The emphasis was on quality rather than quantity at Noble’s Mixed on Saturday 26 July as a disappointing field of 19 gathered to compete for the Jordan Cup. A warm, but cloudy, afternoon stayed dry until the end of the event, and with a true running green there were some excellent games.

Quarter-finals : Lilian Slinger 21, Mary Kinrade 11; Mary Alderson 21, Amanda Lawler 9; Janet Monk 21, Jo Smith 8; Paula Firth 21, Marilyn Ellison 17.

Semi-finals : Mary Alderson 21, Lilian Slinger 18; Janet Monk 21, Paula Firth 11

In the final Mary started brightly winning the first end, but Janet won the next end and having got hold off the jack she refused to relinquish it running out the winner 21-7.

Lin Ruscoe then introduced club chairman, Bob Briercliffe, to make the presentation.

Bob thanked the ladies for providing the refreshments and Vinty for doing the sheet, together with all those who had worked towards the smooth running of the afternoon.

There was an entry of 18 pairs for the Onchan ladies’ doubles for the Commissioner’s Cup played on Noble’s 3 on Wednesday 23 July. On a very warm afternoon a fast green led to some interesting games played in a friendly spirit.

Semi-finals: Janet Monk and Lilian Slinger 21, Jo Smith and Libby Andrade 9; Chris Price and Rita Callan 21, Lyn and Casey Bolton 15.

The final was evenly contested at the beginning with Lilian and Janet leading 11-10 after eight ends. A four for Chris and Rita on the next end followed by a three two ends later swung the match in their favour, and they went on to claim the match 21-14.

Jo Smith thanked all those who had entered the competition, together with all who had helped with the refreshments, running the sheet and in any way contributing to the success of the afternoon.

She then introduced Derek Crellin, Chairman of the Onchan Commissioners, to make the presentations.

On a miserable wet afternoon fourteen groups of four ladies gathered at the Villa on Saturday 19 July to contest the Millennium fours. Although unpleasant the weather was not as dreadful as had been forecast.

The format of each match had three games, a doubles and two singles, the organisers deciding by draw who in the team would play the doubles and singles. Each game was 15 up and the total chalks for each team decided the winner.

In the semi-finals Mooragh Park Faced Port Erin. With Janet Monk and Lilian Slinger being drawn together in the doubles the Port Erin pair of Jean Thackrah fought well to gain four points. Lynda Cadamy winning 15-7 against Rosemary Quirk meant the result depended on the singles between Di Benson and Mary Kinrade. Mary won 15-13 to take Mooragh Park through 37-32.

The other semi-final pitted a Douglas team (+ Lyn Bolton) against Noble’s Mixed (+ Win Collister).With Jan Osborne and Paula Garrett winning the doubles against Lin Ruscoe and Meg Williams 15-7, Lynne Mansley coming through 15-10 against Paula Firth and Win Collister going down 7-15 to Lyn Bolton, Douglas came through with the full 45 points against Noble’s Mixed’s 24.

In the final the singles were shared with Lyn Bolton winning 15-0 against a plucky, but tiring, Mary Kinrade while Rosemary Quirk won 15-6 against Paula Garrett. This meant that the Douglas pair of Jan Osborne and Lynne Mansley needed to score 10 points against Janet Monk and Lilian Slinger. A 15-12 win meant that the Douglas Team took the game, and the title, 36-27.

The presentation was made by Association president, Pat Robertson, who thanked the Douglas club for the use of their green and facilities, and all those who had helped with the smooth running of the afternoon.

The weather played its part and added to the occasion as Castletown and Peel Sunset met at Finch Hill on Thursday 10 July for the final of the Jean Kelly Memorial team handicap competition. It was also nice to see so many supporters and spectators gathered round the green.

On a very fast green it looked as the conditions were going to favour Castletown as they won the first two games to single figures courtesy of Kath Kinley and Ann Hollingworth. Anne Oates also won giving her team the first three games, and Peel then had it all to do as they were already 25 points behind even taking the handicap into account. Peel won the other two games on the first block leaving Castletown with a lead of 15 points. In the second round of games the Peel players adjusted better to the conditions winning all four matches taking the match 6-3 on games and by a margin of nine points.

Association president, Pat Robertson, thanked Moore Kelly and his family for their continued support of the event.

Moore then said a few words saying how much he had enjoyed the evening and thanking his friends and family for providing the very welcome buffet, and also Finch Hill for the use of their green and facilities before introducing his daughter, Christine Alexander, to make the presentations.

PEEL SUNSET (+25) 174, CASTLETOWN (+10) 165:

Cath Parker 21, Barbara Young 13; Joyce Kelly 21, Joy Stephens 19; Jean Quine 11, Anne Oates 21;Heather Horsburgh 7, Ann Hollingworth 21; Connie Pettegrew 5, Kath Kinley 21; Philippa Taylor 21, Hannah Kermode 12; Mary Moffatt 21, Sue Peach 14; Pat Robertson 21, Marie Ashurst 15; Shirley Corrin 21, Hilary Kermode 19.

Captains in both ladies’ leagues are reminded that when matches are postponed the results officer, Heather Horsburgh, should be informed and also be notified of the dates of the re-arranged fixtures.

There was a disappointing entry of 29 for the Manx Championships played at Castletown on Saturday 5 July, which meant that the event was completed in one day rather than the two days scheduled.

On a warm sunny day, on a tricky green that was running well, there was some excellent bowling and some very close games, particularly in the latter stages.

Quarter-finals: Janet Monk 21, Chris Price 20; Elaine Moore 21, Hannah Kermode 20; Ann Hollingworth 21, Tricia Bull 15; Amanda Lawler 21, Kellie Maddrell – Reeve 7.

Semi-finals: Janet Monk 21, Elaine Moore 14; Amanda Lawler 21, Ann Hollingworth 20.

In the final Amanda started with a 2 on the first end before Janet took the next six ends and a lead of 9-2. From that point Amanda had the upper hand over the next fourteen ends, tying the score at 13-13. A single followed by three 2’s took Janet to “all but”, and, despite her opponent clawing back the next two ends, she ran out the winner 21-15.

This gave Janet the title for the sixth time and she will be a great ambassador representing the island at the “Champion of Champions” in Blackpool at the end of September.

The presentation was made by Association president, Pat Robertson, who thanked the Castletown club for the use of their green and their help during the afternoon – particular thanks went to the green keeper for the condition of the playing surface. Thanks also went to those responsible for running the sheet, everyone who had entered and all those who had stayed behind to watch the final. She stated that she had been very impressed by the standard of play, and by how smart the players looked in “dress code”.

IOM LADIES’ ASSOCIATION TRIPLES

Port Erin was the venue for the IOM Ladies’ Association Triples played on Sunday 29 June. On a warm afternoon sixteen teams contested for the title on a very tricky green, when most of the games provided very close encounters.

Semi-finals: Janet Monk, Lilian Slinger and Helen Martin 21, Ann Hollingworth, Hilary Kermode and Hannah Kermode 10

Elaine Moore, Jill Quayle and Heather Horsburgh 21, Jenny Moore, Shelley Kennish and Fiona Kennish 17

The final was closely contested, the early exchanges leaving the score level at 14-14 after nine ends, at which point the Mooragh combo scored a 5 taking them to 19. However the South Ramsey/ Peel Sunset coalition were not going to give up easily and took the next four ends to take the lead 20-19, but were unable to take the next end which gave the match to Lilian, Janet and Helen 21-20.

The presentation was made by Association president, Pat Robertson, who thanked Port Erin for the use of their green and facilities, and everyone who had helped with the smooth running of the event.

Thirty-three ladies’ gathered at Marown on Saturday 28 June to contest the ladies’ singles competition for the Julia North Cup.

With fine weather and the green not too fast there were some close games from the off.

Quarter-finals: Lilian Slinger 21, Chris Price 14; Lil Smith 21, Shirley Corrin 8; Philippa Taylor 21, Paula Garrett 17; Janet Monk 21, Mary Alderson 11.

Semi-finals: Lilian Slinger 21, Lil Smith 19; Janet Monk 21, Philippa Taylor 8

This set up a mother/daughter final with Lilian, as last year’s winner, having to give Janet 1 start. However Janet set out more strongly quickly racing to a 14-7 lead. From that point Lilian fought to get within three points at 14-17 but Janet took the next three ends to take the title 21-14.

Rosie Winckle thanked those who had entered and those who had stayed to see the final.. She also thanked those who had helped during the afternoon before introducing Julia North who congratulated the finalists, saying how much she had enjoyed watching the bowls, before presenting the prizes.

After the ladies’ successes in last year’s June Festival this year’s results were a little more muted. However this is not to say that there weren’t some notable performances with seven local ladies making it through to the last sixteen in the Main Competition. Rosie Winckle, Ann Maddrell, Lyn Bolton and Elaine Moore bowed out valiantly at that stage but Lilian Slinger, Chris Price and Janet Monk progressed to the quarter-finals Janet going on to meet eventual runner-up Angela Athersmith in the semi-final, giving her the Trophy for the Manx player progressing furthest in the competition.

In the Tourism event Kellie Maddrell-Reeve and Viv Grills both made it through to the quarter-finals played on Thursday morning., Kellie going out at that stage to eventual winner Jackie Owen. Viv Grills had a good win over Amanda Nicholas to go on and meet Jackie Owen in the semi-final where she played well and was unlucky to lose 21-20.

Philippa Taylor lost out in a close match in the consolation semi-finals while Chris Price, partnered by Linda Hough, won the ladies’ doubles final beating Angela Athersmith and Eileen Pye 11-4 in the final

Nine pairs entered for the Dorothy Piearce Memorial Ladies’ Doubles Qualifier played at Finch Hill on Sunday 22 June.

With games being 21 off scratch there were some keenly contested games played in glorious sunshine.

Semi-finals: Rosie Winckle and Lil Smith 21, Jill Quayle and Moira Anderson 15; Lilian Slinger and Janet Monk 21, Jenny Maddrell and Ann Gale 13.

Things started quietly with the pairs exchanging ends before Janet and Lilian scored a 3 and a 2 to take a 12-8 lead. This spurred Rosie and Lil on to take the next four ends and a 16-12 advantage. They then exchanged threes and a 2 from the Mooragh pair brought the score to 17-19. The Marown ladies’ then scored a single to reach “all but” at which point Janet and Lilian dug deep taking the next two ends, and victory, 21-20.

The winners will represent the island at Nuneaton on Saturday 9 August in the final stages of the event.

Thanks went to Finch Hill for the use of their facilities and to Anne Caine for providing the refreshments.