There was a magnificent entry of fifteen for the Junior Girls Merit Qualifier held at Marown on Saturday 22 June. The weather was beautiful and the standard of play during the morning confirmed that the future of ladies’ bowls on the island is in safe hands.

Several of the girls were competing for the first time and it is to be hoped they enjoyed themselves. Spectators were impressed by all the girls, and it was commented by one that they were a splendid advertisement for the game.

In the first round,  Grace Quayle and Emily Cooper had a ding-dong battle, keeping level to 17-17, when Grace won three ends on the trot to win 21-17. Another close game saw Grace Gawne get off to a flyer, leading 15-6 before Bailey McMullan pulled back to 12-16. Even at 20-14 Bailey persevered, before Grace eventually came through 21-16.

Grace Cooper, Melody Marsh and Lily Gawne did well to reach double figures against more experienced players, while, although falling just short with scores of 9, Aalish Moore and Megan Hargraves can feel pleased with their performances – the score doesn’t always tell the full story !

The star quarter-final match pitted Rebekah Kelly against Aalish Howarth. Rebekah had the better start, taking a 14-11 lead before Aalish pulled back to 15-15, then 17-17. Rebekah reached 20 first but we all know how elusive that last point can be, Aalish progressing to the semi-finals 21-20.

Grace Quayle faced Bethany Kennish, and put up a terrific performance against her more experienced opponent before losing out 21-15, While Shannon McMullan eased through 21-11 against Grace Gawne.

In the last quarter-final Victoria Johnson had a tussle with her younger team – mate, Lacey McMullan, before coming through 21-16.

The semi-finals saw the experience of Shannon and Bethany prevail as they each came through 21-7 to meet in the final.

Semi-finals: Bethany Kennish 21, Aalish Haworth 7; Shannon McMullan 21, Victoria Johnson 7

Bethany got off to the better start in the final, racing to an 18-9 lead, at which point Shannon started a come -back but had left herself too much to do, Bethany winning 21-15.

Bethany won the Wilson Trophy, and will be representing the island at Heswall. on the Wirral, on Saturday 7^th. September.

Thanks go to the parents and spectators for their support, and their help.

Thanks also go to the Marown Club for the use of their green and facilities.

There was an entry of thirty-three for the Pre-Festival ladies’ singles, sponsored by the family of Lilian Slinger, and played at Mooragh Park.

Although the event started in reasonable weather, it got worse as the day progressed and by mid afternoon was quite cold and very wet. It was to be hoped the weather would improve for the Festival taking place over the next five days.

The field consisted of local players and some old familiar faces over for the festival, many of whom had not visited the green before and were very impressed with its surroundings.

In the first round there were some close games, four of them finishing on 21-18, Jenny Moore, Karen Hill. Rachel Quirk and Sue Sinclair all coming through by that score against Lynsey Gorman, Sarah Edmondson, Eileen Pye and Fiona Kennish respectively.

In the second round Elaine Moore lost out 21-16 to Karen Hill while Lorraine Hirst came through against Joan Jolly by the same score.

In the quarter-finals, Madison McMullen, following wins against Mary Alderson and Linda Burns, reached a very creditable 16 before going out to Nicola Gilmore, while Jenny Moore and Lorraine Hirst had a real ding-dong battle. The game was even for the first six ends with Lorraine just ahead 12-11, when Jenny took control winning eight of the next nine ends to lie 20-13. Lorraine re-grouped winning the next five ends to close to 19-20, before Jenny took the next end, and the match.

Quarter-finals: Nicola Gilmore 21, Madison McMullen 16; Sharon Rigden 21, Janet Monk 8; Jenny Moore 21, Lorraine Hirst 19; Rachel Quirk 21, Karen Hill 9.

In the semi-finals, which were not so one sided as the scores suggest, Jenny and Sharon both came through 21-11 – jenny against Rachel and Sharon against Nicola.

Jenny made the better start , leading 14-9 after eight ends when six singles put Sharon ahead 15-14. The game was evenly poised at 17-17 when two 2’s gave Jenny the title 21-17.

Association vice-president,. Heather Horsburgh, thanked all those who had entered, those who had helped in any way with the smooth running of the afternoon and the Slinger family for their continued sponsorship of the event, before introducing Mr Norman Slinger to make the presentations.

The threatened drizzle held off and the weather stayed fair when twenty-four ladies, of a certain age, gathered at Peel to contest the Gladys Cowell over 60s’ singles.

Some close games in the preliminary round saw Mary Alderson come through 21-18 against Cath Parker while Shirley Corrin just lost out 19-21 to Margaret Tasker.

The first round saw Lynda Wilson win three ends in a row from 17-19 down to get past Celia Joughin 21-19 and Margaret Scarffe losing out 18-21 to Ann Gale. Sue Collier started like a greyhound against Pat Robertson, sprinting to a 13-6 lead after four ends, but Pat showed steely determination to get back to 20-21.

In the first of the quarter-finals, Shirley Whelan got off to a better start than her opponent, Tricia Bull, leading 13-8 after the seventh end, from which point the Port St Mary player matched her, but was unable to make inroads into her five point lead.

In the second, Lynda Wilson had a tough struggle with Ann Gale in a to-and-fro game which had Ann leading 18-17 before a pair of twos gave Lynda the game.

In the bottom half of the draw last year’s winner, Elaine Moore, had the better of home-greener Mary Moffatt, 21-9, while Margaret Tasker had a little more to do, coming through 21-15 against Sue Collier.

Quarter-finals: Shirley Whelan 21, Tricia Bull 16; Lynda Wilson 21, Ann Gale 18; Elaine Moore 21; Mary Moffatt 9; Margaret Tasker 21, Sue Collier 15

By the time they reached the semi-finals, neither Lynda nor Elaine were in the frame of mind to show their opponents any mercy, with Elaine progressing to the final with a 21-9 win over Margaret. After being evenly matched over the first half of the game, Shirley being 11-10 up after seven ends, Lynda got the bit between her teeth to romp home 21-14.

In the final, Elaine’s greater experience told with an excellent display of bowling to which Lynda was unable to find an answer. Congratulations go to both players for their standard of bowls throughout the afternoon, and well done to Lynda on reaching her first final.

Peel’s competition secretary, Heather Horsburgh, thanked all those who had taken part and the members of the Peel club who had helped in any way with the smooth running of the afternoon.

Thanks must also go to Gladys Cowell’s family for their continued support for the event.

Nobles held their ladies doubles competition on Sunday with a field of 13 pairs competing. The games were played on Nobles Number 2 which was in good condition.

The final was contested between the home duo of Clare Cooper/Rebecca Teare and Alison Keggen/Paula Garrett. The winners were Clare and Rebecca who won 21-14 taking the title for the second year running.

In the semi-final stage Clare and Rebecca came through a close battle with Elaine Moore and Kim Hargraves winning 21-20 whilst Alison and Paula defeated Paula Firth and Lin Ruscoe 21-16.

Treasurer for Nobles Bowling Club, Wendy Leece presented the prize money and trophy to the winners and thanked everyone for their help during the competition.