with 22 pairs taking part despite the road closures.

Losing quarter finalists were Gwen Tuck and Alan Phair 20-21 to home greeners Sue Wilshaw and Nick Petersen, whilst Kim and Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey) lost 19-21 to Caroline Whitehead and Kevin Firth (Port Erin/Douglas) 21-13. In the other half of the draw Lyn Bolton and Peter Jones beat Marown clubmates Debbie Leece and Neil Withers 21-13, with Noble’s Ros Cannon and Juan Drinkwater beating home greeners Peter McKenna and Jacqui Elliott 21-17.

Bowing out at the semi-final stage were the last home greeners as Wilshaw and Petersen lost 13-21 to Whitehead and Firth, whilst Bolton and Jones had a tougher game on their hands as they held off Cannon and Drinkwater 21-18 to reach the final.

The Marown pair conceded two of the first three ends to trail 7-9, then won four consecutive ends scoring a one, two, three, and a four albeit not in that order to lead 17-9. Whitehead and Firth scored two singles, then conceded a two to trail 11-19. A four scored by Whitehead and Firth followed by a two in between conceding a single saw the score close to 17-20, however Bolton and Jones got the single they needed to secure a nervy 21-17 victory.

The presentation was made by competition organiser and sponsor Janet Shilling, who thanked everyone who had entered, the club members for their support.

Ballaugh Bowling Club hosted the Dave McTaggart Memorial Trophy on Sunday, with a bumper entry of 39 pairs despite the poor forecast, after a weeks break due to the Manx Grand Prix this might have encouraged the healthy entry. Despite the rain in the morning, and at the start of the competition the green was running surprisingly well, with conditions made difficult by the blustery conditions.

Losing out in the quarter finals were home greeners Maria and Mark Dimsdale 16-21 to South Ramsey’s Kian Bradford who was paired with his Dad David Bradford, whilst Onchan pair Kevin Quirk and Steve Parker lost 17-21 to Louise Tebay and Rebecca Teare (Ballaugh/Marown).

In the other half of the draw Glenn Boland and Peter Jones (Marown) won 21-8 against Mooragh Park pair Madison and Bailey McMullan, whilst South Ramsey’s Kim and Glynn Hargraves beat Lil Smith and Les Brookes 21-10 (Marown/Finch Hill).

At the semi-final stage the father and son pairing made a solid start to lead 11-7, only for Tebay and Teare to runout with a 21-11 win on a longer length.

The other semi-final went to the wire, as Kim and Glynn went into a 14-10 lead, only to concede a four to Boland and Jones. The South Ramsey pair picked up their third three of the game to lead 17-14, then conceded a single and a double for the game to level up at 17-17. The Husband and Wife pairing were lying game counting for two at 19-18 only for Jones to save one to put the score at 20-18. On the next end the Marown pair scored a good three to book their place in the final.

The final looked like it could be a runaway victory for the Marown men early on as they went into the lead 11-6. Tebay and Teare worked their way back into the game to level up at 11-11 after six ends, only to concede a three to trail 11-14.

This got the ladies back into gear, as Boland and Jones could only score two more singles, whilst Tebay and Teare finished the game strongly with five singles, a double and a three to secure a deserved 21-16 victory.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Maurice O’Reilly, with prizes paid down to the quarter finals. Maurice thanked everyone who had entered, the good crowd that had stayed for the duration of the competition, along with the club makers and the catering team for the refreshments provided throughout the day.

The Onchan Commissioners Any Combination Doubles took place on Saturday with a field of 27 pairs taking part.

At the quarter finals stage the Noble’s father and son pairing of Andy and Lee Greggor lost out 14-21 to Glynn Hargraves and Matthew Quirk (South Ramsey/Onchan). John Kennish and David Bradford beat Lynda Cadamy and Sue Gawne (Marown/Noble’s) to same score. In the other half of the draw Caroline Whitehead and Kevin Firth (Port Erin/Douglas) won 21-16 against Peel pair Gilly Clarke and Lynda Wilson, whilst an all Onchan game was won 21-9 by Kevin Quirk and Steve Parker against Maureen Payne and Roger Payne.

At the semi-final stage Hargraves and Quirk built up a 14-8 lead against Kennish and Bradford only for the latter pair to pull the deficit back to one at 15-16. Three scoring ends from Hargraves and Quirk ensured safe passage to the final with five chalks scored to seal a 21-15 win. In the other semi-final ,Quirk and Parker won to single figures 21-9 against Whitehead and Firth.

In the final Glynn and Matthew got hold of the game after conceding singles over the first two ends to lead 11-7, then extended the lead further to 16-11. Kevin and Steve scored a two, on the following end Kevin headed towards compost corner put two bowls within 15 inches, which Glynn beat with his second bowl. Steve played a reaching bowl, playing out the counting bowl cleanly to count for three to tie the score at 16-16.

Glynn and Matthew picked up a single and two over the next two ends, to lead 19-16. With Kevin and Steve lying two on the following end the jack got moved slightly, however crucially this resulted in a four to put the Onchan men in the lead 20-19. On the final end Kevin’s bowl went unbeaten to seal a 21-19 victory to pick up the title for a second time in three years.

The presentation was made by Kevin Quirk and Will Penhallurick, thanks were given for the running of the competition, the refreshments provided throughout the day, with the trophy & prizes presented by Derek Crellin, of Onchan Commissioners to whom the Club are grateful for the continued support.