There were eight pairs entered for the Dorothy Piearce ladies’ doubles played at Finch Hill on Sunday 25 June, where players were competing for the honour of representing the island on the mainland later in the season.
The afternoon started at the quarter-final stage where, although each end was closely contested the two pairs, Jenny Moore and Shelley Kennish, together with Elaine Moore and Fiona Kennish won by convincing scores to get into the semi-finals. The other two quarters were much more closely contested. Rita Callister, who is becoming someone to fear in ladies’ doubles, and her partner Debbie Leece just lost out to Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve 18-21, while the other quarter-final went all the way with Festival semi-finalist, Philippa Taylor, and her partner, Joyce Ogden, just getting past Lynda Cadamy and Mary Alderson 21-20.
In the first semi-final Shelley and Jenny got off to the better start, leading 9-4 after nine ends, Chris and Kellie starting to pull back at that stage and taking the lead, 12-10 after 16 ends, having the edge from then on, coming through to win 21-14. Again the ends were closely contested in the other semi-final, but Philippa and Joyce proved too consistent for Fiona and Elaine winning 21-8.
Semi-finals: Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve 21, Shelley Kennish and Jenny Moore 14; Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 21, Fiona Kennish and Elaine Moore 8.
Philippa and Joyce got off to a flyer in the final, reaching 8-0 after four ends, The next few ends were evenly contested but Chris and Kellie struggled to close the gap , lying 14-6 down after fourteen ends, with Philippa and Joyce moving to 18-6 after a further three ends. The Port St Mary pair scored 8 on the next four ends but it was too little too late, the final score seeing Joyce and Philippa qualifying 21-15.
The Association would like to thank Finch Hill for the use of their facilities for this event.

The sun shone for most of the afternoon on Saturday 24 June when 25 players gathered at Marown for the Julia North ladies’ singles, although a bitter wind meant it was cold in the shade.
There were some close, and some not so close, games played in a friendly atmosphere. The feature match in the semi-finals was between Chris Price and Joyce Ogden, which was nip-and-tuck all the way with Joyce getting to 20 first. As we all know, that last point is the hardest to get and Chris came through from 19-20 to progress to the next round 21-20.
Quarter-finals: Lynda Cadamy 21, Philippa Taylor 18; Margaret Tasker 21, Lil Smith 15; Chris Price 21, Joyce Ogden 20; Maureen Payne 21, Mavis Franks 11.
Maureen had no answer against Chris, with Chris coming through 21-14 despite Maureen’s best efforts, but the other semi-final was a much tenser affair with the advantage changing hands several times. In the latter stages Margaret seemed to have the upper hand with a 19-16 lead, before Lynda won the next four ends to record a 21-19 victory.
Semi-finals: Chris Price 21, Maureen Payne 14; Lynda Cadamy 21, Margaret Tasker 19.
In the final Chris had the better start, leading 13-7 after eight ends. Although Lynda won the next three ends Chris won the following four to hold the advantage at 18-10. The final six ends were shared, seeing Chris come through to take the trophy 21-15.
Rosie Winckle thanked all those who had entered and those who had stayed to the end to watch a very good final. Thanks also went to the Marown ladies for all their hard work.
Rosie then introduced Julia North, who sponsored the event, giving her a present from the Marown Club to congratulate her on having been awarded the BEM., before Julia then presented the prizes

The Ladies’ Association Pre-Festival open took place at Port St Mary on Sunday 18 June, sponsored by the Slinger family in memory of their mother, Lilian , a stalwart of the Manx bowling community, who died last year.
The event attracted a field of 52 which included 19 visitors. The weather suited the occasion, but many competitors were caught out by the very fast green. Quarter-finals: Natalie Hughes (Crossgates) 21, Ann Maddrell 19; Pat Shevlin (Birchfield) 10, Rachel Quirk (Crossgates) 21; Sarah Varley (Rishton) 21, Jayne Kneen 12; Janet Monk 21, Jenny Moore 19.
In the first semi-final Rachel was in control from the start with Natalie unable to get her nose in front at any point, while in the other Janet had a slender lead after seven ends at which point Sarah took control to run out the winner.
Semi-finals: Rachel Quirk 21, Natalie Hughes 12; Sarah Varley 21, Janet Monk 13.
Sarah was 12-9 up after seven ends at which point the two players shared ends, with Rachel getting a greater number of 2‘s to levl up the score at 16-16 after fourteen ends. Three singles meant Sarah got to 19 first, before Rachel replied with two singles. Winning the next two ends gave Sarah the game to become the first winner of the Lilian Slinger trophy.
Association Competition secretary, Elaine Moore, thanked Port St Mary for the use of their green, their help on the green and also the amazing raffle and food, before thanking the Slinger family for sponsoring the event and introducing Peter to make the presentation.
Peter praised the green, saying it was the best on the island. His mother would have been so proud of the event and the standard of bowls on show – particularly in the final -and delighted that the winner, came from their part of England

There was an entry of 18 pairs for the ladies’ doubles, sponsored by Microgaming, played at Castletown on Saturday 17 June. The event was played in beautiful weather with the green being its usual tricky self and appearing to get faster as the afternoon progressed.

Both semi-finals were hotly contested. In the first, Rita Callister once again showed her fondness for this green as she and her partner, Caroline Whitehead, made their opponents, Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry, work hard for their win. Rita and Caroline had a slender lead over the first 14 ends before a spurt by the Castletown pair, taking seven points in 5 ends, saw them leading 18-14. Their opponents then scored four singles to level at 18s. A 2 and a 1 in the next three ends saw Ann and Heike through 21-19.

The other semi was even closer, with Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve getting off to a stormer against Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett leading 19-12 after fifteen ends. A one and a four in the next two ends brought Lyn and Paula back into contention, trailing by just two points. Chris and Kellie scored a single to take them to “all but”,but a two followed by two singles put Lyn and Paula into the final 21-20.

Semi-finals: Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry 21, Rita Callister and Caroline Whitehead 19; Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 21, Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve 20.
The final was a lot closer than the score suggests with every end being hotly contested. Indeed scores were level at 11-11 after eleven ends, but from that point onwards, in a fascinating game, Lyn and Paula had a slight edge coming through to win 21-11.

Final: Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 21, Ann Hollingworth and heike Perry 11.

The presentation was made by Hilary Kermode on behalf of sponsors, Microgaming. She thanked those who stayed to the end, and those who entered. It may not have been the biggest entry, but one could say it was quality rather than quantity !

She thanked Microgaming for their continued sponsorship, this being the eleventh year Castletown had had their support.
Thanks also went to Lynda and Heike for running the sheet and other club members who had helped in any way.

Despite the heavy rain in the morning a field of 20 convened for the Mooragh Park ladies’ singles open on Saturday 10 June to play for the Ramsey Town Cup. Although the rain cleared the strong winds and the state of the green made for tricky playing conditions. In recent years there have been times when this competition has had to be cancelled due to lack of entries so it was good to see an increase in numbers, but a shame that the event was not supported by more clubs on the island.
Quarter-finals: Maureen Lacey 21, Vicky Lloyd-West 14: Lyn Bolton 21, Janet Monk 20 ; Jenny Moore 21, Fiona Kennish 12; Gill Morgan 21, Bethany Kennish 12
This set up two North v South semi-finals as Lyn Bolton from South Ramsey took on Maureen Lacey , Mooragh Park while Jenny Moore, South, played Gill Morgan, Mooragh Park.
The games went with the form book, seeing the two South Ramsey players going forward to meet in the final.
Semi-finals: Lyn Bolton 21, Maureen Lacey 12 ; Jenny Moore 21, Gill Morgan 13.
In the final Jenny roared away in spectacular fashion, leading 17-8 after eleven ends, at which point Lyn got in taking the next two ends to get into double figures, but it was too little too late as Jenny took three of the next four ends to win 21-13.
The presentation was made by club president, Helen Martin, who said it had been a lovely afternoon despite the wind ! She then thanked everyone who had helped during the afternoon, particularly Julie for running the sheet and all those responsible for the teas, coffees and refreshments. Helen then introduced Ramsey commissioner Juan McGuinness, who presented the prizes.

Twenty-two pairs assembled for the Ladies’ IOM doubles championship at Castletown on Sunday 21 May. Initially the weather was sunny but cold and clouded over mid-afternoon. However the latter stages of the event were played in beautiful, warm sunshine.
The Castletown green was fast-running and its usual tricky self, but despite that there were some very close and exciting games.
The outstanding player in the first few rounds was Rita Callister, showing that age is no handicap as she and her partner, Shelley Kennish, despatched Dot Mylchreest and Pauline Worrall 21-17, Maureen Payne and Chris Price 21-19 then Margaret Tasker and Tricia Bull 2!-20 before losing out in the semi-finals 21-20 to Ann Maddrell and Katy Williams, a game they were ahead in until the last four ends.
Quarter-finals; Sheeley Kennish and Rita Callister 21, Margaret Tasker and Tricia Bull 2o; Katy Williams and Ann Maddrell 21, Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 17; Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry 21, Kath Kinley and Marie Ashurst 17; Debbie Leece and Alison Keggen 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 12.
In the first semi-final Rita and Shelley made the better start being 17-10 up after ten ends. Katy and Ann won five of the next six ends to level at 19-19, then the next end to reach “all but”. their opponents won the next end-20-20. It was all on the last end where Katy and Ann came through to win 21-20.
In the other semi-final, Debbie Leece and Alison Keggen, who had played well all afternoon, kept level with Ann Hollingworth and Heike Perry for the first part of the game, but a 4 and a 3 in the last few ends saw the Castletown pair through to the final 21-13.
The home pair shot off to a 15-10 lead before the Port St Mary girls won five of the next six ends to level at 16-16.Ann and Heike then got the jack back and won the next four ends to take the title 21-16.
The Presentation was made by Association president, Rosie Winckle, who thanked Castletown for the use of their green and their help in measuring, marking etc. She also complimented them on the state of the green. Thanks also went to Heather for running the sheet and Elaine for organising the competition.

There was an entry of 21 pairs for the ladies’ doubles, played for the Greeba Cup, at Marown on Saturday 20 May. Although cold the afternoon was sunny and some exciting games took place on a green that was running well.
Three of the quarter-finals were very close, homegreeners Lil Smith and Rosie Wnckle took Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett all the way before going down 20-21.
Quarter-finals: Shelley and Bethany Kennish 21, Josie Harding and Flo Price 17; Elaine Moore and Gill Dixon 21, Kath Kinley and Marie Ashurst 11; Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 21, Lil Smith and Rosie Winckle 20; Chris Price and Maureen Payne 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 17.
The two semi-finals were more competitive than the scores suggest, although in both cases the runners-up could only take four ends from their opponents.
Semi-finals: Elaine Moore and Gill Dixon 21, Shelley and Bethany Kennish 13; Chris Price and Maureen Payne 21, Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 14.
This left a very tasty looking final and the spectators were not disappointed, as every end was hotly contested. Elaine and Gill had the better start, leading 13 10 after eight ends, at which point Chris and Maureen reeled off six ends in a row to gain the advantage 17-13. A three and a one from Gill and Elaine levelled the scores. The next two ends were shared, then a two for the South Ramsey pair put them at 20-18. In a very exciting finish, Chris and Maureen scored three singles to take the match 21-20.
The presentation was made by club Treasurer, Pat Withers, who thanked all those who had entered and everyone who had helped with the event measuring and stewarding, and those responsible for providing and selling the refreshments

There was hardly a cloud in the sky at Port St Mary for the Silvia Cashen Charity ladies’ doubles played on Wednesday 3 May. There was an entry of twenty pairs most of whom found the fast green very tricky, the difficulties being exacerbated by the very strong winds in the latter part of the afternoon.

The competition was hotly contested with some very close games along the way.

Quarter-finals; Val Macfarlane and Jayne Kneen 21, Alison Keggen and Debbie Leece 15; Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 21, Ann Hollingworth and Elaine McElroy 16; Lil Smith and Elaine Dewhurst 21, Elaine Moore and Kim Hargraves 10; Marie Ashurst and Kath Kinley 21, Katy Williams and Ann Maddrell 19.

Both semi-finals were nail biters . In the first Val and Jayne got off to a lightning start taking a lead of 16-10 after nine ends, at which point their opponents dug in to take the next five ends to reach 19-16. A three for the two home greeners on the next end levelled the score before a two on the following end gave them the game. The second semi-final was even closer with the Castletown pair just having the advantage in the early skirmishes, holding a lead of 15-12 after eleven ends. The Marown pairing then showed their class pulling back, then taking a 19-16 lead after 17 ends. Two 2’s put the Southerners in the box seat, although their opponents did level at 20-20 before Kath And Marie came in for that crucial last point.

Semi-finals: Val Macfarlane and Jayne Kneen 21, Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 19; Marie Ashurst and Kath Kinley 21, Lil Smith and Elaine Dewhurst 20.

In the final Val and Jayne showed their class, racing to a 14-7 lead. A 2 and a 3 on the next two ends from Kath and Marie gave hopes of a come-back, but it was their last throw of the dice as Val and Jayne refused to let them have the jack from that point on, taking the title 21-12.

The presentation was made by Port St Mary’s lady president who thanked those who had entered and all those who had helped, both round the green and in the kitchen.

The afternoon raised £350 for the IOM Breast Cancer charity.