Withers & Leece Win First Mixed Doubles
Sowerbutts Mixed Doubles Winners 2023 - Neil Withers & Debbie Leece
Photo: Glynn HargravesPort 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 21 pairs taking part despite the road closures.
Losing quarter finalists were home greeners Alison & Mark Stockham 10-21 to South Ramsey pair Jenny Moore and James Teare, while Marown duo Debbie Leece and Neil Withers beat Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) and Kevin Firth (Douglas) 21-13. Collin Holland (Castletown) and daughter Jayne Smith (Marown) just lost out 20-21 to home green pair Nigel Haymes and Sue Ricketts, whilst Cliff Clague played with his granddaughter Bethany Hamilton (both Castletown) as they lost out 12-21 to Sue Wilshaw (Port Erin) and Nick Peterson (Port St Mary).
Bowing out at the semi-final stage were Moore and Teare who led 13-6, with the South Ramsey pair going on to concede a costly four on the 10th end as they lost out 16-21 to Leece and Withers. The other semi-final went in favour of Wilshaw and Peterson who took a comfortable 21-14 win over Ricketts and Haymes to book their place in the final.
Leece and Withers started the final as heavy favourites despite having previously never won a mixed doubles together, although both have won with other partners. The Marown pair never fell behind in the game as they led 10-6, then 12-7 with the Port Erin/Port St Mary pair getting right back into the game at 11-12 as they picked up a single and then a three which brought a cheer from the home spectators.
Leece and Withers hit back immediately with a three of their own, before conceding just four more chalks with both players performing well to see the game out as they proved too strong for Wilshaw and Peterson with a 21-15 victory.
The presentation was made by competition organiser and sponsor Janet Shilling, who thanked everyone who had entered, the club members for their support. Neil thanked Port Erin for hosting the competition and commended their opponents in the final for a good performance.