Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Sunday saw a quality field of 54 entered for the inaugural running of drawn doubles competition Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup at Finch Hill. With showers in the morning and further showers and a cold breeze in the early stages of the competition playing conditions were challenging to say the least, although the green was in excellent condition albeit a little slow.

With this drawn format there is less chance of two top players being paired together but even so there were indications from an early stage which would be the most competitive pairings. In the first round Alison Keggen & Lyn Bolton dispensed with Libby Andrade & Caroline Corlett 21-7 while Eddie Carlyle & Rebecca Teare came through 21-15 against Shirley Corrin and Reg Temporaza. Bryan Masterton & Sue Gawne overcame Paul Quirk & Frank Christian 21-11 while Nathan Hamilton & Bernie McPhee came through 21-16 against Kevin Firth & Derek Allen. Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton had a reasonably comfortable win against Sylvia Kennaugh & Brian Lindsay.

In the second round Rebecca Teare and & Eddie Carlyle continued their winning ways with a 21-16 win over Sam Clague & Steve Waters. Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves started their campaign with a 21-15 win over Brian Masterton and Sue Gawne. Steve Parker & Austin Hart came from behind to beat Helen Murphy & Gordon Corrin 21-19 and so did Nathan Hamilton & Bernie McPhee with two four pointers in the final two ends against Mike Ashmole & Lynda Clarke. Sam Stannard Duke & Gary Lenton cruised past Hazel Hughes & Terry Bates 21-13 while John Harris & Jenny Moore picked up three points in the last two ends to beat Walter McCarthy & Alan Moore 21-18. Closest match of the day was between Alison Keggen with Lyn Bolton and Frank Watson with our youngest player Ryan Hargraves but with a three pointer on the final end it was the ladies who came through 21-20. Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton were finding their length and went into a 19-8 lead against Peter Venables and home favourite Paddy Murphy before running out winners 21-13.

In the quarter finals Rebecca Teare & Eddie Carlyle cruised to a 21-12 victory over Steve Parker & Austin Hart whilst in the same part of the draw Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton scored consistently to beat Sam Stannard Duke and Gary Lenton 21-13. In the bottom half of the draw it was John Harris & Jenny Moore who took the honours against Nathan Hamilton and Bernie McPhee 21-12 while Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves did just enough to hold off Alison Keggen & Lyn Bolton 21-18.

In the first semi-final Stefan Kelly and Sid Bolton scored strongly and only losing three ends ran out 21-11 winners against Rebecca Teare & Eddie Carlyle. Despite getting off to a good start with a four pointer on the first end John Harris & Jenny Moore could not hold off Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves who took the game 21-16.

In the final, Stefan Kelly & Sid Bolton continued their strong scoring and in just eleven ends they beat Harry Minor & Glynn Hargraves 21-9.

The prize presentation was made by Deputy Mayor of Douglas, Mr. Ian Clague with the losing semi-finalists each receiving £15, the runners up receiving £40 and the winners £60 and the Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup. Special thanks go to Douglas Corporation for supplying the new Challenge Cup, to Greeba for keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the afternoon, to Peter Hughes and Sefton Dent for stewarding and to all those who helped make this the most successful open competition of the year at Finch Hill.