Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

One of the biggest events on the bowls calendar – The Isle of Man September Bowls Festival took place last week, with the competition played out in mixed weather conditions, with the sun shining on Finals Day in glorious weather to end the week on a high.

In the Men’s event it was Gareth Lally (Crossgates) who secured his second September Festival title, following his first success in 2015 when he beat Martin Gilpin 21-17. This final was never in any doubt as the Crossgates man won 21-6 against 83-year-old John Colebourne (Chesterfield) who came the closest he ever has to winning the festival having been a regular visitor to the Isle of Man for several decades. Reaching the final was a huge success for the Chesterfield man, as he proved age is just a number in bowls. Lally won the final in just 10 ends, scoring seven doubles and two singles, conceding just one chalk on his way to victory. Lally took home the winners’ cheque for £3,200, whilst Colebourne could console himself with a cheque for £1,250 for his week’s work.

At the semi-final stage on paper the tie that the crowd were expected to have their eyes on was the clash between Lally and Matt Gilmore (Quarry Vikings), with the game keenly contested up to the 16^th end with Gilmore one point ahead at 16-15, however a strong finish from Lally saw him book his place in the final with a 21-16 win. The other semi-final proved to be the one to watch for a different reason as the crowd sensed a huge upset was on the cards, no doubt with some bets being placed for the underdog on the heat, as Colebourne performed brilliantly to beat June 2012 Festival winner Robbie Fitzpatrick (Castlefields) 21-11 to progress to the final.

The quarter finals were all keenly contested, with Lally starting his day with a 21-18 win over Ian Nicholson (Netherfield), whilst Gilmore seen off Conor Chamberlain (Stretton Anglesey) with a 21-17 victory, with Gilmore’s cause helped by four consecutive doubles halfway through the game. In the other half of the draw Colebourne beat Mark Booth (Thongsbridge) 21-17, whilst Fitzpatrick battled to a 21-19 win over Peter Jones (Castlefields).

Men’s Tourism

The Men’s Tourism was played down to the winner on Thursday morning on Noble’s 1, and it was Zach Walker (King Alfred) who managed to see off three previous Festival winners on his way to picking up the title and the winners’ cheque which was over £1,000.

Walker had it all to do against John Bailey (Castlefields) who is a regular visitor to the Isle of Man, is a two-time winner of the main event. Walker found himself one ahead after 12 ends as he led 13-12, however Bailey being the top player that he is found an extra gear to take the lead 18-13. Walker cheered on by his club mates, playing with his distinctive white bowls, dug deep to fightback and secure a stunning 21-19 victory with a measure on the final end.

Walker beat James Wilcox (Crossgates) with a nail biting 21-20 win, having trailed 17-20, with a single, a double followed by another single to secure his spot in the final. Bailey progressed thanks to a hard fought 21-17 win over James Teare (South Ramsey), with the latter having fought back from a 10-17 deficit before losing to the Castlefields man.

The quarter finals were well contested with Walker taking the biggest win over David Jackson (Knutsford) with a 21-14 victory, whilst Wilcox held off James Fitzpatrick (Wirral) 21-19. In the other half of the draw Bailey won 21-17 against Matt Gilmore (Quarry Vikings), whilst Teare impressed with a 21-17 win over a previous winner of the BCGBA Champion of Champions Chris Kelly (Thongsbridge).

Other Events

The Men’s consolation was won by Terry Brook (Meersbrook BC) who beat Ian Johnson (Chesterfield) 21-16 in the final. Brook won 21-19 against Tony Whitehouse (King Alfred) in the semi-final, whilst Johnson beat Liam Howard (King Alfred) 21-12.

The Ladies consolation was won by Sharon Rigden (Bretherton) emphatically defeating Caroline Whitehead (Port Erin) 21-6 in the final. Rigden reached the final with a 21-13 win over Kathryn Gee (Unison), whilst Whitehead beat Debbie Barnes (Hesketh Arms BC) 21-10.

The Visit.Com Flyer title went to Gerald Merry (Delamere) who had a good 9-8 win over Callum Wraight (Castlefields), whilst the Last Chance Mixed Final was won by Tommy Richardson (King Alfred) who beat Tom Lowndes (Gresford Colliery) 21-15 in the final.

In the doubles competitions the Open doubles was retained by Marown’s Neil Withers and Paul Dunn with an 11-9 victory over Matt Gilmore (Quarry Vikings) and Gareth Coates (Ackroyd Victoria). Withers and Dunn reached the final with an 11-2 win over Debbie Leece (Marown) and Sharon Rigden (Bhetherton), whilst Gilmore and Coates also won comfortably 11-2 against Crossgates pair Mark Hughes and Gareth Lally.

The Men’s doubles were won by Matt Gilmore (Quarry Vikings) and Gareth Coates (Ackroyd Victoria) as they beat Ryan Clark (Meersbrook BC) and Graeme Wilson (AEU) 11-5 in the final. Gilmore and Coates whitewashed Martin Gilpin and Ian Nicolson (both Netherfield) 11-0 in the semi-final, whilst Clark and Wilson also beat Marown pair Paul Dunn and Neil Withers 11-5 to reach the final.

The Ladies doubles were won by Joan Jolly and Eileen Pye (both Canberra) as they beat local bowlers Rebecca Teare (Marown) and Jenny Moore (South Ramsey) 11-7. Jolly and Pye won 11-2 against South Ramsey pair Kim Hargraves and Fiona Kennish in the semi-final, whilst Teare and Moore beat Debbie Leece (Marown) and Sharon Rigden (Bretherton) 11-9 to book their place in the final.

Winning the Mixed pairs were Kathryn Gee (Unison) and Roger Morgan (Knutsford) with a convincing 9-2 win over Lisa Bolton (Freckleton) and John Colebourne (Chesterfield). Gee and Morgan reached the final with a 9-6 win over Kath Watkinson (Mere Brow) and Andy Mailer (Woodlands Park), whilst Bolton and Colebourne beat Lynne Rimmer (Royton Cricket Club) and Ian Johnson (Chesterfield) 9-8.

The Triples was played once again this year with the competition played on three greens over six ends on Wednesday morning down to the winner from each green. Winners at the Villa were Colin Kelly, Neil Withers, and Juan Killip (all Marown). Winning on Noble 1 green were Joe Cranston, Josh Mordue, and Ryan Clark (all Meersbrook), whilst Callum Briddon, Stuart Sutton, and Matt Bradwell (all Fairfield) were the winners on Noble’s 2 green.