News: General
Island Juniors Compete in Junior Six-a-Side
Island Junior Team (with Manager Tracy Moore) 2024 who competed at Windle BC in St Helens on Sunday
Photo: Leanne MarshThe Island Junior Team competed in the 6-a-side consolation competition on Sunday, having narrowly missed out on going through to the next stage in May.
The squad consisted of nine players Dylan Marsh (Port Erin), Grace Gawne and Alex Hampson (Noble’s), Katie Jacobs and Erin Quayle (Douglas), Aalish Moore (Castletown), Bailey McMullan and Lacey McMullan (Mooragh Park), and Ryan Hargraves (South Ramsey), with all Juniors playing two games each.
The group consisted of three other teams North Lancs & Fylde, Cheshire B, and Cumbria.
In the first round the Island Team faced North Lancs & Fylde, it was a full house as all six Juniors won their games, as they went on to win by 26 chalks (90-64) to pick up the two points for the win.
In round two this a tougher test, however the team won by 21 chalks (83-62), winning 4-2 on games with both losers reaching double figures. Two single figure wins from Grace Gawne and Aalish Moore ensured it was a comfortable win on chalks.
In the final round they faced Cumbria, which was always going to be the toughest test. In a high scoring match the team lost by 14 chalks (73-87), with five of the six players reaching double figures, as they lost 2-4 on games, with both wins being close as Alex Hampson and Lacey McMullan won 15-13 and 15-14 respectively, with both players battling back to get over the line.
The team finished runners up in the group to Cumbria, who won the consolation competition with six points, with the Isle of Man two points behind on four points.
Once again thanks to everyone who helped organise the trip, also to the parents for accompanying and supporting the Juniors.
For full results click on the following link…
Teare & Dunn Win Spar Mixed Doubles
Spar Mixed Doubles Winners 2024 - Rebecca Teare & Paul Dunn
Photo: Clare CooperMarown pair Rebecca Teare and Paul Dunn won the Spar Mixed Doubles on Sunday at Ballaugh with a 21-19 win over South Ramsey’s Gill Dixon and Alan Moore.
The South Ramsey pair made the better start to the final going into a 12-6 lead, with the Marown duo fighting back to level the match at 14-14. Dixon and Moore scored a three to lead 19-18, with Teare and Dunn scoring a single, then a double to see the game out to take the win.
Full report to follow…
June 2024 CLI Players of the Month
June 2024 - CLI Players of the Month
Photos: Arnie WithersMen’s Player of the Month: John Kennish – South Ramsey
Ladies Player of the Month: Jenny Moore – South Ramsey
Under 21’s Player of the Month: Grace Gawne – Noble’s
The men’s pick went to John Kennish who impressed as he won the inaugaral Sheila Freeman Memorial invitational event coming through a field of 32 top bowlers, including a win against arguably the games number one player Callum Wraight on his way to victory. Incredibly John wasn’t done there as he picked up a staggering 12th Manx Championship at Peel, with finals day seeing him beat some of the Islands best bowlers, with wins against Matthew Quirk, Colin Kelly, and a 21-20 win in the final against Neil Withers with a superb last bowl when lying game down, as he proved beyond doubt that he is still the number one bowler on the island.
The Ladies award went to Jenny Moore who picked up the award for a second successive month, reaching the final of the June Festival only to agonisingly lose out 20-21, despite putting up a great lead bowl on the deciding end, won all four games representing South Ramsey, then capped the month off winning the Ladies Manx Championship for a 7th time.
Grace Gawne picked up the Under 21’s award, winning the Junior Girls Championship, comfortably winning her games in the group stages, then taking a dominant win in the semi-final against Enya Christian, then going on to hold her nerve in the final with a 11-10 victory over Bailey McMullan.
Thrilling Finish to Mixed Doubles Qualifier
Castletown Bowling Club hosted the Mixed Doubles Qualifier on Sunday with 23 pairs taking part to play in glorious sunshine throughout the day.
Losing out in the quarter finals were the Ballaugh pair of Julie Reilly and Mike Spooner 11-21 to South Ramsey’s Elaine Moore and Greg Barlow. The Husband and Wife pairing of Willie and Pauline Cowley (Douglas/Ballaugh) lost out 15-21 to home greeners Hannah Drewett and Nathan Hamilton. In the other half of the draw South Ramsey’s Jenny Moore and James Teare won comfortably (21-12) against Lyn Bolton and Peter Jones (Marown), whilst another South Ramsey pairing Fiona Kennish and Alan Moore lost out 17-21 to Sue Gawne (Noble’s) and Andy Kennish (Peel).
Both semi-finals were keenly contested with Moore and Teare fighting back from a 10-18 deficit to Gawne and Kennish to level up at 18 across, only for the latter to score a two and a single to reach the final 21-18. In the other semi Moore and Barlow were up against home greeners Drewett and Hamilton with the match going in scoring runs for both pairs. With the score level on the 17th end at 19-19 the South Ramsey pair got over the line with a two to win 21-19.
The final saw both pairs draw level on five occasions in the first 13 ends, with Kennish and Gawne making a move to win four ends on the bounce to lead 19-14. Winning three of the next four ends, scoring six points – in between conceding a single saw Moore and Barlow draw level once more at 20-20. On the deciding end Gawne and Kennish breathed a huge sigh of relief as they got the single needed to seal a 21-20 victory.
It will be confirmed at a later date how many pairs have qualified to play in the BCGBA Mel Evans MBE Centenary Mixed Pairs at Owley Wood Recreation Club, Cheshire on Saturday 5th October.
Canada Life International Mixed Teams
Mixed Team Championship Group A
Marown A have all but confirmed their place in the final of the Mixed Team with four games played in the group stages they are four points ahead of Port St Mary A, with two games to play the Crosby side are +236 chalks, with all other teams in negative territory. This week Ballaugh hosted Marown A, with the home team managing to win four games as Michele Cubbon and Mike Spooner both won 21-20 against Lyn Bolton and Rebecca Teare respectively, whilst Phil Quayle and Christine MacDonald had more comfortable wins. Overall Marown won on the night by 27 chalks (143-170).
Port St Mary A had a solid 8-1 (chalks 175-119) home win over Noble’s A at Breagle Glen, with Tina Hampson the lone winner for the visitors as she beat Nikki Cain 21-7. Roz Cannon came closest to picking up a second victory just losing out 20-21 to Katy Williams.
Mixed Team Championship Group B
South Ramsey A hosted local rivals North Ramsey A, with the home team knowing only a win would do. Whilst the result was a 6-3 win for South on games, the chalks were a lot closer. After the first five games off a 30-chalk lead for South Ramsey looked positive, aided by a superb fightback by Steven Waters who trailed 4-19 to James Teare, clawed his way back into the game before losing out 17-2. In the final four games the deficit to five chalks (161-156). With both teams on six points, there are just 29 chalks difference, there is still all to play for both teams in the remaining two fixtures.
Douglas A picked up their second win of the group stage as they dropped just nine chalks () in their 8-1 home win over Noble’s B at the Villa, with five games won to single figures, two hard fought wins from Katie Jacobs and Jane Lothian.
Mixed Team Plate Group A
Peel Sunset lead the way as they maintained their 100% record winning by 74 chalks at home to Douglas B (184-110). The visitors did claim two wins with Paul Cowley beating David Allwood, whilst Bob Callow won 21-18 against Jo Corkill.
Marown B and Castletown continue to load their teams in the Plate competition with new and Junior bowlers to gain experience, with this policy paying dividends for Marown as they picked up their third win in the group stage to sit in second place on six points. Home advantage paid off for the Crosby side as they edged home by just three chalks (151-148), with the games won also going in favour of the home team 5-4.
Mixed Team Plate Group B
With just three teams in Group B each game is crucial to those hoping to reach the final. North Ramsey B hosted South Ramsey B at Mooragh Park with the visitors taking a comfortable 14 chalk victory (130-144), helped by three single figure wins. The result left South Ramsey in top spot, with just one fixture left to play away to Port Erin, with the Breagle side needing to win both fixtures to stand any chance of being Group winners, should they win both fixtures then the chalks difference will decide the group winners.
Palmer Wins IOM June Festival
IOM June Men’s Festival Winner 2024 - Jon Palmer
Photo: Arnie WithersOne of the biggest events on the bowls calendar – The Isle of Man June Bowls Festival took place this week, with the event attracting well over 500 entries in both the men’s and ladies’ events, as entries continue to improve, with the weather from Monday to Thursday favourable. Friday saw some welcome cloud cover, this did not deter the spectators, who were treated to an entertaining finals day to cap off a superb week. With the competition supported by the Department of Economic Development Finals Day included a special visit from the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, who was introduced to the Festival Organiser Steve Moore and BCGBA CEO Paul Ashmore, with the Governor introduced to the popular Isle of Man Bowls Festival.
In the Men’s event it was Jon Palmer (Castlefields) who picked up his first Isle of Man Festival win, to add to his Autumn Waterloo Title, with both titles being coveted by the top bowlers in the game.
Palmer took home the winners’ cheque for £3,200 and lifted the famous trophy as he beat fellow Castlefields man and good friend Carl Fielding – a previous June Festival winner in 2014, 21-11 in a game spectators expected to be close. Palmer picked up two singles over the first two ends, only to concede two doubles to trail 7-9. In response Palmer went on to win seven consecutive ends, with the jack proving crucial, scoring nine points to lead 16-9. Fielding threatened a comeback as he won the next two ends to trail 11-16, however Palmer ensured this was the end of the road, winning the next four ends scoring five points on a short mark over the crown to finally get his hands on the trophy.
Palmer or ‘JP’ as he is known across the bowling community reached the final with a comfortable 21-10 win over Joseph Cranston (Crossgates), whilst Fielding beat Josh Mordue (Crossgates) 21-14 to take his place in the final.
The quarter finals featured two local bowlers with South Ramsey’s Glynn Hargraves losing out 14-21 to Mordue, whilst Marown man Colin Kelly picked up the George Craine Trophy as the best local as he was defeated 17-21 by Fielding. Palmer ensured safe passage to the semi-finals with a 21-16 win over Gareth Coates (Akroyden Victoria), whilst Cranston had a tussle with Lee Johnstone (St Oswalds) with the former prevailing 21-18.
Men’s Tourism
The Men’s Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 1, and it was Callum Wraight (Castlefields) who retained the Tourism title to see off James Wilcox (Crossgates) 21-18 in a thrilling final, as Wraight won the June title for a fifth time and sixth in total with his one September win under his belt.
The final was close throughout with neither player able to get a run of ends throughout the game, only for Wraight to get over the line with the scores tied at 18-18, picking up a double and a single to claim the victory.
In the semi-finals Wraight’s had it all to do as he took on Dan Petcher (Littleover), with the latter just losing out 17-21, whilst Wilcox had a much more comfortable win, seeing off clubmate Mark Hughes 21-12.
In the quarter finals Wraight progressed with a 21-13 win over the last local left, Neil Withers (Marown), with Petcher seeing off Dave McDermott (Merseyside) 21-12. In the other half of the draw Wilcox beat first time visitor Kevin Siddle (Pudsey Littlemoor) 21-12, with Hughes facing off against teammate Kez Smith, with the former prevailing 21-11.
Other Events
The Men’s consolation was won by Jamie King (Wrockwardine Wood) who beat Martin Keatley (Mossley Hill AC) 21-20 in the final, with King beating Ross Hatzer (Bar Lane) 21-18 in the semi-final, whilst Keatley had a comfortable 21-10 win over Gareth Jones (Dalton CC).
The Ladies consolation also went to the wire in the final as local Sue Gawne (Noble’s) beat Chrissy McManus (Our Lady’s) 21-20. Gawne reached the final courtesy of a 21-13 win over Sharon Gadd (Cononley), whilst McManus took her place in the final with a 21-18 win over Karen Hill (New Mill).
The Visit.Com Flyer title went to Elliott Laboure (Littleover) who ensured Gerald Merry wasn’t able to retain the title he picked up last year with a 9-6 victory, whilst the Last Chance Mixed Final was won by Andrew Gregory (Comberbach BC) who beat Maurice Edmonds (Walney Park) 21-11 in the final.
In the doubles competitions the Open doubles was won by Matt Gilmore and Chris Barton (both Wirral) with a resounding 11-2 win over Liam Griffin (Crossgates) and Gareth Coates (Akroyden Victoria). Gilmore and Barton reached the final with an 11-3 win over Adam Wildsmith and Matthew Kelly-Walley (both Stretton Anglesey), whilst Griffin and Coates beat the last locals left in the competition Neil Withers and Paul Dunn (Marown) 11-4.
The Men’s doubles was an emphatic 11-0 win for Ian Hazlehurst (Merseyside) and Phil Lee (Quarry) over Steve McManus (Our Lady’s) and Darren Edgerley (Hesketh Arms), with the winners also beating their opponents Carl Gregson and Liam Gregson (both Skelmersdale Park) 11-0 in the semi-final, whilst McManus and Edgerley reached the final with a 11-8 win over Neil Wright and Mark Bramall (both Kirkham).
The Ladies doubles featured all four Wrockwardine Wood players as Sally King and Natalia Moseley beat club mates Sarah Weaver and Louise Cotton in a thrilling final with the former pair winning 11-9. King and Moseley reached the final with an 11-0 win over Lune Road pair Gill Simm and Diane Harrison, whilst Weaver and Cotton beat Crossgates Rachel Wilcox and Lynn Wilcox 11-9 to reach the final.
Winning the Mixed pairs were Wendy Allen (Castle Sports & SC) and Ian Johnson (Chesterfield) with a 9-0 win over Lorraine Hirst (New Mill) and Gavin Ratcliffe (Meersbrook). Allen and Johnson progressed to the final with a 9-3 win over Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) and John Colebourne (Chesterfield), whilst a 9-0 win for Hirst and Ratcliffe ensured they went through against Jo Smith (Noble’s) and Byrom Oates (Two Gates BC).
Moseley Claims Maiden Festival In Thrilling Finish
IOM June Ladies Festival Winner 2024 - Natalia Moseley
Photo: Arnie WithersIn the Ladies main event it was two year’s of success for Wrockwardine Wood as Natalia Moseley took on local favourite Jenny Moore (South Ramsey), who has three festival titles to her name, with these picked up in June 2016, September 2021 & 2023.
Moore would undoubtedly have been the bookies favourite to take the title, despite giving her opponents a three start in her games due to her previous success, however Moseley had already got her week off to a good start beating her clubmate and good friend Sally King in the final of the pre-festival competition at Port Erin on Sunday.
Moore made a good start to the final scoring three points over the first two ends to clawback the handicap to level up at 5-5. Moseley then settled into the game, picking up a double, then four singles playing a mark over the middle green to lead 11-7, with Jenny playing a great bowl to score a double in the middle of the run.
Moore managed to take the lead for the first time in the game at 13-12, then edged further ahead at 15-13, then led 16-14. Moseley went on to score four consecutive singles to take the lead 18-16, only to concede a double to leave the game finely poised at 18-18. Moseley was first to put herself within touching distance of glory as a two put the score at 20-18, however two loose bowls on the penultimate end gave Jenny the opportunity to score two to level the game at 20-20.
Jenny played a sweeping round peg mark, led with a great bowl just a foot away from the jack. Moseley was under pressure on the last end, brushed off any hint of this to play the bowl of her life leaving it just six inches away from the block, which Jenny failed to beat to give Moseley her maiden festival title 21-20 and the £1,250 first prize, whilst Moore could console herself with the runners up prize of £625, also receiving the visitiom.com trophy for being the furthest local lady.
In the semi-finals Moseley looked to be in control of the game as she built up an 18-10 lead, then got within touching distance of the final to lead 20-14 against Caroline Bushell (Lindal BC). Bushell dug deep and did all she could levelling the game up 20-20 after scoring four singles and a double, only for Moseley to finally get over the line 21-20. In the other semi-final Moore looked to be in trouble, as she trailed 10-17 to Lorraine Hirst (New Mill), however like all great players do Moore found another gear to runout with a 21-17 victory.
Moseley started her day with a hard-fought victory over Janet Phillips (Fairfield), whilst Bushell took a comfortable 21-13 win over South Ramsey’s Elaine Moore. In the other half of the draw Jenny cruised through 21-12 against another local Janet Monk (Mooragh Park), whilst Hirst had to dig deep to see off Catherine Wilson (AEU) 21-19.
Ladies Tourism
The Ladies Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 2 green, with Nicola Boulton (Frodsham Red Lion) taking the spoils as she won the Tourism with a hard-fought 21-19 win over Sally King (Wrockwardine Wood), scoring three consecutive singles after trailing 18-19 to see the game out in a tense finish to the final.
Boulton reached the final with a 21-15 victory over Elaine Moore (South Ramsey), with the former having led 20-9, a spirited fightback from Elaine proved too little too late, whilst King took a comfortable 21-10 win over Jenny Moore (South Ramsey) to book her place in the final.
In the quarter finals Boulton took a hard earned 21-19 victory over Rachel Wilcox (Crossgates), whilst Elaine Moore finished strongly to beat Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Ossett Flying Horse) 21-15, having trailed 12-14.
In the other half of the draw King progressed to the next round with a 21-11 win over Natalie Sanderson 21-11, with Jenny Moore beating Amanda Nicholas 21-18 (Gresford Colliery).
May CLI Players of the Month
May 2024 CLI Players of the Month
Photos: Tash Fenlon/Glynn Hargraves/Arnie WithersMen’s Player of the Month: Paul Dunn – Marown
Ladies Player of the Month: Jenny Moore – South Ramsey
Under 21’s Player of the Month: Lacey McMullan – Mooragh Park
The men’s pick went to Paul Dunn who impressed as he picked up the highly sought after Association Cup at Onchan, beating five games on his way to lifting the trophy for the first time. The Marown captain was also in good form for his team winning all four games including back to back games against South Ramsey A, whilst also picking up the Lilian Slinger Trophy in the Any Combination Doubles with teammate Neil Withers.
The Ladies award went to Jenny Moore who picked up the Top Lady trophy at Noble’s on a fine day, as she came through a field of 32 of the Island’s top bowlers. Jenny had to dig deep in the final, as she recovered from a 3-14 deficit against Janet Monk to trail by three chalks at 14-17. Janet then got within touching distance of victory to lead 20-14, however another huge effort from Jenny saw her score seven chalks without reply to seal a remarkable 21-20 victory. For South Ramsey Jenny won eight games during the month of May, six of which were to single figures, with the most impressive being a 21-3 win against another experienced bowler Lyn Bolton, helping the team to victory on the night.
Lacey McMullan picked up the Under 21’s award, as she started her month off representing the Junior Island Team in Warrington, with the Mooragh Park Junior winning two games on the day. Lacey carried this form into the Junior Manx Championship, as she swept aside all before her to pick up the title for the first time. For Mooragh Park Lacey won four games throughout the month. Huge congratulations!
Jones & Bolton Win Port St Mary Cup
Port St Mary Cup Winners 2024 - Peter Jones & Lyn Bolton
Photo: Glynn HargravesAn entry of 17 pairs took part in this year’s Port St Mary Cup mixed doubles open competition held at Breagle Glen on Bank Holiday Monday on another fine day, with the reduced number of entries likely to be due to the road closures.
Losing out at the quarter final stage were home greeners Nicci Cain and Derek Cain 18-21 to fellow home greeners Jackie Elliott and Ben Mowle (Port Erin), Marown’s Clare Cooper and Sid Bolton lost 14-21 to South Ramsey’s Jenny Moore and James Teare. In the other half of the draw an all-South Ramsey contest resulted in Kim Hargraves and Peter Collister comfortably defeating current holders Elaine Moore and Glynn Hargraves 21-11, whilst Lyn Bolton and Peter Jones (Marown) beat Jayne Smith (Marown) and Alan Crebbin (Port Erin) 21-16 to move into the next round.
The first semi-final saw Hargraves and Collister beaten by Bolton and Jones 13-21, whilst the shock of the day played out in the other semi-final as Elliott and Mowle beat Moore and Teare 21-15, as the home pairing scored a four on their way to the final.
The final started with Bolton and Jones huge favourites, it looked like it could be over in a matter of ends as after two ends played the Marown pair led 11-6. Elliott and Mowle then settled into the game, with Mowle leading well at the front and Elliott not afraid to reach at the back, as they turned the match on its head to lead 15-13. A switch in the playing order for Bolton and Jones worked a treat as a single, a four and a three saw them finish the game strongly to run out with a 21-15 victory to win their second successive mixed doubles competition in just over a week.
The presentation was made by Port St Mary Club Competition Secretary Chris Holland, who thanked everyone at the club that helped on the day. In his speech Peter offered his commiserations to their opponents in the final, commenting on how brilliantly they had played.
Dunn & Withers Win Lilian Slinger Trophy
Lilian Slinger Pairs Winners 2024 - Paul Dunn & Neil Withers
Photo: Arnie WithersThe competition, an any combination doubles format is sponsored by Lilian’s family and took place at Mooragh Park on Sunday 26th May.
An excellent entry of 31 pairs played some tremendous games in a very friendly atmosphere. The games started at 12 noon. The weather was overcast to start with but stayed dry until light rain started to fall before finally clearing up before the quarter finals. These changing conditions challenged the players on length as the running pace of the green changed throughout the afternoon.
Losing out in the quarter finals were Kevin Quirk and Steve Parker (Onchan) 15-21 to Rob Monk (North Ramsey) and Matthew Quirk (Onchan). Home greeners Steve Waters and Paul Allison 20-21 to clubmates Allan Callow and Ray Skelly. Patrick Grant and Maria Dinsdale (Ballaugh) 16-21 to Bryan Corner and Caroline Parker (North Ramsey/Mooragh Park) and Janet Monk and Madison McMullan (Mooragh Park) 13-21 to Paul Dunn and Neil Withers (Marown).
In the semi-finals Dunn and Withers controlled their game from the start, displaying the high standard of bowls they had shown all afternoon to beat Callow and Skelly 21-8 and in the other game Monk and Quirk also played exceptionally well to beat Corner and Parker 21-6.
And so, into the final and what a match it was. After eight ends they were 10-11 and end 16 saw them 16 across. Monk and Quirk picked up three points in the next two ends, but Dunn and Withers got the jack back gaining two then three singles over the last three ends. The match finished 21-19 to Dunn and Withers.
Paul Slinger presented the prizes following a lovely tribute to Lilian from Helen Martin. Neil Withers said the green was in excellent condition and a pleasure to play on and thanked everyone at North Ramsey for a well organised competition.
North Ramsey Bowling club are most grateful to Lilian’s family for their sponsorship and to everyone who entered the competition.