Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

South Ramsey hosted the Manx Masters on Sunday, one of the highlights of the Manx bowls calendar with four separate competitions taking place throughout the day. Rain featured in the morning for the Juniors, with glorious conditions in the afternoon for the Senior competitions.

JP Corry Young Manx Masters

The Young Manx Masters was contested by four players – three girls and one boy. This competition was played in a round robin format playing eight ends with the last end played as a ‘power’ end with points scored counting double.

After a good morning of bowls, it was Ballaugh’s Saskia Tebay who was the winner with 25 points, to win the Young Manx Masters title for the first time. The runner up Lara Johnson (Noble’s) who also finished on 25 points, however Lara lost 7-3 to Saskia in their individual game.

JP Corry Junior Manx Masters

The Junior Manx Masters was played as a straight knockout 21up off a handicap of +10 for the older and more experienced players with a healthy entry of 18 players braving the early morning start.

The title was won for the first time by Lacey McMullan (Mooragh Park) to cap off a fine season as Alex Hampson (Noble’s) lost in the final for the second successive year losing 16-21, having lost 18-21 last year to Noble’s teammate Sam Colquitt.

Losing out at the semi-final stage was the current holder Sam Colquitt (Noble’s) 13-21 to McMullan. In the other semi-final Hampson got over the line 21-19 against Bailey McMullan (Mooragh Park) as the former led 20-15, before eventually getting over the line.

At the quarter final stage McMullan edged home 21-19 against Grace Gawne (Noble’s), whilst Colquitt beat Katie Jacobs (Douglas) 21-17. In the other half of the draw Bailey McMullan beat Kian Bradford 21-14, whilst Hampson beat Bobby Kerruish (Marown) 21-13.

The standard of play in both events was excellent and some of the bowls played would not have been out of place in the senior events taking place in the afternoon. JP Corry Isle of Man supported the event once again, all competitors who took part received a prize.

Thanks were given to everyone who had helped throughout the morning, including those who had helped with the preparation in the lead up the event.

Once the Junior competitions concluded the Felton’s sponsored Men’s and Ladies events got underway with the Ladies event being an invitation of 16 players, whilst the Men’s event had 32 invited to play.

Felton’s Ladies Manx Masters

In the Ladies event losing out at the quarter final stages were home greener Gill Dixon 17-21 to Louise Tebay (Ballaugh), current holder Jenny Moore (South Ramsey) beat Stella Watterson (Castletown) 21-9. In the other half of the draw Lyn Bolton (Marown) beat home greener Judy Kelly 21-13, whilst Clare Cooper beat Marown teammate Debbie Leece 21-16.

At the semi-final stage Tebay ensured it wasn’t going to be seven Manx Masters wins in a row for Moore, putting in a strong performance with a 21-15 win. In the other semi-final it was another all Marown clash as Cooper took on Bolton, with the pair tied at 14-14, a strong finish from Cooper secured a 21-16 victory to take her place in the final.

Cooper having appeared in several Manx Masters finals, only to come up against the unstoppable force that is Jenny Moore on more than one occasion would have fancied her chances against Tebay who is only in her fourth season of bowls, whilst Cooper has over 30 years of experience. One thing for certain at the start of the final is that a new name would be on the trophy.

Tebay had other ideas, storming into the lead 13-5. Cooper got in and headed for the corners, managing to close the deficit to five chalks at 8-13. Tebay stopped the comeback in its tracks to score six chalks over four ends playing the corners that Cooper had taken her in. With the score 19-8 to Tebay, Cooper managed to pick up two singles to reach doubles, however Tebay ensured it was her day scoring singles with two good bowls over the last two ends to secure a well-deserved 21-10 victory, to secure her first Manx Masters title, undoubtedly her biggest win since taking up the game in 2021.

It proved to be a great day for the Tebay family, with Mum Louise’s win having been followed up with daughter Saskia having won the JP Corry Young Manx Masters earlier in the day, with Saskia only last year having won a special prize for having the biggest smile all day when playing her games.

Felton’s Men’s Manx Masters

In the Men’s event seven of the first and second round matches were well contested with the player losing out scoring 17 or more. Losing out at the quarter final stage were Tom Kelly, who lost 20-21 to Marown teammate Paul Dunn, whilst Onchan’s Kevin Quirk was beaten comfortably 12-21 by Stevie Kelly (Peel).

In the other half of the draw, it was a blockbuster game between two South Ramsey men John Kennish and David Bradford, with the former taking the lead 15-11. Five doubles were scored over five ends with Bradford scoring four of them to lead 19-17.  Kennish fought back once more to level the game at 20-20, led a good bowl on the deciding end, albeit to the side of the jack. Bradford snapped up the opportunity to reach up with his first bowl connecting perfectly to seal the game 21-20. The final game of the quarter finals was won by Marown man Colin Kelly 21-12, as he beat North Ramsey’s Paul Allison.

Convincing wins followed at the semi-final stage as both winners kept their opponent to single figures, with Dunn the first man to reach the final with a 21-7 win over Stevie Kelly. Bradford also performed brilliantly beating 2023 Manx Masters winner Colin Kelly 21-8 to take his place in the final.

The final was tough to call, with Dunn in good form, also having previously defeated Bradford on South Ramsey, so it proved with a final that was an entertaining watch for the spectators. Bradford won the first end, only to then concede the next three ends to trail 4-7. Bradford got in, went on to win five consecutive ends playing the edge by the long hut to lead 11-7.

Dunn responded with a two, then moved around the green playing his renowned sweeping round pegs, with some great lead bowls, being careful not to play back onto the edge that Bradford had success on earlier in the game, winning seven ends on the trot to take a healthy five chalk lead at 16-11.

Bradford got back in thanks to a loose end from Dunn, then followed up with a single with the Marown man going into the back of his bowl. Dunn got back in with a good last bowl, scoring two singles to edge 18-14 ahead.

A pivotal moment of the game took place on the next end, with Bradford lying two down, he changed his peg using home green knowledge to grab hold of the jack to score one, which was swiftly followed by a single and a double to level the match at 18-18.

Bradford played two great bowls going into the clubhouse corner, there looked to be no route in for Dunn, however his bowl pegged with pace to spring the South Ramsey’s man nearest bowl onto the jack which moved the jack to his back bowl, to count for one, which was a great result, very nearly scoring two from the end.

With the score now 19-18 to Dunn, Bradford scored two to lead 20-19, then took his time before setting the mark. A different mark was set to what Bradford had played throughout the game, with a two-foot lead, a very similar second bowl leaving Dunn with a tough route into the jack. Dunn halved Bradford’s second bowl, however lost out on the measure as Bradford won his fourth Manx Masters title.

The presentation was made by competition organiser Glynn Hargraves, who thanked everyone who had accepted the invitation to play, everyone who had helped with the running of the competitions. The Ladies who once again outdone themselves with the catering and the club members who assisted throughout the day. Long term supporters of the event Chris & Lynnette Perry of Felton’s Ironmongers were then introduced to present the prizes who without their support this event would not be possible. Upon accepting the trophy Bradford stated he was delighted to have won the trophy, having beaten who he believes to be two of the best Manx bowlers ever John Kennish and Colin Kelly, also the man in form in the final Paul Dunn.