Semi finals of the Jean Kelly knockout competition were played last Thursday.  First semi-final was between South Ramsey (+25) and Peel (+59).  South won six games to three and by six points.  Second semi between Castletown A (+19) and Marown A (+34) resulted Castletown winning five games to four and by 25 points.  In the plate knockout semis, Port Erin (+42) took on Ballaugh (+53). Match resulted in Ballaugh winning six games to three and by 29 points.  Second semi was between Onchan (+41) and Port St Mary A (+35).  Port won five games to four and by 12 points. Final of the Jean Kelly Knockout will be at Onchan on Friday 6 August with the final of the Plate being held on Thursday 22 July at Finch Hill. 

In the Open Age League last Friday night, Douglas and Mooragh Park both had good home wins against Castletown B and Onchan respectively.  Douglas won seven games to two and by 58 points. The two winners for Castletown were Jo Robert and Elaine McElroy who won to 16 and 17.  Mooragh won six games to three and by 46 points with five of Mooragh’s players winning to single figures. The closest games of the night saw Madison McMullan (Mooragh) beating Sue Gawne to 16 and Marilyn Ellison (Onchan) winning to 18 against Maureen Hamilton.

Results : Mooragh Park 162 (6), Onchan 116 (3); Douglas 180 (7), Castletown B 122 (2); Marown A 169 (5), Marown B 133 (4); Peel 131 (3), South Ramsey 167 (6); Castletown A 176 (7), Port Erin 107 (2); Port St Mary 183 (8), Ballaugh 127 (1)

In the Over 60s league on Tuesday morning Port St Mary B won by one point at home to  South Ramsey.  All games went into double figures with Brenda Hawkard (Port) and Ann Gale (South) both winning to 18.  Second closest game saw Ballaugh winning by two points at home to Onchan A. Brenda Bowyer, Carol Holt and Maureen Trustham for Ballaugh plus  Paula Firth for Onchan all won to single figures. 

Results : Ballaugh 91 (3), Onchan A 89 (3); Port Erin A 109 (4), Marown 89 (2); Finch Hill A 100 (4), Mooragh Park A 81 (2); Castletown B 61 (1), Port St Mary A 116 (5); Mooragh Park B 54 (1), Peel 124 (5); Port St Mary B 105 (3), South Ramsey 104 (3).  No result for Onchan B against Castletown A at time of report.

The inaugural Over 60s Ladies Manx Championship took place at South Ramsey last Wednesday with an entry of 23 ladies.  The green was fast and tricky with some excellent bowling being played throughout the afternoon.  In the first semi-final, Elaine Moore (South Ramsey) played Joyce Ogden (Marown) with Elaine eventually winning 21-15.  In the second semi, Paula Firth (Onchan) played Margaret Tasker (Port St Mary) with Paula just having the edge winning to 12. Both ladies played well in the final and for most of the game it was very even, but with a final spurt  Elaine ran out to win 21-14. Presentation of trophy and prizes was made by Janet Latham, Ladies Treasurer, who thanked South Ramsey for hosting the competition and providing superb refreshments, and Gill Morgan, Ladies Competition Secretary for running the sheet.  Special thanks were given to Elaine for sponsoring the championship. 

Mooragh Park played host to Port Erin on Friday night. It was a tight match both on points and games.  The closest games of the night saw Maureen Hamilton (Mooragh) winning to 18, with Rita Callister and Carol Kaye (Port Erin) winning to 18 and 19 respectively. There were comfortable wins for Shannon McMullan (Mooragh) and Di Benson (Port Erin) who both won to single figures.  Overall score : Mooragh Park 160-Port Erin 148 (five games to four).

Results : Castletown A 183 (8), Ballaugh 107 (1); Douglas 120 (3), South Ramsey 162 (6); Marown A 154 (4), Onchan 163 (5); Peel Sunset 166 (5), Marown B 141 (4); Port St Mary 183 (7), Castletown  94 (2)

It may only be the second week, but Castletown A have started strongest out of the starting blocks with two good wins followed by Port St Mary.  These two teams are playing each other on Friday and, as in previous years, it may prove to be a close affair.

Ladies crown green bowling got underway on Friday night with the Open Age League following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.   It has been a bitter-sweet start to the bowling season with a couple of teams withdrawing from the Open Age League and Over 60s league due to dwindling club numbers and a couple of clubs forming a second team having increased membership of ‘new to the game lady bowlers’; Junior lady bowlers and bowlers transferring from other clubs.   Given these changes, this season has the promise of being an interesting one.

Featured match from the opening week in the Open Age Night League was between the newly formed Marown B playing host to their stable mates Marown A. This match was played on Thursday evening due to Marown having the official opening of their new clubhouse on the Friday evening.  Two new bowlers for Marown B, Jo Corkill and Amanda Butler, took on Marown A’s Elaine Dewhirst and Joyce Ogden respectively. Although Jo and Amanda played well they struggled against the more experienced bowlers with both losing 4-21.   The three junior lady bowlers of Marown B are sisters Grace and Emily Cooper (playing league bowls for the first time) and Rebekah Kelly.   Grace played Lynda Cadamy, Emily took on Marown A’s captain Lil Smith with Rebekah playing Shirley Whelan.   All three girls played exceptionally well, but couldn’t quite get over the line with Grace losing to 13, Emily losing to 6 and Rebekah losing to 3.  Next game saw Rebecca Teare for Marown B playing Philippa Taylor.  On paper this was always going to be a close game and it didn’t disappoint with Philippa eventually running out 21-18.   The two closest games of the night saw Deborah Leece for Marown B taking on Jayne Smith and Helen Withers, Marown B’s captain, playing Rosie Winckle.   Both games were nick and tuck throughout with Deborah losing 20-21 to Jayne and Helen beating Rosie by the same score line.  The remaining game was between Clare Cooper for Marown B and Celia Joughin for Marown A; this resulted in a comfortable 21-4 win for Clare.  Overall score: Marown B 110 – Marown A 171 (two games to seven).   

The remaining Open Age league matches were played on Friday.  There were some very close results, especially South Ramsey who lost on games, but won on points. 

Results :	Onchan	147	–	123	Mooragh Park	(6-3)
	Port Erin	107	–	179	Castletown A	(2-7)
	South Ramsey	161	–	146	Peel	(4-5)
	Ballaugh	136	–	157	Port St Mary	(4-5)
	Castletown B	175	–	151	Douglas	(6-3)

Last Friday was the semi-final round of the Ladies Plate competition, and in the first semi-final, Onchan had a close game against Port Erin, with Onchan just scraping through by 10 points, even despite Port Erin having 5 winners. With both teams off of scratch, it really was every point to play for, and Dee Lewis of Onchan managed to defeat Susan Inch to 6, which helped the away team with the final score of Port Erin 154 Onchan 164.

In the second semi-final Marown travelled up to Mooragh Park, where they unfortunately lost their place in the final. Once again the junior girls at Mooragh did themselves proud, with Aalish Haworth beating Elaine Dewhirst to 9, and Victoria Johnson beating Mary Alderson to 10. Final score, was Marown 160 and Mooragh Park 203, after the 55-point handicap for Mooragh.

The final will be held at Peel Sunset Bowling Club on Friday 21st August, Onchan will have a handicap of 15, and Mooragh Park will be off scratch.

The quarter final round of the Ladies Plate competition took place last Friday, with 4 teams securing their places in the semi-finals comfortably.

The first winners were Port Erin, who took on last year’s Jean Kelly winners South Ramsey. With a 90 – point handicap they had quite the advantage. Two winners for Port Erin were Carol Kaye and Jacqui Elliot, keeping South Ramsey from getting a full house. New Port Erin player Alison Stockham played her first game in the north of the Island and scored a very credible 10 against Sue Collier. Final match score was 199 to Port Erin, and 177 to South Ramsey.

Onchan played Castletown B who had a 60 – point handicap, but Onchan took no prisoners, with every Onchan lady winning their game, and managing to keep their opponents to low scores to ensure their place in the semi-final. Final score was Onchan 189 – Castletown B 146.

Peel Sunset travelled to Mooragh Park, but despite a 30 point start they couldn’t overcome the strong home team. Great to see the junior girls who play at Mooragh Park with some great wins, Aalish Haworth beat Peel player Joyce Kelly to 13, Victoria Johnson battled Shirley Corrin to win to 19, and the two McMullan sisters, undoubtedly two players to watch in the future, won both of their games to 10. Final score Mooragh Park 172, Peel Sunset 145.

In the final match, Marown beat Ballaugh 174 – 159. Despite the home team Ballaugh having 3 winners, the Marown ladies proved their strength, especially Joyce Ogden and Elaine Dewhurst who both won their matches to single figures.

This Friday, 7^th August, the semi-finals will take place. Port Erin (scratch) v Onchan (scratch), and Marown (scratch) v Mooragh Park (+55).

The Ladies Jean Kelly competition really came down to a nail biter when Castletown A travelled to Marown last Friday, with both teams off of scratch, and both teams accumulating 155 points. Castletown A took the match due to winning on matches, 5–4. For the home team, two of the winners Helen Withers and Lil Smith defeated Kim Foy to 11 and Anne Oates to 9. Nice to see Stella Watterson back on the green after some time away from the game.

In the second quarter final Nobles took on Port Erin in the south of the island and managed to secure their place in the semi finals with a victory of 174-113. Port Erin players Lynda Cadamy and Caroline Whitehead used their home green knowledge to prevent Nobles from getting the full 189 chalks, beating Paula Garett and Sylvia Kennaugh respectively.

Onchan lost out to Douglas, despite getting full chalks for each game. With Douglas having a head start of 85 points, the team managed to gain enough points to win the match, finishing 189-214. Kay McKiernan lost just shy of 21, losing to 19 to Dee Lewis.

The final match of the quarter finals, Castletown B took on Port St Mary A, losing 121-186. Starting off a low handicap of 25, Castletown B had a lot to do to win the match, and even with Sonya Mercer defeating Jayne Kneen, and Joy Stephens defeating Port St Mary’s newest player Nicola Cain, it proved to be too much of a hurdle.

The draw for the semi final was done at Nobles on Saturday and are as follows:

• Port St Mary A (scratch) v Castletown A (+20)
• Nobles (scratch) v Douglas (+90)

In the Ladies Plate Competition starting this Friday 31^st July, we see South Ramsey battling another 90-point handicap against Port Erin. Onchan host Castletown B, who have another high handicap of 60 points. Mooragh Park will take on Peel Sunset who have a 30-point handicap, and finally, Ballaugh play Marown, with the home team having a 30-point advantage.

The Jean Kelly Handicap Knockout competition started on Friday 17^th July, with preliminary rounds being played across the island. With a new handicap system in place this year, it really is every point to play for, making for much more interesting matches, and a greater chance for an underdog to snatch the title.

Peel hosted the Onchan team, with the latter taking the win with a comfortable 192 -151 score. Interestingly, even without the 40 point handicap, Onchan would have taken the win by just one nail-biting point. There were a few close games, the longest of which took place between Peel’s captain Lynda Wilson, and Dee Lewis, with 30 ends, and Lewis running away with a 21-18 win.

Four-time winners of the Jean Kelly title Port St Mary defeated Ballaugh despite the 55 point handicap, with a very close score of 170-177, and seven games for Port St Mary. Two winners for Ballaugh were Christine MacDonald and Gill Dixon, beating Margaret Tasker and Jayne Kneen respectively. Newest member to Ballaugh Maria Holder, only having played twice before scored a very credible 10 against Katy Williams.

Mooragh Park travelled to Port Erin, only to lose out with a score of 179-144. Two games reached an incredible 33 ends, with Port Erin’s Lynda Cadamy beating Caroline Parker to 19, quite an achievement after being 12-1 down. North Ramsey’s Shannon McMullan, 2019 Junior Champion, had a lengthy game against Carol Kaye, finally beating her to the win with a 21-19 score.

Castletown B knocked last year’s winners South Ramsey out of the competition with a score of 201-189. Despite every Ramsey player winning their match, Castletown B managed to accumulate enough points to win the match. Two of the Castletown players came close to a win with some high double figure scores, with Sheila Preston getting to 20, and Sonya Mercer, who unfortunately tipped the jack to her opponent on the final end, racked up 18.

First round games will take place on Friday 24^th July, with the following:

Port Erin (scratch) v Nobles (scratch)

Castletown B (+25) v Port St Mary (scratch)

Onchan (scratch) v Douglas (+85)

Marown (scratch) v Castletown A (scratch).

This year any teams losing out in the preliminary or first rounds are entered into the Ladies Plate Competition, which will take place on alternate dates to the Jean Kelly.