Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Saturday saw the staging of the 2024 Haldane Fisher Mixed Pairs Crown Green Bowling Competition. All 25 pairs taking part were treated to a Green in superb condition with glorious weather throughout the day.

At the quarter final stage home greeners Katie Jacobs and Keith Rose lost out 12-21 to Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey), with Jenny Moore and James Teare (South Ramsey) losing out to the same score to Marown’s Lyn Bolton and Peter Jones. Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) and Kevin Firth (Douglas) held off South Ramsey’s Kim Hargraves and Alan Moore 21-19, whilst Marown’s Debbie Leece and Neil Withers eased through to the semi-finals with a 21-9 win over Villa pair Rebecca Jacobs and Bob Callow.

In the semi-finals Bolton and Jones were pulled back to 14-15 by Moore and Hargraves, with the latter pair counting for three a great last bowl from Bolton ensured they kept their opponents at arms length as the Marown pair went on to win 21-16.

The other semi-final finished to the same score, with Whitehead and Firth getting the better of Leece and Withers with both pairs winning the same number of ends the Port Erin/Douglas duo scored better on the ends they won to progress to the final.

The final got underway with Whitehead and Firth scoring a single on the first end, then Jones led well at the front in the corners ably assisted by Bolton to win seven consecutive ends, only to concede a single, then picked up two singles to see the game out with a 21-8 victory to win the title.

The prizes were presented by competition secretary Andy Cannell who thanked Haldane Fisher for sponsoring the event. Douglas Bowling Club also allowed Junior bowlers to enter for a reduced entry fee and the option was given for Junior bowlers under 16 to enter with a member of the same sex, it is hoped more clubs participate in this approach with so many mixed doubles in the calendar it gives our Junior bowlers the opportunity to play more bowls, gaining valuable experience.