Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

The traditional pre festival open the Ballacashtal Cup was held at Castletown on Sunday with an entry of 86 the competition had an early start to get through the games.

Rather unusually the quarter finals featured just one visiting bowler Neil Ridgen (New Longton) in a competition that has been heavily dominated by visiting bowlers over the years. Ridgen went out to Onchan man Phil Kerruish 20-21 after coming back from 14-19 down before losing out. In the second quarter final another Onchan player Matthew Quirk put an end to the challenge of Stevie Kelly (Peel) 21-16. In the third quarter final John Kennish (South Ramsey) had a comfortable 21-13 win over Neil Withers (Marown). In the last quarter final it was an all Marown clash with Colin Kelly having enough in the tank to beat team mate Paul Dunn 21-15.

In the first semi final Quirk took on team mate Kerruish, who despite being 14-19 down came back to 19-20 and had a good lead to which Kerruish played an even better bowl to count. Quirk struck and missed which confirmed Kerruish’s spot in the final. In the other semi final Kennish took on Kelly in a game that rarely disappoints for spectators. Kelly held a 13-10 lead, before Kennish kicked into gear to take take seven of the next eight ends to secure a 21-14 win.

In the final Kennish scored a two on the first end to take an 8-6 lead before Kerruish replied to take the next three ends to go 11-8 ahead, with Kennish responding with a two to sit one point behind Kerruish at 10-11. From here Kerruish used all his know how of the green picking a difficult mark to take six of the next seven ends to go 19-11 up and within touching distance of the trophy. Kennish never one to give up got back in with a single and led a fair lead which Kerruish beat. This forced Kennish into reaching up however he took his own bowl out allowing Kerruish the opportunity to make an easy two which secured a 21-12 win and with it a first Ballacashtal Cup win on the same green that he won the Manx Championship on in 1986.

At the conclusion of play the presentation was made by Ron Williams who thanked Dennis Oates and Kath Kinley for their work in running the competition on the day and over a number of years, along with all the club members who helped in any way. Thanks were also given to the green keeper for preparing the green and the sponsor Friends Provident International. Adam Drewett was then introduced to present the prizes on behalf of the sponsor.