The sun shone in the west for the Gladys Cowell ladies’ over 60’s singles open played at Peel on Saturday 14 May. With a field of 30, a fast green and the good weather it was an ideal day for playing bowls. Some very close matches of a high standard were enjoyed by the spectators, many of whom stayed to the end.

Quarter-finals: Ann Hollingworth 21, Win Collister 14; Jean Thackrah 21, Voirrey Curphey 15; Margaret Tasker 21, Cath Parker 15; Mary Moffatt 21, Sylvia Kennaugh 19

Semi-finals: Ann Hollingworth 21, Jean Thackrah 10; Mary Moffatt 21, Margaret Tasker 18.

In the final Mary was in imperious form, with Ann having little in response. The Peel player won in 12 ends with seven 2s and a single, Ann scoring three singles in reply.

Final: Mary Moffatt 21, Ann Hollingworth 9

The presentation was made by club president, Heather Horsburgh, who thanked all those who had entered, those who had stayed to watch the final, and, of course, all the Peel ladies’ who had helped in any way in the smooth running of the afternoon.

Castletown claimed a maximum against Mooragh Park in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 10 May with only two of the visiting players, Moira Anderson and Frances Radcliffe reaching double figures. Chris Holland spared Port St Mary’s blushes when her win denied Peel Sunset a full house. The visitors won three of their games to single figures. Port St Mary A won 4-2 on games at Onchan with Margaret Tasker winning to single figures. Two games went all the way with Kath Looney losing out 20-21 to Joyce Gardiner and Flo Kelly losing to Rita Callister by the same score. It was a local derby at Port Erin when Breagle, as the home team, lost out 2-4 on games with Joyce Henry and Steph Swift providing their two wins, Steph just coming through 21-20 against Mavis Franks. The other two matches of the morning were closer, both ending level on games. Nobles’ had an eight point advantage over Douglas with some very close games, Jo Oldam scring 19 against Pat Dacre while Sonja Lees took Patsy Rush all the way before going down 20-21. There were only 2 points in it when Villa entertained Ballaugh, the advantage going to the visitors.

There was a remarkable game at Port Erin on Thursday 5 May, where in a high-scoring match the teams ended all square on points, although Castletown won 4-2 on games. No player on the home side scored less than 18, while two of the players lost 20-21, Jackie Elliott to Joy Stephens and Audrey Gardner to Sue Peach. In reply Anne Oates for Castletown lost out 20-21 to Sylvia Shelbourne. Flo Kelly spoiled the party for Ballaugh by denying them a full house, although Maureen Payne almost gave the visitors a second game reaching 18 points against Ann Gale. Villa were another team to win 5 games, Moira Anderson coming through 21-19 against Joan Murphy to prevent a whitewash for Mooragh Park. Although Port St Mary B fought hard at Marown, Chris Holland was their only winner, Edwina Reid came close with her 20 against Celia Joughin. Douglas ended level with Breagle on games, but a win to single figures by Kath King gave them the advantage on points. Peel Sunset won four games with Joyce Kelly and Mary Moffatt winning to single figures, the two winners for Nobles’ being Sylvia Kennaugh and Flo Price.

DOUGLAS 105, VILLA 77

The derby match between Douglas and Villa, postponed from 28 April, was played Monday 2 May. The home side, Douglas had the advantage 4-2 on games, the winners for Villa being Pat Kelly and Brenda Williams.

Abandoned match from 28 April

PORT ST MARY B 97, NOBLES 81

The match between Port St Mary B and Nobles, which was abandoned after 3 games on 28 April was completed on Friday 6 May. The home side won 4-2 with three wins to single figures and despite Lin Ruscoe’s strong reply, and Josie Harding reaching 19 against Roma Ware Port St Mary B ended with a 16 point advantage.

It was a pleasant morning for bowls on Tuesday 3 May in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league, and with the sun on their backs two teams were able to record maximums. Port St Mary A were merciless against Ballaugh, with Tricia Bull and Margaret Tasker winning to single figures. The best score for Ballaugh was Voirrey Oates’ 16 against Rita Callister. Onchan were even more ruthless against Mooragh Park with four of their players winning to single figures. Ann Keane fought well for the visitors reaching 19 against Jan Kniveton. Joyce Henry spared Breagle’s blushes against Peel, winning her game and denying them a full house. There were some close games with Steph Swift reaching 19 against Joyce Kelly while Gwen Tuck took Lynda Wilson all the way before going down 20-21.Castletown also recorded five wins against a Douglas side who were unfortunately a player short. Jan Osborne was the lone winner for the visitors although Patsy Rush nearly added a second game reaching 19 against Anne Oates. It was a high scoring game at the Villa with all six players reaching double figures. Although winning 4-2 on games, with Muriel Cain and Margaret Corlett reaching 19 for the home side, Port Erin won by the narrow margin of 4 points.

Nobles’ also won 4-2 against Marown with Sylvia Kennaugh winning to single figures as did Mary Alderson for the visitors.

Winter returned with a vengeance on Thursday 28 April. The rain caused the match between Douglas and Villa to be postponed to Monday 2 May, while at Port Erin the match was abandoned at the half-way point, the remaining three games to be played on Friday 6 May. At Peel conditions were pretty dire towards the end of the match and despite winning 4-2 on games with a win to single figures by Mona Kerruish, single figure wins by Anne Oates and Ann Hollingworth together with Barbara Young reaching 19 against Cath Parker and Sue Peach’s 20 against Joyce Kelly the visitors won by 6 points. Port St Mary A recorded a maximum away to Mooragh Park, with Maureen Wright being the only home player to reach double figures, while at Marown Gwen Tuck prevented a whitewash for Breagle. The game of the match saw Hesba Skelly just lose out 20-21 to Margaret Scarffe. It was a draw on games at Port Erin, but a good win to single figures by Carol Kaye, together with no member of the home side scoring less than 15 gave the hosts a comfortable points victory. The postponed match between Douglas and Villa saw Douglas with the advantage 4-2 on games and a 28 point victory.

Four of the six games played in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday ended 5-1 on games. Ballaugh came closest to a maximum, dropping just one point when Maureen Wright edged out Peggy Griffin 21-20. A second game went to the wire when Mary Simmonds had the better of Moira Anderson by the same score. Patsy Rush saved Douglas’ blushes against Onchan, Moire Turner almost giving them a second game when she reached 18 against Rita Callan. Port St Mary A won three of their five games to single figures, the main resistance for Port Erin coming from Carol Kaye, who won her game, and Mavis Francks who lost out 19-21 to Win Collister. Castletown had two wins to single figures in their 5-1 win over Marown, whose lone winner Mary Alderson also won to single figures. Breagle were a player short against Port St Mary B, but managed a draw on games, and Hesba Skelly, with her 90^th. birthday looming, reaching 20 against Edwina Reid, losing the match by a mere 6 points. It was also close at the Villa, ending level on games. Muriel Cain won to single figures for the home side, as did Mary Moffatt and Joyce Kelly for the visitors giving Peel victory by 5 points

It was a full house for Noble’s this week, in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league, as Breagle were two players short. Lin Ruscoe and Pat Robertson won to single figures, but Sonja Lees had a much tougher battle before coming through 21-19 against Joyce Henry. There were some close games when Port Erin hosted Ballaugh with five matches going to double figures. Carol Kaye won to single figures for the home side, Peggy Griffin and Jenny Maddrell being the two winners for the visitors. Ann Gale almost added a third game, reaching 19 against Jackie Elliott. In the west, Peel Sunset had a comfortable win over Onchan with Joyce Kelly and Heather Horsburgh winning to single figures. The two winners for Onchan were Maureen Payne and Flo Kelly who edged out Mona Kerruish 21-20.Port St Mary A had a tough battle on their hands when they visited Douglas. All six games went to double figures, and although the two teams were locked at three games each the home side just had the advantage on points. It was a good day for Marown with a 4-2 advantage over Villa. It was also the start of a good week for Shirley Whelan as she won to single figures. The closest game of the match saw Pat Kelly come through 21-18 against Maureen Quilliam. Port St Mary B and Castletown ended level on games with all the away players reaching double figures. Castletown finished with the advantage on points partly due to Anne Oates’ win to single figures.

Moira Anderson denied Port Erin a full house against Mooragh Park, when the visitors were the day’s top scorers. Villa were not far behind as they won 4-2 on games, the two winners for Port St Mary B being Gill Aughton and Roma Ware. Despite losing 4-2 on games, Ballaugh won by 10 points with Jane Teare getting 19 against Moire Turner and Mary Simmonds and Brenda Bowyer both scoring 18, showing the value to the team of fighting for every point. Peel Sunset’s visit to Port St Mary did not go as planned as the home side won four games to single figures. The two winners for Peel were Heather Horsburgh and Mary Moffatt who just came out ahead in a tough tussle against Win Collister. Onchan had a good win over Marown with Dee Lewis and Maureen Payne winning to single figures, while for Marown Mary Black took Joyce Gardiner all the way before going down 20-21. There was another battle royal at Castletown when Sue Peach and Lin Ruscoe fought out a 21-20 game that ended in Sue‘s favour. Castletown finished with a 4-2 advantage, the two winners for Noble‘s being Sylvia Kennaugh and Sonja Lees.

It was Douglas’s turn to record a maximum in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 12 April. Once again Mooragh Park could only field four players, but showed signs of improvement with three of their team reaching double figures. Castletown had a fruitful visit to Breagle, winning five games with Sylvia Maddrell denying them a full house. Ann Gale spared Ballaugh’s blushes at Peel, where the hosts had five wins, four of them to single figures. Port St Mary A had the better of Marown 4-2 on games, with three wins to single figures, the two winners for the home side being, Mia Moore, also to single figures, and Celia Joughin. There were only four points between the teams when Port St Mary B hosted Onchan despite the visitors winning four games with Maureen Payne not allowing her opponent to reach double figures. In reply Roma Ware also won to single figures while Edwina Reid reached 19 against Marilyn Ellison. It was also close at Noble’s where the match ended level on games, two games for each side being won to single figures. The draw of the match saw a close tussle between Sonja Lees and Muriel Cain, with Sonja eventually coming through 21-20.

It was unfortunate that Mooragh Park could only field four players against Peel Sunset, enabling the Westerners to record the first maximum of the season. Edwina Reid prevented a white-wash for Port St Mary B against champions Port St Mary A while Pauline Worrall also had a good result reaching 18 against Tricia Bull. Douglas were another team who had to give a game away at Port Erin, but managed two wins by Moire Turner and Jan Osborn who edged out Jackie Elliott 21-20.Although winning 4-2 on games Onchan finished level on points with Noble’s after a strong win to single figures by Sylvia Kennaugh. The most exciting game of the match saw Dee Lewis pip Lin Ruscoe 21-20, while Josie Harding was the visitors’ other winner. Marown had a successful trip to Ballaugh where they had the edge on points in a match that ended level on games and it was a similar story for Breagle at Villa.