Saturday saw a quality field of 35 teams of mixed pairs take to the green at Finch Hill in excellent playing conditions to compete in the Zurich International mixed doubles competition.

With late entries, a pair being scratched and three preliminary matches it was a slow start for many competitors but once we got into the first round it was clear that there were going to be quite a few front runners spread throughout the draw.

First out of the blocks in the top half of the draw was Alan Moore and Shelley Kennish who raced into the quarter finals only dropping five points in three matches which must surely be a record. Philippa and Alec Taylor were also showing good form as they comfortably made their way into the quarter finals with two victories 21-10 and 21-8. Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves had a harder draw as they had to overcome Fiona Kennish and Steve Waters and then James Teare and Jenny Moore to make it into the quarter finals. Sue Gawne and Brian Kelly played well throughout the day but made it into the quarter finals courtesy of wins over Eddie Carlyle and Lil Smith 21-16 and then home favourites Peter and Hazel Hughes 21-15.

In the bottom half of the draw Debbie Leece and Glenn Boland showed good form to make it into the quarter finals with two comfortable wins whilst Wayne Roberts and Joyce Ogden followed them with similar results. Derek Allen and Margaret Tasker eased their way into the quarter finals dropping only seven points in their two matches. Completing the bottom half of the draw was Chris Price and Dave Kelly who had won this event twice in the past three years and they were up against Tina and young Alex Hampson playing in his first competition. What a baptism of fire this was but a great experience also for the youngster and it was great to see Dave chatting to him as they crossed the green together. After the match, which they understandably lost, Alex said he had hoped to win his first match, perhaps not realising the pedigree of their opponents. In their second match Chris and Dave made it into the quarter finals with a 21-11 win over Maureen Payne and Mike Thomas.

In the quarter finals Philippa and Alec Taylor continued their good form with a 21-12 win over Alan Moore and Shelley Kennish. Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves had a closer match with Sue Gawne and Brian Kelly and despite leading 19-12 at one point it took them another eight ends to get over the line 21-19. Wayne Roberts and Joyce Ogden overcame Debbie Leece and Glenn Boland 21-16 in a high scoring rapid fire match. Chris Price and Dave Kelly made quick work of Derek Allen and Margaret Tasker taking just 10 ends to win 21-12.

Philippa and Alec Taylor met Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves in the semi-final and this produced one of the closest matches of the day. The Taylors got off to a great start with a four on the first end and lead most of the first half but after 15 ends it was 20-20 and all to play for. The final end saw Philippa and Alec take the victory with a two.  In the other semi-final Chris Price and Dave Kelly got off to a slow start against Wayne Roberts and Joyce Ogden and after seven ends were 12-9 down but a consistent run of two’s saw them over the line and into the final.

The final was nip and tuck all the way with Philippa and Alec Taylor leading 15-14 at one point but with repeated short ends being played by Chris Price and Dave Kelly and their acceptance of single point ends it was the latter that after eight hours of competition ran out winners for the third time in four years.

The prize presentation was made by Mary Alderson as last year’s winner of the competition on behalf of Finch Hill. Special thanks go to our generous sponsors Zurich International, to our ladies and Frank Christian for keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the afternoon, to John Harris for prepping the green and to all those stewards, measurers and markers who helped make this one of the most successful competitions staged at Finch Hill for many years.

Sunday saw a quality field of 54 entered for the inaugural running of drawn doubles competition Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup at Finch Hill. With showers in the morning and further showers and a cold breeze in the early stages of the competition playing conditions were challenging to say the least, although the green was in excellent condition albeit a little slow.

With this drawn format there is less chance of two top players being paired together but even so there were indications from an early stage which would be the most competitive pairings. In the first round Alison Keggen & Lyn Bolton dispensed with Libby Andrade & Caroline Corlett 21-7 while Eddie Carlyle & Rebecca Teare came through 21-15 against Shirley Corrin and Reg Temporaza. Bryan Masterton & Sue Gawne overcame Paul Quirk & Frank Christian 21-11 while Nathan Hamilton & Bernie McPhee came through 21-16 against Kevin Firth & Derek Allen. Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton had a reasonably comfortable win against Sylvia Kennaugh & Brian Lindsay.

In the second round Rebecca Teare and & Eddie Carlyle continued their winning ways with a 21-16 win over Sam Clague & Steve Waters. Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves started their campaign with a 21-15 win over Brian Masterton and Sue Gawne. Steve Parker & Austin Hart came from behind to beat Helen Murphy & Gordon Corrin 21-19 and so did Nathan Hamilton & Bernie McPhee with two four pointers in the final two ends against Mike Ashmole & Lynda Clarke. Sam Stannard Duke & Gary Lenton cruised past Hazel Hughes & Terry Bates 21-13 while John Harris & Jenny Moore picked up three points in the last two ends to beat Walter McCarthy & Alan Moore 21-18. Closest match of the day was between Alison Keggen with Lyn Bolton and Frank Watson with our youngest player Ryan Hargraves but with a three pointer on the final end it was the ladies who came through 21-20. Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton were finding their length and went into a 19-8 lead against Peter Venables and home favourite Paddy Murphy before running out winners 21-13.

In the quarter finals Rebecca Teare & Eddie Carlyle cruised to a 21-12 victory over Steve Parker & Austin Hart whilst in the same part of the draw Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton scored consistently to beat Sam Stannard Duke and Gary Lenton 21-13. In the bottom half of the draw it was John Harris & Jenny Moore who took the honours against Nathan Hamilton and Bernie McPhee 21-12 while Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves did just enough to hold off Alison Keggen & Lyn Bolton 21-18.

In the first semi-final Stefan Kelly and Sid Bolton scored strongly and only losing three ends ran out 21-11 winners against Rebecca Teare & Eddie Carlyle. Despite getting off to a good start with a four pointer on the first end John Harris & Jenny Moore could not hold off Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves who took the game 21-16.

In the final, Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton continued their strong scoring and in just eleven ends they beat Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves 21-9.

The prize presentation was made by Deputy Mayor of Douglas, Mr. Ian Clague with the losing semi-finalists each receiving £15, the runners up receiving £40 and the winners £60 and the Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup. Special thanks go to Douglas Corporation for supplying the new Challenge Cup, to Greeba for keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the afternoon, to Peter Hughes and Sefton Dent for stewarding and to all those who helped make this the most successful open competition of the year at Finch Hill.

Saturday saw a quality field of 26 pairs of all ages entered for the ZURICH sponsored Mixed Doubles competition with a prize fund of £150. The Finch Hill green was in excellent condition despite the exceptionally dry weather in recent weeks and the sunny weather made for very enjoyable playing conditions.

A number of very strong pairings were entered along with a number of newcomers and it was certainly a baptism of fire in the first round for home couple Helen and Paddy Murphy who came up against the winners from the previous two years, Dido Kelly and Chris Price trying to make it a hatrick of wins.

Other notable wins in the first round saw Bernie McPhee and Caroline Corlett convincingly beat Anne and Wayne Stanton while Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves put in a strong performance against Willie and Pauline Cowley to show they would be in contention come the latter stages.
Setting out their stall were Paul and Debbie Leece who overpowered Derek and Lynda Cadamy while home player Peter Hughes and Maureen Payne overcame Seamus Whelan and Voirrey Curphey. One of the most intriguing matches involved home favourites Jan West and newcomer Zain Abideen up against Fiona Kennish playing with youngster Ryan Hargraves. Although the home team got off to a slow start they came back strongly with a number of two point ends and ran out winners 21-18. Another home team of Sefton Dent and Greeba Paramor won by a similar score against Mary Moffatt and another home player Frank Christian. Philippa and Alec Taylor showed that they too would be in contention as they came from behind to beat Lillian Smith and Walter McCarthy helped by one of the few four point ends of the afternoon. Strangest card of the afternoon covered the match involving Stefan Kelly and Kim Hargraves playing against Rob Cowley and Sue Gawne. With the latter pair winning the first end with a two pointer but then seeing Kelly and Hargraves race away with eleven points in the next seven ends they must have thought their day was over but with thirteen points without reply from the final six ends they ran out winners 21-17. Paul Skelly and Rebecca Teare were pushed hard by Sid and Lyn Bolton but eventually just did enough to win 21-20. Wayne Roberts and Tracey Moore must have thought they were out when trailing 14-20 against Karl and Catherine Parker but heavy scoring in the final four ends also saw them over the line 21-20.

With a number of byes in the first round there were still players of note to take the stage and so it was with Mike Hargaves and Joyce Ogden who overcame Bernie McPhee and Caroline Corlett. Similarly benefiting from a bye was home player Dave McCabe and a rejuvenated Mary Alderson who put in a strong performance to overcome Paul Skelly and Rebecca Teare. Another bye beneficiary was the team of Bernard Thackrah and Caroline Whitehead but they were caught cold by the strong pairing of Paul and Debbie Leece who lead all the way to the line.

Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves continued their good form to beat Wayne Roberts and Tracey Moore. Philippa and Alec Taylor showed their metal when they got stuck on 16 for seven ends but came through with five points in the final three ends. The current champions Dido Kelly and Chris Price cruised into the quarter finals against Rob Cowley and Sue Gawne. James Teare and Jenny Moore raced away in their match winning the first six ends to lead 17-6 against Jan West and Zain Abideen. The latter pairing came back strongly but couldn’t hold off Teare and Moore who would eventually make it to the final. Home favourite Peter Hughes and Maureen Payne were in imperious form as they overcame the other home team of Sefton Dent and Greeba Paramor.

Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves looked as if they would go all the way as they easily dispensed with Paul and Debbie Leece in just eight ends. Strong scoring in the last six ends saw Phillipa and Alec Taylor beat Peter Hughes and Maureen Payne while James Teare and Jenny Moore cruised into the semi-finals against Mike Hargraves and Joyce Ogden. The tightest and longest match of the competition saw Dave McCabe and Mary Alderson put out last year’s champions Dido Kelly and Chris Price.

In the semi-finals James Teare and Jenny Moore got off to a slow start but finished strongly to end the challenge of Philippa and Alec Taylor. In the other semi-final Dave McCabe and Mary Alderson were very much on form as they restricted Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves to scoring on just four ends to ease into the final.

The final saw McCabe and Alderson carry on where they left off in the semi-final with some exquisite bowls as Mary put in a number of delicate touches on the jack and when needed Dave was deadly on his strikes. James Teare and Jenny Moore could not re-kindle the form they had shown throughout the competition and had no answer to the power and consistency of the opposition as Dave McCabe and Mary Alderson won the final in just 12 ends.

The prize presentation was made by Ken Kinrade, Competition Secretary for Finch Hill with the losing semi-finalists each receiving £20, the runners up receiving £40 and the winners £70 and the Mixed Doubles Cup.

Special thanks go to our generous sponsors Zurich, to all who helped in the kitchen throughout the afternoon, to Kevin Skillicorn for stewarding, Malcolm Black and Arthur Halsall for measuring and to all those who helped make this a very successful competition.