Onchan A were top scorers in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 12 May, dropping just 7 points although the match ended level on games. Their three winners won to single figures while for the B team Eileen Killey came through 21-19 against Flo Kelly while Joyce Gardiner edged out Rita Callan 21-20.With four wins, Ann Gale’s to single figures, Ballaugh had a comfortable win over Castletown whose two winners were Anne Oates and Ann Hollingworth who just had the better of Brenda Bowyer 21-20. Peel Sunset travelled to Port St Mary A where the home team won four games, with all six games going to double figures. The two winners for the visitors were Joyce Kelly and Heather Horsburgh while Cath Parker came closest to adding a third game reaching 18 against Kath Looney. Villa had a successful trip south winning five games against Breagle, Sylvia Maddrell winning her game to deny them a maximum. Kay Primrose- Smith almost gave the home side a second game reaching 19 against Pat Kelly.Douglas were a player short, their only winner, Lynne Mansley doing so to single figures.Mooragh Park came through by 4 points against Pot St Mary B, with both teams winning three games and all games going to single figures while at Noble’s the home side won on games, although Sylvia Shelbourne almost levelled the gams reaching 20 against Pat Dacre.

The sun shone on the 28 ladies who gathered at Peel on Saturday 16 May for the Gladys Cowell over 60’s singles competition.

The green was running well and the bowling was of a high standard played in good spirit.

Quarter-finals: Tricia Bull 21, Cath Parker 19; Brenda Bowyer 21, Mary Alderson 19; Joyce Kelly 21, Lin Ruscoe 17; Mary Kinrade 21, Peggy Griffin 18

Semi-finals: Brenda Bowyer 21, Tricia Bull 10; Joyce Kelly 21, Brenda Bowyer.

The final pitted Brenda Bowyer against Joyce Kelly, proving that even in bowls good things come in small packages ! Brenda, playing in her first final, started with a two on the first end but from that point Joyce was in control although Brenda fought well with the players winning alternate ends in the latter stages. Joyce came through to win 21-13, a fitting result as she was one of the few round the green who had played at Peel at the same time as Gladys.

The presentation was made by Heather Horsburgh, who thanked Nigel Rawlinson for his continued sponsorship of his grandmother’s competition. She also thanked the Peel ladies for their help throughout the afternoon, both round the green and in those who had provided, and sold, the refreshments

The weather relented on Thursday and all seven Trend sponsored over 60’s matches went ahead. Peel Sunset led the way with a full house against Breagle, three of the home players winning to single figures. The match at the Villa was a high-scoring affair with all players reaching double figures. The home side had a 4-2 advantage on games though five of the games could have gone either way , Villa winning two of their games to 19 and the two winners for Noble’s, Sonja Lees and Lin Ruscoe, winning to 18. The game of the match saw Pat Robertson just lose out 20-21 to Pat Kelly. Onchan A travelled to Port St Mary B where they won five of the six games although all games went to double figures. Sandi Lowe was the lone winner for the home side, denying Onchan A a maximum. Marown had a 4-2 advantage against Mooragh Park with Mary Black winning to single figures as did Moira Anderson for the visitors. 3-3 was the score in games at Onchan B, But with Jane Teare reaching 18 against Joyce Gardiner and Peggy Griffin getting 19 against Lynda Clarke, together with Ann Gale winning to single figures Bal laugh had a clear win on points. Port Erin had a close match with Douglas, all games going to double figures, the game of the match seeing Patsy Rush just come through 21-20 against Jackie Elliott. Port St Mary A did not have it all their own way at Castletown, winning 4-2 on games with Anne Oates and Marie Ashurst, to single figures, being the two winners for the home side. Wins to single figures by Win Collister and Margaret Tasker gave them a comfortable win on points in the end.

The weather was the winner in the Trend sponsored over 60’s ladies’ league on Tuesday 5 May when only two of the scheduled seven matches took place.

Unfortunately Douglas could only field five players at Noble’s where the home team reached 120 points with Jan Osborne spoiling their party by winning her game to deny them a maximum. In the other game played Castletown had the better of Breagle by 4 games to 2 with Ann Hollingworth and Marie Ashurst winning to single figures. The two winners for the home side were Sylvia Maddrell and and Suzanna Ali while Joyce Henry almost added another game reaching 19 against Sue Peach.

There were some close matches in the Trend ladies’ over 60’s league on Thursday 30 April but that was not the case at Port St Mary where the A team extended their lead at the top of the table with a full house against their B team, despite valiant efforts from Roma Ware, reaching 19 against Win Collister, and Edwina Reid who lost out 20-21 to Wendy Kennaugh. Ballaugh also won by a fair margin in a low-scoring match with both teams having two wins to single figures, the highest losing score being 11.At Castletown the match ended level on games, with Villa ending with a four point advantage. It was a similar story at Douglas, level on games with Mooragh Park,but a 4 point win for the home side, while at Noble’s Peel Sunset won 4 games but lost by 6 points. Noble’s registered two 20’s with Lin Ruscoe just losing out to Cath Parker and Flo Price being edged out by Mona Kerruish. Onchan A won 4-2 on games and by 6 points while Onchan B lost 2-4 to Breagle but showed the importance of fighting for every point as they drew on points with Eileen Killey reaching 19 against Kay Primrose-Smith and Barbara Kennaugh losing out 20-21 to Audrey Gardner.

Marown were left wondering whether their journey was really necessary as they travelled south to face Port St Mary A who were in rampant form, winning all six games to record yet another maximum. Villa had a good result against Onchan B, winning 5 games with Muriel Cain winning to single figures, Wendy McDowell being the lone winner for the visitors. Ballaugh also won 5 games, with Voirrey Curphey being Port Erin’s only winner, although Sylvia Shelbourne almost gave them another game reaching 19 against Maureen Trustham. Castletown had two winners at Peel, Anne Oates and Barbara Young who came from behind to pip Rose Corfield 21-20.The five Douglas Players did well to end level on games with Onchan A, but even a big win to single figures by Jan Osborne was not enough to give them parity on points. Noble’s won 4 games at Mooragh Park with two players winning to single figures, as did Lilian Slinger for the home side, to give them a good points advantage while the closest match of the morning was at Breagle where the home side won four games but with Sandi Lowe and Roma Ware reaching 19 for the visitors Breagle ended with just four points advantage.

The sun shone for the matches in the Trend sponsored ladies’ over 60’s league on Tuesday 21 April, adding to the enjoyment of the competition. Only two of the matches were drawn on games. Noble’s were level with Castletown, but came close to a 4-2 lead as Sylvia Kennaugh lost out 20-21 to Sue Peach and had a clear win on points. Unfortunately Douglas were a player short and did well to win three games although they ended with a points deficit. Top scorers of the day were Onchan A at Mooragh Park having a 4-2 advantage on games with Hazel Hughes and Maureen Payne winning to single figures. The two winners for the home side were Maureen Wright and Mary Kinrade. Mavis Franks prevented a white-wash for Port Erin as she won her game against Port St Mary, Jacqui Elliott also did well to reach 19 against Wendy Kennaugh but it was not enough to prevent Port St Mary recording the second highest score of the morning. Marown entertained Breagle and had a comfortable 4-2 win with Shirley Whelan and Mary Alderson winning to single figures, and it was a similar tale at Port St Mary B for whom Edwina Reid and Sandi Lowe won to single figures. Peel Sunset travelled to Onchan B where they won four games, three of them to single figures, but Wendy McDowell and Lesley Nicholl, who also won to single figures, fought back for the home side.

Port St Mary A produced their second maximum in three matches when they faced Douglas on Thursday 16 April. The visitors were unfortunately a player short but both Jo Oldam and Jan Osborne, reaching 19 against Val Macfarlane, put up strong resistance. Lin Ruscoe was the fly in the ointment for Onchan A as her 21-20 win over Dee Lewis denied the home side a full house, while Edwina Reid spoiled the party for Peel Sunset with her 21-19 win over Jean Quine. Although Villa were a player short they managed a draw on games against Marown but lost on chalks, the game of the match being Margaret Corlett’s 21-19 win over Margaret Scarffe. Castletown had a comfortable win over Onchan B, 4-2 on games with three won to single figures, the two winners for the visitors being Joyce Gardiner and Wendy McDowell. Port Erin visited Breagle, who were unfortunately a player short, and were the fourth team of the week to record a score over 120 points. The two winners for the home side were Joyce Henry and Gwen Tuck who edged out Sylvia Shelbourne 21-20.

The rain stayed away for most of the matches played in the Trend over 60’s ladies’ league on Tuesday 14 April. Port Erin put their previous result behind them as they ran out with a maximum against Villa with Mavis Franks and Voirrey Curphey both winning to single figures. There were some close games at Marown where Mary Black edged out Jean Quine 21-20, that result being balanced by Joyce Kelly against Shirley Whelan, Peel coming out ahead on points in a match that ended level on games. Unfortunately Douglas could only field four players against Breagle, but managed to win three games in a low-scoring match. Port St Mary A were on top form at Mooragh Park with four players winning to single figures, although Maureen Wright denied them a full house. The closest match of the day was at Onchan A where despite winning 4-2 on games Ballaugh took victory by just one chalk with Rita Callan winning to single figures for the home side and Libby Andrade coming close to levelling the games score when she reached 19 against Ann Gale.

Short sleeves were the order of the day as the ladies’ over 60’s league, sponsored by Trend, commenced on Thursday 9 April. Last year’s champions, Port St Mary A started with a bang recording a maximum against Onchan A. Phyllis Gelling put up the most resistance reaching 19 against Rita Callister. Castletown were second highest scorers at Marown whose two winners were Shirley Whelan And Celia Joughin who edged out Barbara Young 21-19. Noble’s also won 4-2 0n games at Ballaugh, the game of the morning being Jenny Maddrell’s 21-20 win over Lin Ruscoe. It was nice to see Eileen Killey playing again, she and Flo Kelly being the two winners for Onchan B against Port St Mary B