Yearly Archives: 2024
Jenny Moore Claims Ladies Manx Championship for the 7th time
Ladies Manx Champion 2024 - South Ramsey’s Jenny Moore with Ann Gale (Sponsor)
Photo: James TeareOn Saturday 29th June the Ladies Association held the IOM Ladies Championships at South Ramsey. There was a good entry of ladies and everyone enjoyed a visit to South Ramsey for the cake and good selection of food on offer.
At the Quarter Final stage eventual winner Jenny Moore ended teammate Gill Dixon’s (South Ramsey) hopes 21-9. Judy Kelly (South Ramsey) beat Norma Cowell (Onchan) 21-3. Debbie Leece also ended teammate Linda Cadamy (Marown) hopes of reaching the final 21-10. Janet Monk (Mooragh Park) saw off home greener Sue Collier (South Ramsey) 21-11. In the semi-finals Jenny didn’t hold back against teammate Judy winning 21-9. The other semi-final was a closer affair with Janet just edging out Debbie 21-17.
The Final saw some excellent bowling from both players, But if you left any room Jenny was there every time. Showing what a excellent bowler that she is Jenny dominated the final and after just 10 ends was leading 11-2. Janet scored a few singles and a two to pull the score to 15-9. With both players scoring a two on the next two ends at 17-11. Jenny finished off the game with a couple of good two’s to raise the trophy for the 7th time winning 21-11.
We all wish Jenny the best of luck when she represents the island as this qualifies her in the champion of champions in the UK.
Men’s Night League Season Reaches Halfway Point
South Ramsey D pictured at Breagle Glen earlier in the season
Photo: Glynn HargravesThe men’s night league season hit the halfway point in Canada Life International Division One on Monday evening in blustery conditions across the island.
South Ramsey A are well placed at the top of the league, following a tricky looking away fixture with Douglas A at the Villa. The visitors managed to win 9-1, with three single figure wins from David Bradford, Glynn Hargraves, and Dido Kelly. James Teare won 21-17, after trailing 7-12 to Dave McCabe, whilst Jordan Cain sealed the last win of the match with a 21-20 win over Andy Cannell. The lone winner for the home team was Gordon Wynne-Smythe, as he beat Peter Collister 21-20.
Marown A kept in touch at the top, they sit just one point behind after their 9-1 home win over Castletown A. Winning for the Town men was David Quayle who beat Dean Kipling 21-12, with the visitors pushing hard in two games before losing out 20-21, as Dean Kinley and Andy Clark lost to Neil Withers and Glenn Boland respectively. Three games were settled to single figures with wins from Colin Kelly, Paul Kelly, and Tom Kelly.
Peel A and Onchan A battled it out in the Sunset City, with the home team managing to win the aggregate to help secure a 5-5 draw (chalks 139-132), despite losing 5-3 on games, as Steve Kelly, Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly, and Gary Smith all shared the kitty with 21-9 wins over Kevin Quirk, Steve Parker, and Peter Slinger respectively. Winning close games for the visitors were Matthew Quirk, who beat Tommy McMeiken 21-18, whilst Jamie Clague won to the same score against Tony Carroon.
Port St Mary A had a good evening as the teams immediately below them and above them lost heavily, The Port men helped their cause with a 8-2 home win over bottom side Marown C, with big wins arriving from Paul Skelly, Wayne Roberts, and Trevor Quayle.
North Ramsey A made the most of home advantage to defeat Marown B 7-3 at Mooragh Park, as they went level on 37 points with the Crosby men. All eight games reached double figures. Winning close games for the home team were Steven Waters, who won 21-17 against Phil Kelly, Allan Callow performed well to beat John Gelling 21-18, with Harry Barton ensuring it wasn’t a heavier defeat for the home team as he edged home 21-20 against Gary Merrill.
In Division Two league leaders Peel B slipped to their first defeat of the season away to Onchan B 6-4 with the home team securing the win on the aggregate by 12 chalks (143-131) gave the chasing teams a chance to close the gap at the top.
Second placed South Ramsey B closed the gap to six points, following their 7-3 home win over Douglas B, with George Brew winning the closest game of the night with a 21-20 win over Steve Gregg, whilst Lee Dawson beat Willie Cowley 21-3.
Ballaugh A occupy third place, they are five points adrift of second spot, following their 7-3 home win over Port Erin A, with Edgar Cowin just missing out on picking up an extra point for the Ballaugh men as he lost 20-21 to Steve Durcan.
Castletown B had another performance to forget as Finch Hill A came away from the Crofts with a 2-8 victory, as Stephen Oates continues to fly high in the race for the individual merit, currently occupying third place with eight wins from nine games.
North Ramsey B hosted Noble’s A at Mooragh Park on Tuesday evening, with the games finishing 4-4 the match was settled on the aggregate which went in favour of the visitors by just four chalks (138-142). This result condemned the Mooragh men to bottom place at the halfway point, and gave the Noble’s men a 12 point cushion from the bottom two sides.
In Division Three Noble’s B sit top at the halfway stage despite losing to their lower ranked D team 5-3 on games, with the aggregate going in favour of the D Team by just three chalks (149-146) in a high scoring match with four games finishing to 17 or more. The 7-3 result ensured the D team occupy second place just two points behind the leaders.
Third placed Peel C will have been disappointed to lose 4-6 at home to Onchan C, as they lost the aggregate by 10 chalks (133-143), whilst Noble’s C dropped to fourth spot following their 7-3 defeat away to Ballaugh B.
Occupying the middle of the table are South Ramsey C, who despite being a player short away to Port St Mary B managed to win four games, with the aggregate understandably going against them by nine chalks (135-126) to ensure the Port men won 6-4. South Ramsey’s Greg Barlow leads the individual merit with a 100% record after nine games played.
South Ramsey D (pictured earlier in the season) got rid of an unwanted record as the last team to win a league game this season, as they beat Marown D 7-3 at home, taking the aggregate by 16 chalks (141-125)
In Division Four Finch Hill B hosted Peel D on Tuesday evening, whilst the home team winning 5-3 on games, they lost the aggregate by four chalks (133-137) despite two single figures victories, a heavy defeat and three of their wins to 18, 19 and 20 ultimately cost them the bonus points.
On Thursday evening league leaders Ballaugh C had a short visit north to Mooragh Park to take on second placed North Ramsey C, with the visitors taking going home the happier of the two sides with a 4-6 win, taking the aggregate by eight chalks (133-141) in a keenly contested match, with Ballaugh now 11 points clear at the top on 55 points.
At the other end of the table, the bottom two sides Douglas D and Castletown C faced off at the Villa. A 7-3 victory for the Town men lifted them off bottom spot to go two points ahead of Douglas, with Junior bowler Freddie Palmer putting in a superb performance with a 21-12 win over Les Quayle to help seal the win.
Nobles Pair win Castletown Pairs Competition
16 pairs entered the Ladies June Doubles at an immaculate Castletown green at the weekend with the format of the competition being that each game was played over 10 ends with ends five and 10 being power ends where chalks counted double.
Losing in the semi finals were South Ramsey’s Fiona Kennish with Jenny Moore and also Jo Corkill (Peel Sunset) and Charlotte Clarke (Marown).
The final was played between Sue Gawne with Paula Firth (Nobles) against Ballaugh’s Michele Cubbon and Rose Waterworth and after a well-contested game it was the Douglas-based pairing who triumphed 16-7.
At the end the prizes were awarded by the organiser Kath Kinley and in front of the many spectators who stayed to the end the finalists said how well they’d enjoyed the weather and equally the format of the competition.
Report by Hilary Kermode
Marown A only team to take full points in double game week in open age league
The Marown A team ventured to Ballaugh in their 1st game of the week. Where they only dropped one point. Shirley Watling took the lone win for Ballaugh B 21-20. On the Friday night games Marown A hosted Port Erin, where they managed to keep the Southerners to 99 points. Taking five of the games to single figures.
Castletown A only dropped two points on their Wednesday night game when they hosted Douglas. Paula Garrett for the Douglas side taking a 21-19 win. The Castletown side winning three of the games to single figures.
Wednesday 26th June results
Castletown A 187-109 Douglas (8-1)
Marown B 130-148 Castletown B (3-6)
Ballaugh B 78-188 Marown A (1-8)
Peel Sunset 163-129 Port St Mary (6-3)
South Ramsey 167-105 Ballaugh A (7-2)
Port Erin 133-158 Nobles (4-5)
Friday 28th June Results
Douglas 163-115 Ballaugh B (6-3)
Port St Mary 107-138 Marown B (4-5)
Castletown B 116-182 South Ramsey (1-8)
Marown A 189-99 Port Erin (9-0)
Mooragh Park 178-125 Peel Sunset (7-2)
Ballaugh A 128-183 Castletown A (1-8)
Double match week for Over 60’s Ladies
South Ramsey had two good wins in the double game week playing Finch Hill in the first game. Lil Smith was the lone Finch hill winner 21-13. South Ramsey 118-67 Finch hill (5-1).
In their second game South Ramsey dropped only two points with Sue Peach grabbing a win for Castletown A 21-19. South Ramsey 124-94 Castletown A (5-1).
The closest game of the week was peel sunset 102-96 Port Erin A (3-3) both teams had a good 21-8 win. The Peel side just managed to take the win on points.
Tuesday 25th June Results
Marown 109-76 Mooragh Park A (4-2)
Port Erin A 111-104 Nobles (3-3)
Peel Sunset 126-60 Port Erin B (6-0)
Onchan A 70-126 Port St Mary A (0-6)
Castletown B 79-114 Ballaugh A (1-5)
South Ramsey 118-67 Finch Hill (5-1)
Ballaugh B 62-126 Castletown A (0-6)
Thursday 27th June Results
Marown 93-115 Nobles (3-3)
Mooragh Park B 70-120 Finch Hill (1-5)
Castletown B 91-107 Port St Mary A (2-4)
Ballaugh B 71-121 Ballaugh A (1-5)
Peel Sunset 102-96 Port Erin A (3-3)
Onchan A 69-120 Mooragh Park A (1-5)
South Ramsey 124-94 Castletown A (5-1)
Kennish Wins 12th Manx Championship
2024 Manx Champion - John Kennish (South Ramsey)
Photo: Arnie WithersThe final stages of the Canada Life International Manx Championship were played at Peel Bowling Club on Sunday afternoon, with the qualifying rounds having taken place the previous day, with 78 entries this year, a good increase on the 2023 entry, boosted by over 20 entries from the host club alone.
As is always the case there were high profile casualties on the Saturday, with the draw being played down to 16, the target being to navigate safely through the early rounds to reach finals day.
| Matthew Quirk | 21 | 16 | David Bradford |
| Paul Quirk | 10 | 21 | John Kennish |
| Tony Carroon | 7 | 21 | Colin Kelly |
| Tom Kelly | 7 | 21 | Paul Dunn |
| Peter Jones | 12 | 21 | Trevor Quayle |
| Will Penhallurick | 18 | 21 | Dean Kinley |
| Jordan Cain | 21 | 20 | Peter Slinger |
| Neil Withers | 21 | 16 | Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly |
Losing out at the quarter final stage were Matthew Quirk (Onchan) 12-21 to John Kennish (South Ramsey). Two Marown men faced off, as Colin Kelly looked to add to his seven championship wins with a 21-18 victory over Paul Dunn. In the other half of the draw it was a southern battle as Dean Kinley (Castletown) displayed good form to beat a previous finalist in Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) 21-17. South Ramsey’s Jordan Cain having coming through a tough Last 16 game against Peter Slinger, couldn’t get the better of the current holder Neil Withers (Marown) as the latter prevailed 21-14 to reach the semi-final.
The first semi-final looked to be a blockbuster between Kennish and Kelly, and had been the final of the Manx Championship on five previous occasions, with the former having won all five finals. With the score tied at 7-7 Kennish shifted up a couple of gears seeing the game out scoring eight doubles, whilst keeping Kelly down to two doubles early in the game as he booked his place in the final with a 21-11 win.
The other semi-final saw Withers get off to a good start to build up a 10-1 lead, this was quickly extended to 15-2. Kinley started to get a foothold in the game as he closed the deficit to six chalks at 10-16, only for Withers to finish the match off with five chalks scored to seal a 21-10 win, to take his place in the final for a second successive year.
The final got underway with over 70 spectators still in attendance, they were treated to a match that had it all. With the jack cleared off the green by Withers on the first end Kennish had a game plan of heading for the corners, however forfeited the jack on more than one occasion due to sending the block off the green, with Withers preferring a mark over the middle of the green. The South Ramsey man looked like he could run away with it early on, as he built up a five chalk lead at 8-3. Withers responded to win four of the next five ends scoring three doubles to take the lead at 10-9.
This started a pattern of both finalists going on mini-runs, as a change in tactics saw Kennish pick up two doubles to re-take the lead 13-10. The Marown man hit back with six chalks over four ends to lead 16-13. Kennish got his nose in front once more to lead by a solitary chalk at 17-16 by the 24th end, with both players taking out their own bowl when playing through to go two down.
As the final approached the business end two-time Manx Champion Withers dug deep to score a single followed by a two to be the first man to be one end away from victory at 19-17. Three successive singles on a longer mark from Kennish got him one good bowl away from victory at 20-19, however a single from Withers, clipping off John’s lead bowl then connecting with the jack tied the score at 20-20.
The tension had built up nicely for the final end, and what an end this proved to be, as Withers played a great lead bowl just over a foot from the jack. Kennish left his lead bowl a yard short, with Withers beating his first bowl to count for two and doing everything he could to win the game. Kennish showing no sign of any pressure, changed his peg to play a superb reaching bowl, sitting out Withers closest bowl to rest next to the jack and seal a 21-20 win and with it his 12th Manx Championship in a thrilling finish to the game.
This success was his first Manx Championship title win on Peel, leaving Castletown and Ballaugh as the only (current) greens he hasn’t picked up a Manx Championship on, with all the other greens on the island ticked off, with Noble’s Two green being the only green he has won two Manx Championships on, as he continues to break his own records. Remarkably Kennish has never been beaten in the final of the Manx Championship.
The presentation was made by Association competition committee member Steve Moore, who introduced IOMCCGBA President Michele Cubbon to present the prizes. In his speech John thanked the Association for running the competition, reserving special praise for the team who look after the Peel green, which was playing and running superbly, with an incredible turnaround in less than two years.
John and Neil will both compete in the Senior Individual merit at Pennfields BC, Staffordshire on Saturday 27th July, with John also competing in the Champion of Champions at Owley Wood Recreation Club, Cheshire on Saturday 28th September.
Grace Gawne wins Junior Merit
Girls Junior Merit Winners 2024 - Grace Gawne with Mum Sue Gawne
Photo: Arnie Withers14 juniors took part in the Junior Merit held at Finch Hill Bowling Club. A round robin format was played, with Bailey McMullan topping group 1 with 3 wins, with Enya Quayle a close 2nd winning 2 games.
Group 2 winner Aalish Moore with 4 wins and 2nd place Enya Christian with 3 wins.
Group 3 was won by Grace Gawne 4 wins and Lacey McMullan close behind winning 3.
At the knockout stages, the semi final saw a close battle between Bailey and Aalish, with Bailey taking her place in the final with a 11-8 win. The other semi saw Grace dominate her game with a 11-3 win against Enya to take her place in the final.
The final saw Grace and Bailey go head to head with some really good bowling, after just four ends the game was tied on 2-2. Just five more ends later saw the game at 6-6. Bailey played some really good bowls to stretch the lead to 10-7. Determined Grace scored a couple of singles and a two and on the 14th end it was 10-10 Grace took the next end to win the game 11-10.
Well done to winner Grace Gawne and all those that took part on what was a lovely morning of bowls.
Castletown A see off Peel A
Noble’s D pictured at South Ramsey earlier this season
Photo: Glynn HargravesAfter a week’s break for the Isle of Man June Festival the Canada Life International Division One got back underway on Monday evening, as the league season approaches the halfway stage.
The closest match in Division One was between Castletown A and Peel A at the Crofts, as the town men beat fourth placed Peel A 6-4, although the Town men won comfortably on chalks (146-119). For the visitors Dave ‘Barney Kelly leads the way in the merit as he maintained his unbeaten start to the season, with a 21-7 win over David Quayle. The other three wins for Peel were close, as Ste Kelly won 21-17 against Nathan Cooil, Tony Carroon beat George Foy 21-18, whilst Peter Greenless held his nerve to beat Ian Watson 21-20. The home team wins were all comfortable with Aaron Richardson beating Pip Pemberton 21-3, whilst Nathan Hamilton also won to single figures 21-9 against David Proctor.
Onchan A took on Douglas A at home, with the Onchan men winning 7-3. Kevin Quirk was the only single figure on the night, as he beat Mark Kneen 21-3, whilst Will Penhallurick held off Gordon Wynne-Smythe 21-19. Winning to the same score for the visitors were Mervin Sayle and Dave McCabe against Neil Dunwell and Phil Kerruish respectively.
North Ramsey A picked up their third win of the season at home to Port St Mary A. For the home team captain Rob Monk beat Chris Lever 21-7, whilst Steve Walmsley went one better with a 21-6 win over Tom Collins. The three wins for the Port men was enough to keep from off the foot of the table, although they are now eight points adrift of the Mooragh Park men.
League leaders South Ramsey A took on Marown C, with the Crosby men managing to take a vital point as Steven Rough performed well to win 21-11 against Peter Collister, however five single figure wins from the home team ensured a 9-1 win for the South men, keeping the visitors down to 77 chalks.
Marown A ensured that South Ramsey didn’t extend their lead as they beat their lower ranked B team 9-1. Karl Parker was the lone winner for the B, with a 21-8 victory over Glenn Boland. John Gelling was the only other potential winner, however he just lost out 20-21 to Colin Kelly. Winning to single figures for the A team were Peter Jones and Tom Kelly over Phil Kelly and Juan Killip respectively.
In Division Two Peel B show no sign of taking their foot off the gas, with a 9-1 home win over Castletown B, with Andy Mackie and Jimmy Corlett sitting in second and third place in the individual merit.
South Ramsey B are in second place eight points behind the league leaders, they have a five-point cushion on third placed Ballaugh A who they beat 4-6 away from home. Tony Dugdale made it eight wins from eight games played with a 21-7 win over Mike Spooner.
Port Erin A make the trek north to Mooragh Park as the Breagle men came away with a 3-7 away victory, edging the aggregate by two chalks (146-148), with David Cain just missing out on an extra point for his side as he slipped to a 20-21 defeat to Brian Colquitt.
Noble’s A closed the gap on Finch Hill A to a single point with a 6-4 home win over the Finch men, with Mark Bradshaw beating Mark Taylor 21-4, with Mike Caley stepping up from the D team he won 21-10 against Brian Aspden.
Douglas B would have been disappointed to slip to a 3-7 home defeat to Onchan B, with their fate sealed on the aggregate as Colin Spence stunned David Pease 21-1.
Over to Division Three, Noble’s C used home advantage to beat South Ramsey D, edging the aggregate by seven chalks (141-134). The match did see a battle of the Juniors as Kian Bradford picked up his first ever league win for South Ramsey, as he beat Max Johnson 21-17, with the latter making his league debut.
South Ramsey C beat high flying Noble’s D 7-3 at home, with Lee Price winning 21-2 for the visitors.
Elsewhere Marown D slipped to a 3-7 home defeat to Peel C, with the visitors claiming two single figure wins, whilst Ballaugh B also suffered the same fate with a 3-7 loss to Noble’s B, as they lost out on the aggregate by a solitary chalk (140-141). Onchan C were well beaten 1-9 at home to Port St Mary B.
In Division Four it was Ballaugh C who took their turn to sit out this round of fixtures, giving the teams below them an opportunity to close the gap. North Ramsey C took home a good 8-2 win over Douglas D at Mooragh Park, whilst Peel D hosted Castletown C in the Sunset City with the home team taking home a 7-3 win. Elsewhere Noble’s E were at home to Douglas C, with the Villa men taking a 4-6 away win.
Palmer Wins IOM June Festival
IOM June Men’s Festival Winner 2024 - Jon Palmer
Photo: Arnie WithersOne of the biggest events on the bowls calendar – The Isle of Man June Bowls Festival took place this week, with the event attracting well over 500 entries in both the men’s and ladies’ events, as entries continue to improve, with the weather from Monday to Thursday favourable. Friday saw some welcome cloud cover, this did not deter the spectators, who were treated to an entertaining finals day to cap off a superb week. With the competition supported by the Department of Economic Development Finals Day included a special visit from the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, who was introduced to the Festival Organiser Steve Moore and BCGBA CEO Paul Ashmore, with the Governor introduced to the popular Isle of Man Bowls Festival.
In the Men’s event it was Jon Palmer (Castlefields) who picked up his first Isle of Man Festival win, to add to his Autumn Waterloo Title, with both titles being coveted by the top bowlers in the game.
Palmer took home the winners’ cheque for £3,200 and lifted the famous trophy as he beat fellow Castlefields man and good friend Carl Fielding – a previous June Festival winner in 2014, 21-11 in a game spectators expected to be close. Palmer picked up two singles over the first two ends, only to concede two doubles to trail 7-9. In response Palmer went on to win seven consecutive ends, with the jack proving crucial, scoring nine points to lead 16-9. Fielding threatened a comeback as he won the next two ends to trail 11-16, however Palmer ensured this was the end of the road, winning the next four ends scoring five points on a short mark over the crown to finally get his hands on the trophy.
Palmer or ‘JP’ as he is known across the bowling community reached the final with a comfortable 21-10 win over Joseph Cranston (Crossgates), whilst Fielding beat Josh Mordue (Crossgates) 21-14 to take his place in the final.
The quarter finals featured two local bowlers with South Ramsey’s Glynn Hargraves losing out 14-21 to Mordue, whilst Marown man Colin Kelly picked up the George Craine Trophy as the best local as he was defeated 17-21 by Fielding. Palmer ensured safe passage to the semi-finals with a 21-16 win over Gareth Coates (Akroyden Victoria), whilst Cranston had a tussle with Lee Johnstone (St Oswalds) with the former prevailing 21-18.
Men’s Tourism
The Men’s Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 1, and it was Callum Wraight (Castlefields) who retained the Tourism title to see off James Wilcox (Crossgates) 21-18 in a thrilling final, as Wraight won the June title for a fifth time and sixth in total with his one September win under his belt.
The final was close throughout with neither player able to get a run of ends throughout the game, only for Wraight to get over the line with the scores tied at 18-18, picking up a double and a single to claim the victory.
In the semi-finals Wraight’s had it all to do as he took on Dan Petcher (Littleover), with the latter just losing out 17-21, whilst Wilcox had a much more comfortable win, seeing off clubmate Mark Hughes 21-12.
In the quarter finals Wraight progressed with a 21-13 win over the last local left, Neil Withers (Marown), with Petcher seeing off Dave McDermott (Merseyside) 21-12. In the other half of the draw Wilcox beat first time visitor Kevin Siddle (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-12, with Hughes facing off against teammate Kez Smith, with the former prevailing 21-11.
Other Events
The Men’s consolation was won by Jamie King (Wrockwardine Wood) who beat Martin Keatley (Mossley Hill AC) 21-20 in the final, with King beating Ross Hatzer (Bar Lane) 21-18 in the semi-final, whilst Keatley had a comfortable 21-10 win over Gareth Jones (Dalton CC).
The Ladies consolation also went to the wire in the final as local Sue Gawne (Noble’s) beat Chrissy McManus (Our Lady’s) 21-20. Gawne reached the final courtesy of a 21-13 win over Sharon Gadd (Cononley), whilst McManus took her place in the final with a 21-18 win over Karen Hill (New Mill).
The Visit.Com Flyer title went to Elliott Laboure (Littleover) who ensured Gerald Merry wasn’t able to retain the title he picked up last year with a 9-6 victory, whilst the Last Chance Mixed Final was won by Andrew Gregory (Comberbach BC) who beat Maurice Edmonds (Walney Park) 21-11 in the final.
In the doubles competitions the Open doubles was won by Matt Gilmore and Chris Barton (both Wirral) with a resounding 11-2 win over Liam Griffin (Crossgates) and Gareth Coates (Akroyden Victoria). Gilmore and Barton reached the final with an 11-3 win over Adam Wildsmith and Matthew Kelly-Walley (both Stretton Anglesey), whilst Griffin and Coates beat the last locals left in the competition Neil Withers and Paul Dunn (Marown) 11-4.
The Men’s doubles was an emphatic 11-0 win for Ian Hazlehurst (Merseyside) and Phil Lee (Quarry) over Steve McManus (Our Lady’s) and Darren Edgerley (Hesketh Arms), with the winners also beating their opponents Carl Gregson and Liam Gregson (both Skelmersdale Park) 11-0 in the semi-final, whilst McManus and Edgerley reached the final with a 11-8 win over Neil Wright and Mark Bramall (both Kirkham).
The Ladies doubles featured all four Wrockwardine Wood players as Sally King and Natalia Moseley beat club mates Sarah Weaver and Louise Cotton in a thrilling final with the former pair winning 11-9. King and Moseley reached the final with an 11-0 win over Lune Road pair Gill Simm and Diane Harrison, whilst Weaver and Cotton beat Crossgates Rachel Wilcox and Lynn Wilcox 11-9 to reach the final.
Winning the Mixed pairs were Wendy Allen (Castle Sports & SC) and Ian Johnson (Chesterfield) with a 9-0 win over Lorraine Hirst (New Mill) and Gavin Ratcliffe (Meersbrook). Allen and Johnson progressed to the final with a 9-3 win over Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) and John Colebourne (Chesterfield), whilst a 9-0 win for Hirst and Ratcliffe ensured they went through against Jo Smith (Noble’s) and Byrom Oates (Two Gates BC).
Moseley Claims Maiden Festival In Thrilling Finish
IOM June Ladies Festival Winner 2024 - Natalia Moseley
Photo: Arnie WithersIn the Ladies main event it was two year’s of success for Wrockwardine Wood as Natalia Moseley took on local favourite Jenny Moore (South Ramsey), who has three festival titles to her name, with these picked up in June 2016, September 2021 & 2023.
Moore would undoubtedly have been the bookies favourite to take the title, despite giving her opponents a three start in her games due to her previous success, however Moseley had already got her week off to a good start beating her clubmate and good friend Sally King in the final of the pre-festival competition at Port Erin on Sunday.
Moore made a good start to the final scoring three points over the first two ends to clawback the handicap to level up at 5-5. Moseley then settled into the game, picking up a double, then four singles playing a mark over the middle green to lead 11-7, with Jenny playing a great bowl to score a double in the middle of the run.
Moore managed to take the lead for the first time in the game at 13-12, then edged further ahead at 15-13, then led 16-14. Moseley went on to score four consecutive singles to take the lead 18-16, only to concede a double to leave the game finely poised at 18-18. Moseley was first to put herself within touching distance of glory as a two put the score at 20-18, however two loose bowls on the penultimate end gave Jenny the opportunity to score two to level the game at 20-20.
Jenny played a sweeping round peg mark, led with a great bowl just a foot away from the jack. Moseley was under pressure on the last end, brushed off any hint of this to play the bowl of her life leaving it just six inches away from the block, which Jenny failed to beat to give Moseley her maiden festival title 21-20 and the £1,250 first prize, whilst Moore could console herself with the runners up prize of £625, also receiving the visitiom.com trophy for being the furthest local lady.
In the semi-finals Moseley looked to be in control of the game as she built up an 18-10 lead, then got within touching distance of the final to lead 20-14 against Caroline Bushell (Lindal BC). Bushell dug deep and did all she could levelling the game up 20-20 after scoring four singles and a double, only for Moseley to finally get over the line 21-20. In the other semi-final Moore looked to be in trouble, as she trailed 10-17 to Lorraine Hirst (New Mill), however like all great players do Moore found another gear to runout with a 21-17 victory.
Moseley started her day with a hard-fought victory over Janet Phillips (Fairfield), whilst Bushell took a comfortable 21-13 win over South Ramsey’s Elaine Moore. In the other half of the draw Jenny cruised through 21-12 against another local Janet Monk (Mooragh Park), whilst Hirst had to dig deep to see off Catherine Wilson (AEU) 21-19.
Ladies Tourism
The Ladies Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 2 green, with Nicola Boulton (Frodsham Red Lion) taking the spoils as she won the Tourism with a hard-fought 21-19 win over Sally King (Wrockwardine Wood), scoring three consecutive singles after trailing 18-19 to see the game out in a tense finish to the final.
Boulton reached the final with a 21-15 victory over Elaine Moore (South Ramsey), with the former having led 20-9, a spirited fightback from Elaine proved too little too late, whilst King took a comfortable 21-10 win over Jenny Moore (South Ramsey) to book her place in the final.
In the quarter finals Boulton took a hard earned 21-19 victory over Rachel Wilcox (Crossgates), whilst Elaine Moore finished strongly to beat Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-15, having trailed 12-14.
In the other half of the draw King progressed to the next round with a 21-11 win over Natalie Sanderson 21-11, with Jenny Moore beating Amanda Nicholas 21-18 (Gresford Colliery).