Noble’s Bowling Club hosted the Thurlwell Bowl on Saturday with a good entry of 50 taking part after a great week of Festival bowls, with the Noble’s greens being widely praised by local & visiting bowlers throughout the week.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were home greener Mark Bradshaw who lost out 9-21 to Marown captain Paul Dunn, Margie Tasker (Port St Mary) was defeated 16-21 by South Ramsey’s Glynn Hargraves. In the other half of the draw Lee Dawson (South Ramsey) beat Grahem Moore (Noble’s) 21-15, whilst Peel man Rob Middleton ended the hopes of Glenn Boland (Marown) with a good last end to win 21-19.

In the semi-final Hargraves made the better start against Dunn to lead 11-7, then settled for a longer length to extend the lead to 17-12. The Marown man fought back level the game up at 18-18, then conceded a single with Hargraves playing through to take out Dunn’s counting bowl. On the following end with the South Ramsey man leading 19-18 and counting two for game Dunn bowled in to level the game up once more at 19-19. Two great bowls from the Marown captain on the next end had Dunn lying game himself with both bowls next to the jack and touching each other, a strike from Hargraves came off perfectly to go 20-19 ahead. On the next end a good lead bowl from the South Ramsey captain was unbeaten to seal a place in the final with a 21-19 win.

In the other semi-final between Middleton and Dawson the game was keenly contested in the early stages, with Middleton stretching away in the second half of the game to seal a 21-14 win and his first appearance in a final of a singles open.

The final started with Hargraves being favourite, however it was Middleton who made a strong start to lead 9-6 after four ends, the lead could have been bigger with Hargraves taking the jack off when lying two down for a dead end. With the ends being exchanged in the early part of the game neither player could get away from the other with the score being level at 10-10 and 11-11. The next two ends Middleton played four great bowls with Hargraves just missing strikes on both ends for the Peel man to lead 15-11. Hargraves got back in and headed for the corners that had served him well earlier in the day to turn the game around to lead 17-15.

A strong response followed with three consecutive singles from Middleton. Hargraves got back in with a single, then played two good bowls on the following end to lead 20-18. On the following end Hargraves played a good lead six inches to the side of the jack, which Middleton played out with his first bowl, the latter made two with his second bowl for a one end shootout with the score tied once again at 20-20. Middleton played his lead 18 inches away from the jack, which Hargraves used to count for one. With his last bowl the Peel man got inside the jack land with Hargraves winning an entertaining final 21-20.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Tina Hampson who thanked the club members who had helped with the running of the competition. The winners were awarded with IOM Steam Packet vouchers, with Juan Qualtrough presenting the prizes. In his speech Hargraves congratulated Middleton for a great performance.

Port Erin Bowling Club hosted the F.M. Sowerbutts Memorial Trophy Mixed Doubles on Bank Holiday Monday. Entries were slightly lower than the previous day with 21 pairs taking part despite the road closures.

Losing quarter finalists were home greeners Alison & Mark Stockham 10-21 to South Ramsey pair Jenny Moore and James Teare, while Marown duo Debbie Leece and Neil Withers beat Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) and Kevin Firth (Douglas) 21-13. Collin Holland (Castletown) and daughter Jayne Smith (Marown) just lost out 20-21 to home green pair Nigel Haymes and Sue Ricketts, whilst Cliff Clague played with his granddaughter Bethany Hamilton (both Castletown) as they lost out 12-21 to Sue Wilshaw (Port Erin) and Nick Peterson (Port St Mary).

Bowing out at the semi-final stage were Moore and Teare who led 13-6, with the South Ramsey pair going on to concede a costly four on the 10^th end as they lost out 16-21 to Leece and Withers. The other semi-final went in favour of Wilshaw and Peterson who took a comfortable 21-14 win over Ricketts and Haymes to book their place in the final.

Leece and Withers started the final as heavy favourites despite having previously never won a mixed doubles together, although both have won with other partners. The Marown pair never fell behind in the game as they led 10-6, then 12-7 with the Port Erin/Port St Mary pair getting right back into the game at 11-12 as they picked up a single and then a three which brought a cheer from the home spectators.

Leece and Withers hit back immediately with a three of their own, before conceding just four more chalks with both players performing well to see the game out as they proved too strong for Wilshaw and Peterson with a 21-15 victory.

The presentation was made by competition organiser and sponsor Janet Shilling, who thanked everyone who had entered, the club members for their support. Neil thanked Port Erin for hosting the competition and commended their opponents in the final for a good performance.

On Sunday Ballaugh Bowling Club held the Maddrell Mixed Doubles for the Claret Jug Trophy. There was a good entry of 30 pairs, as the weather was mostly fine after a shower during the early part of the competition.

The Ballaugh interest ended in the quarter finals as Louise and Nigel Tebay lost out 20-21 to Margie Tasker (Port St Mary) and Derek Allen (Port Erin), as the home greeners led 20-11 they failed to score the one chalk needed to reach the semi-finals. Sue Gawne (Noble’s) and Andy Kennish (Marown) lost out 19-21 to Clare Cooper (Marown) and Wayne Roberts (Port St Mary).

In the other half of the draw the wins were comfortable as Marown pair Lynda Cadamy and Glenn Boland ended the hopes of Rose Waterworth and Paul Cubbon (Ballaugh) with a 21-12 win, whilst South Ramsey’s Jenny Moore and James Teare beat Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) and Kevin Firth (Douglas) to the same score.

In the semi-finals Tasker and Allen were beaten 15-21 by Cooper and Roberts in 12 ends, whilst Moore and Teare ended the challenge of Cadamy and Boland with a 21-13 victory to book their place in the final.

The final was between Cooper & Roberts who were appearing in the final for a second successive year, with both pairs well matched in the early stages of the game with the score tied at 11-11 after eight ends, with good bowling from both pairs.

Moore and Teare shifted up another gear as they scored a three, followed by three consecutive doubles to lead 20-11 after 13 ends. Cooper and Roberts got back in with a good single, only for the South Ramsey pair to get the one chalk needed to secure a 21-12 victory as they followed up their win in the Spar Mixed Doubles last month.

At the conclusion of the competition the presentation was made by Maurice O’Reilly with Sponsor John Maddrell being introduced to present the prizes. John then went on to thank everyone including Maurice O’Reilly and Julie Reilly for running the competition.

The second year of the Junior League got underway on Thursday 10th August with four teams competing for the Phil Johnson Trophy sponsored by Canada Life International. With fixtures being held on Noble’s 1 & 2, there was once again a good crowd in attendance each week.

The teams were given new names this year, with Kitterlanders, Chicken Rocks, Sugarloafs and Drinking Dragons all vying for the title. The teams played each other over three consecutive weeks.

After matchday one Sugarloafs were top on the table, as they beat Chicken Rocks by 38 chalks (162-124), with Kitterlanders in second place just nine chalks behind as they beat Drinking Dragons by 24 chalks (153-129).

Matchday two had Kitterlanders take on Chicken Rocks with the former hitting top spot as they won by 39 chalks (157-118). Sugarloafs fell to second place as they suffered a defeat albeit by three chalks (126-129) at the hands of Drinking Dragons.

Matchday three saw Sugarloafs crowned as the overall winners, despite going into the final round of fixtures trailing Kitterlanders by 22 chalks. A huge win for Sugarloafs over Kitterlanders by 64 chalks (185-121) was enough to overtake their opponents by 42 chalks, with Drinking Dragons finishing in second place as they overtook Kitterlanders as they beat Chicken Rocks by 82 chalks (189-107) winning all nine games.

Results from Match Day 1, 2 and 3 are below, along with final League Standings.

CLI Junior League Round One Results 2023

CLI Junior League Round Two Results 2023

CLI Junior League Round Three Results 2023

CLI Junior League Final Standings 2023

The Onchan Commissioners Any Combination Doubles took place on Sunday with a field of 20 pairs taking part.

At the quarter finals stage Jayne Smith and Lyn Bolton (Marown) lost out to clubmates Lynda Cadamy and Andy Kennish, with another Marown pairing going out as Neil Withers and Paul Dunn lost to South Ramsey’s Glynn Hargraves and Jordan Cain. In the other half of the draw Matthew Keggen and Paul Kelly (Marown) were beaten by John Kennish and David Bradford (South Ramsey), whilst Dean Kinley (Peel) and Bob Clark (South Ramsey) ended the home green challenge of Neil Dunwell and Neil Taylor.

At the semi-final stage Cadamy and Kennish lost out 12-21 to Hargraves and Cain, in the other semi-final Kinley and Clark won just four ends as they scored heavily in the ends they won, but only just lost out 17-21 to Kennish and Bradford.

In the final Kennish and Bradford got off to a good start with a three, then went on to lead by seven chalks at 14-7, then extended the lead further at 19-8. Hargraves and Cain managed to score another five points, however the comeback was stopped in its tracks as Kennish and Bradford picked up the two points needed to take a fully deserved 21-13 over their clubmates.

The presentation was made by Mike Alexander, with the trophy & prizes presented by Derek Crellin, of Onchan Commissioners to whom the Club are grateful for the continued support.

The Isle of Man Crown Green Bowling Association put two entries forward for a Crown Green Masters Competition to be held at Euston Green in Fleetwood. A qualifier was held for the two entries, with 29 entering for their chance to qualify.

At the last eight stage Peel man Pip Pemberton lost out 11-21 to home greener Peter Jones, whilst the all Marown battle was won by Matthew Keggen who beat Juan Killip 21-15. In the other half of the draw another home greener Neil Withers won 21-9 against Noble’s Dave Naughton, with South Ramsey’s David Bradford also winning comfortably 21-10 against Peel B captain Paul Quirk.

In the qualifying game Jones stormed into a 14-7 lead against Keggen, with the latter levelling the game up at 14-14. Jones got back in to go into a 20-18 lead, only for Keggen to pick up a double and single to edge home 21-20 to qualify.

In the other game between Withers and Bradford the early stages were always close with the score level after 15 ends, it was the Marown man who made a sprint for the finish line to see the game out with a 21-16 win to take the second qualifying spot.

Both Keggen and Withers will now go on to play in the finals to be played on Friday 29th September with a prize pot of over £3,000 up for grabs. Best of luck to both players.

In good conditions in the Mooragh Park on Saturday North Ramsey Bowling Club hosted the Ken Parker Memorial Rose Bowl, with 16 pairs entered. With the green looking good and playing well this ensured that we were all in for an excellent afternoons bowling.

Games in the first round were mostly one sided with comfortable wins in most games. With the closest game seeing home greeners Lacey & Bailey McMulllan losing out to Jordan Cain (South Ramsey) & Amanda Lawler (Castletown) 21-14.

The quarter finals turned out to be much closer affairs.Cain & Lawler lost out to home greeners Steve Parker & Rob Monk 21-17. Joyce Ogden (Marown) & Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) started well & were 17-12 up against Marown pair Peter Jones & Andy Kennish with the latter pair coming back strongly before eventually losing out 21-18.
Greg Barlow & Bryan Corner took on another South Ramsey pairing of Glynn Hargraves & Alan Moore in the closest game. Barlow & Corner started strongly going into 18-11 leading, before Hargraves & Moore replied with seven points over four ends to make it 18 across. Barlow & Corner took two points on the next end to leave them needing a single point to secure the win, however a three on the final end secured a place in the semi-finals for Hargraves & Moore.

South Ramsey’s John Kennish & Dido Kelly secured the remaining semi-final spot with a 21-13 win over the North Ramsey pairing of Paul Allison & Allan Callow.

In the first semi-final Kennish & Kelly took an early lead 16-8 against Hargraves & Moore, who fought back before eventually losing out 21-15. The remaining semi-final saw Steve Parker & Rob Monk take on Joyce Ogden & Caroline Whitehead. It was level after the 6th & 11th ends, before Parker & Monk took a 19-14 lead however Joyce & Caroline got it back to 17-19 before a single on end 20 left Parker & Monk requiring a point. However it was not to be with Ogden & Whitehead booking a place in the final with some excellent woods winning the next three ends to win 21-20.

The final saw Joyce & Caroline starting well leading 8-3, John & Dido came back with some excellent bowling, scoring 12 chalks in the next six ends to lead 16-10. With Joyce & Caroline unable to put a good run together it was the South Ramsey pair who ran out 21-13 to secure a victory and the Ken Parker Memorial Cup.

North Ramsey competition secretary Gary Merrill thanked those who had entered the competition in memory of Ken Parker. Ken was a popular member at both North & South Ramsey clubs. Gary presented the prizes & thanked all who had helped in the preparation of the green & running of the afternoon in particular the ladies in the beehive. John Kennish thanked North Ramsey for running the event, and of his fond memories of playing with Ken Parker at both North & South Ramsey.

Blessed with a fine summer’s afternoon, Finch Hill hosted the Apollo Blinds Mixed Pairs Open on Sunday.

In the Quarter Finals, the home pairing of Anne Hon and Stephen Oates had a close fought match with Jan Osborne (Finch Hill) and Peter Greenlees (Peel) until a decisive 19th end when Jan and Peter scored a full house, going on to win 21-16. 

South Ramsey’s Elaine and Alan Moore had a comfortable win over Derek Allen (Port Erin) and Lil Smith (Marown) 21-11. 

Steven Waters (North Ramsey) and Fiona Kennish (South Ramsey) overcame another Finch Hill pairing, Iris Kermode and Pat Maher 21-14. The defending Champions Debbie Leece and Glenn Boland (Marown) could not repeat their feat of the previous year going down 21-15 to Margaret Tasker (Port St Mary) and Les Brookes (Finch Hill) 21-15.

In the Semi-Finals Elaine and Alan proved too strong for Jan and Peter although they did concede a four on the sixth end before going on to win 21-12. In the other semi-final, Steven and Fiona also conceded a four but were too strong for Margaret and Les winning 21-16.

The Final was a hard fought affair with nothing to choose between them after 10 ends, tied at 12 across. Steven and Fiona edged ahead and were 18-14 in front after 16 ends but a mistake on the next end allowed Elaine and Alan back into the game and they made the most of the opportunity, winning 21-18 with a decisive three on the 20th end.

Chris Reynolds from Apollo Blinds presented the prizes and Elaine thanked the sponsors for their continued support and Finch Hill for their hospitality in putting on the event.

Port St Mary captain Wayne Roberts & Marown’s Lynda Cadamy picked up the title on a wet Saturday afternoon, as they beat the Marown pairing of Lyn Bolton & Walter McCarthy 21-16 in the final.

Awaiting full report/details from Onchan.