Dorothy Piearce Ladies’Pairs Qualifier
There were eight pairs entered for the Dorothy Piearce ladies’ doubles played at Finch Hill on Sunday 25 June, where players were competing for the honour of representing the island on the mainland later in the season.
The afternoon started at the quarter-final stage where, although each end was closely contested the two pairs, Jenny Moore and Shelley Kennish, together with Elaine Moore and Fiona Kennish won by convincing scores to get into the semi-finals. The other two quarters were much more closely contested. Rita Callister, who is becoming someone to fear in ladies’ doubles, and her partner Debbie Leece just lost out to Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve 18-21, while the other quarter-final went all the way with Festival semi-finalist, Philippa Taylor, and her partner, Joyce Ogden, just getting past Lynda Cadamy and Mary Alderson 21-20.
In the first semi-final Shelley and Jenny got off to the better start, leading 9-4 after nine ends, Chris and Kellie starting to pull back at that stage and taking the lead, 12-10 after 16 ends, having the edge from then on, coming through to win 21-14. Again the ends were closely contested in the other semi-final, but Philippa and Joyce proved too consistent for Fiona and Elaine winning 21-8.
Semi-finals: Chris Price and Kellie Maddrell-Reeve 21, Shelley Kennish and Jenny Moore 14; Philippa Taylor and Joyce Ogden 21, Fiona Kennish and Elaine Moore 8.
Philippa and Joyce got off to a flyer in the final, reaching 8-0 after four ends, The next few ends were evenly contested but Chris and Kellie struggled to close the gap , lying 14-6 down after fourteen ends, with Philippa and Joyce moving to 18-6 after a further three ends. The Port St Mary pair scored 8 on the next four ends but it was too little too late, the final score seeing Joyce and Philippa qualifying 21-15.
The Association would like to thank Finch Hill for the use of their facilities for this event.