The final of the JMS Veteran’s Team handicap competition took place at Finch Hill on Thursday 18 September on a warm sunny morning. The first four matches played went the way of Peel Sunset with Mary Moffatt winning to single figures, the score at that point being 99-76 to the westerners, taking the handicaps into account , giving them a 23 point lead. The next game off was a 21-2 win to Viv Rush which slashed the lead to just 4 points, leaving two games on the green in a nail-biting finale. Dee Lewis came through 21-14 giving Onchan B a three point lead leaving Cath Parker and Irene Cowin battling out the last game. A 21-13 win to Cath saw Peel Sunset through by 5 points. The winner’s results throughout the competition justified the handicapping as they had three narrow wins beating Castletown by 6 points, Port St Mary A by 6 points and Onchan B by 5 points.

The presentation was made by Janet Shilling who had set the competition in motion two years ago. She congratulated both teams and thanked Finch Hill for the use of their green and facilities, and everyone who had contributed to the smooth running of the event.

PEEL SUNSET (+15) 136, ONCHAN B (+25) 131

Joyce Kelly 21, Marilyn Ellison 15; Jean Quine 21, Barbara Kennaugh 13; Mary Moffatt 21, Eileen Thomas 9; Heather Horsburgh 21, Theresia Britten 14; Rose Corfield 14, Dee Lewis 21; Cath Parker 21, Irene Cowin 13; Mona Kerruish 2, Viv Rush 21.

The JMS Veteran’s Shield semi-finals were played on Tuesday 16 September in weather conditions fit for the occasion.

Port St Mary A (scr) 122, Peel Sunset (+20) 128

Peel Sunset got off to a flying start winning the first three games courtesy of Mary Moffatt, Cath Parker with a good win to single figures, and Heather Horsburgh who won a close battle against Tricia Bull 21-20 when knocked in by her opponent for the final point.(On a personal note may I just say that I am happy that the result of the match did not depend on that point! )

Port St Mary won the next three games and with just one game left on the green the visitors had a lead of 14 points, 115-101, including their handicap.

In the remaining game Jean Quine had to reach 8 points to give Peel victory, and the tension in the visitor’s camp as she spent five ends on 6 then four ends on 7 was mounting. However she did get there, eventually reaching 13 against Win Collister.

Ballaugh (+15) 142, Onchan B (+30) 157

This fixture was evenly matched with both teams finishing on the same score, 127, before the handicaps kicked in to give victory to the visiting team.

Ann Gale winning to 10 and Marilyn Ellison winning to 8 gave each team one convincing win, but the rest of the games were tense with everyone scoring 16+. Mary Simmonds had a “ding-dong” battle with Joyce Gardiner before the Onchan B captain came through 21-19,while Irene Cowin took Voirrey Oates all the way before going down 21-20.

The quarter-finals of the JMS Veteran’s Shield took place on Thursday 11 September with the weather being particularly kind for the time of year.

As only seven teams entered there were only three matches played with Onchan B getting a bye into the semi-finals.

Port St Mary A were in imperious form winning five of the seven games and dropping just four points, with four of their players winning to single figures. The two winnrs for Port Erin were Kay Primrose-Smith and Jean Thackrah who edged out Rita Callister 21-20.

PORT ST MARY A (scr) 143, PORT ERIN (+30) 104

Tricia Bull 21, Sylvia Shelbourne 3; Rita Callister 20, Jean Thackrah 21; Win Collister 21, Steph Swift 5; Wendy Kennaugh 21, Jacqui Elliott 8; Kath Looney 18, Kay Primrose-Smith 21; Val Macfarlane 21, Hesba Skelly 10; Margaret Tasker 21, Sylvia Maddrell 6.

Ballaugh also won five games against Noble’s Mixed with Ann Gale and Maureen Trustham winning to single figures. The two winners for the visitors were Pat Dacre and Lin Ruscoe, who also won to single figures while Meg Williams nearly added a third reaching 20 against Peggy Griffin.

BALLAUGH (+15) 141, NOBLE’S MIXED (+20) 120

The closest match of the morning was at Castletown with Peel Sunset having the edge 4-3 on games with Mary Moffatt winning to single figures..In reply Marie Ashurst also had a good win to single figures. The other five games were much closer with the visitors coming through to take the match by just 6 points.

CASTLETOWN (+25) 135, PEEL SUNSET (+20) 141

Anne Oates 14, Heather Horsburgh 21; Hilda Young 21, Cath Parker 16; Barbara Young 21, Rose Corfield 13; Elaine McElroy 1, Mary Moffatt 21; Joy Stephens 15, Mona Kerruish 21, Sheila Preston 17, Joyce Kelly 21; Marie Ashurst 21, Jean Quine 8.

The draw has been made for the JMS Veteran’s Shield which starts on Thursday 11 September.

Quarter-finals Thursday 11 September

Ballaugh (+15) v Noble’s Mixed (+20)

Port St Mary (Scr) v Port Erin (+30)

Castletown (+25) v Peel Sunset (+20)

Onchan B (+25/ +30) Bye

Semi-finals Tuesday 16 September

Port Erin (+25) / Port St Mary (Scr) v Castletown (+30) / Peel Sunset (+20)

Noble’s Mixed (+!5) /Ballaugh (+15) v Onchan B (+30)

It was the last match of the season in the Trend sponsored ladies’ over 60’s league on Thursday 14 August with the top two places already settled. In third place Peel could have lost out to Ballaugh but secured their place after a very close match at Port Erin, which ended level on games with a four point advantage to the visitors. Ballaugh visited Port St Mary A where they drew on games, but wins to single figures by Val Macfarlane and Margaret Tasker gave the new champions a comfortable win on points. Onchan A had a profitable visit to second placed Mooragh Park, winning 4-2 on games in a high scoring match with all twelve players reaching double figures. Douglas were top scorers, dropping just 5 points against Port St Mary B, the two winners for the visiting side being Roma Ware and Pauline Worrall who edged out Wendy Cowin 21-20.

Congratulations go to Port St Mary A who have won the league for the first time.

On the final week of the Trend sponsored ladies’ over 60’s league Port St Mary A were leaving nothing to chance as they scored a maximum at the Villa with Wendy Kennaugh and Win Collister winning to single figures. Margaret Corlett was top scorer for the home team reaching 18 against Rita Callister. It was a high-scoring match at Port St Mary B with the lowest individual score being 15. Two games went all the way with Brenda Hawkard coming through 21-20 against Mavis Franks while Gwen Tuck redressed the balance with a win over Edwina Reid by the same score. Hazel Hughes spoiled the party for Ballaugh as she won her game to deny them a full house although Phyllis Gelling came close to giving the visitors a second game reaching 19 against Jane Teare. Peel Sunset won 4-2 against Noble’s Mixed the game of the morning being the close game between Connie Pettegrew and Sylvia Kennaugh which Connie just claimed 21-19.Castletown had the better of Douglas 4-2 on games, Lynne Mansley and Wendy Cowin being the two winners for the visiting side, while Mooragh Park being a player short gave Onchan B a head start, which they exploited being the better side over the five games played.

Douglas fell just one point short of a maximum when they met Onchan B on Thursday 7 August in the Trend sponsored ladies’ over 60’s league. The lone winner for Onchan B was Joyce Gardiner who edged out Jo Oldam 21-20 while Dee Lewis came close to adding a second game reaching 20 against Wendy Cowin. Audrey Gardner spoiled the party for Castletown as she won to single figures to deny them a full house. Jacqui Elliott had a good tussle with Barbara Young before going down 21-20.Peel Sunset struggled to come to terms with the Marown green, Mary Moffatt being their only winner, although Cath Parker came close reaching 20 against Mary Alderson. Despite ending level on games Noble’s Mixed had a comfortable points win over Port St Mary B with Meg Williams and Pat Robertson winning to single figures while at Ballaugh good wins by Ann Gale and Jenny Maddrell kept their deficit against Mooragh Park down to 8 points. Onchan A won 4-2 on games at home to Douglas with Lynda Clarke winning to single figures, the two winners for the visitors being Muriel Cain and Pat Kelly.

Mooragh Park were top scorers in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 5 August. Despite Douglas making it a draw on games, wins to single figures by Maureen Payne and Lilian Slinger together with Ellie Cowell reaching 20 against Kath King gave the home side a convincing points win. The other two winners for Douglas were Wendy Cowin and Jan Osborne.Marown were on good form on their visit to Port St Mary B, winning 5 games, Edwina Reid was the lone winner for the home side, although Dot Mylchreest almost added a second game reaching 20 against Celia Joughin. League leaders, Port St Mary A had a tough battle at Peel where the match ended level on games. Mary Moffatt and Kath Looney went all the way before Mary eventually came through 21-20 while Tricia Bull’s win to single figures helped the visitor’s to win by 9 points. Onchan B won 4-2 on games with Dee Lewis and Elisabeth Kassapian winning to single figures. The two winners for Port Erin were Kay Primrose-Smith and Mavis Franks who both also won to single figures. Ballaugh came out on top 4-2 on games at the Villa with Peggy Griffin and Jenny Maddrell winning to single figures while at Castletown visitors, Noble’s Mixed, had the advantage 4-2 on games, although Sue Peach came close to levelling the games score as she just lost out 20-21 to Sonja Lees.

Onchan A were top scorers on Thursday 31 July when they won a high-scoring match against Peel Sunset. which ended level on games, a good win to single figures by Flo Kelly giving them a comfortable points advantage. The two winners for Villa against Mooragh Park were Muriel Cain and Margaret Corlett while Kay McKiernan reached 19 against Mary Kinrade. A good win to single figures by Lilian Slinger meant the home side finished just short of the 100 point mark. Port St Mary A did not have it all their own way when they faced their B team, despite wins to single figures by Val Macfarlane and Margaret Tasker, wins by Brenda Hawkard and Edwina Reid kept the home side’s score down. Port Erin had a 4-2 advantage on games over Douglas with single figure wins by Jacqui Elliott and Jean Thackrah. Jan Osborne also won to single figures for the visitors while Kath King reached 19 against Audrey Gardner. Marown and Castletown ended level on games, but with two home players, Shirley Whelan and Mary Alderson, winning to single figures and Sue Peach being the only visitor to do so, Marown ended with a nine point advantage. It was very close at Noble’s Mixed with both teams taking three games. Lin Ruscoe and Sylvia Kennaugh won to single figures for the home side as did Viv Rush and Theresia Britten for Onchan B, but the home side ended with a one point deficit.

Ballaugh’s visit to Peel in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 29 July produced a rarity, a draw on both games and points. Wins to single figures by Jenny Maddrell for the visitors and Joyce Kelly and Mary Moffatt for the home side kept the scores low. Castletown went down 2-4 on games to Port St Mary A With all their players reaching double figures and Sue Peach winning to single figures they ended up just 5 points short of the league leaders. Mooragh Park fell just one point short of a maximum thanks to Voirrey Curphey edging out Ellie Cowell 21-20 while at Port St Mary B Chris Holland’s 21-19 win over Ann Watterson left Onchan A just two points away. Douglas had the better of Noble’s Park 4-2 on games, with Lynne Mansley winning to single figures while Marcia Pearson saved Marown’s blushes by winning her game at Onchan B thus denying the home side a full house.