Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

In glorious conditions in the Mooragh Park on Saturday North Ramsey Bowling Club hosted the Ken Parker Memorial Rose Bowl. This year the club were pleased to welcome on board Blackford Financial Services as new sponsors of the event. A 33 strong field competed in the Any Combination Doubles event.

With the green looking brilliant and playing well this ensured that we were all in for an excellent afternoons bowling. Close games in the first round saw home greeners John Garrett & Lee Christian, Irene & John Cannan winning through to the next round by a single chalk.

In the second round the closest games saw North Ramsey pairing of Allan Callow & Steve Walmsley lose out to Caroline Parker (Mooragh Park) & Alex Yates (Noble’s) to 17, also losing out to Onchan’s Kevin Quirk & Steve Parker by the same score was Victoria Johnson (Mooragh Park) & Grace Gawne (Onchan).

The quarter final stage was as far as defending champions Wayne Roberts & Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) could manage this year as they lost 16-21 against Caroline Parker & Alex Yates. Kevin Quirk & Steve Parker ensured there would be a Parker in the final by securing the second semi-final place in the top half of the draw by beating Sue Gawne (Onchan) & Tracy Moore (Castletown) 21-16.

In the bottom half of the draw Steve Waters (South Ramsey) & Paul Allison (North Ramsey) eased past the South Ramsey pairing of Austin Hart & Alan Moore 21-12. Dave Naughton & Tina Hampson (Noble’s) were leading well and had a 17-10 lead against Sid & Lyn Bolton. However losing the jack proved costly as Sid & Lyn ran out playing longer marks.

In the first semi-final Kevin & Steve quickly secured the win over Caroline & Alex winning seven of the 11 ends eventually winning 21-14. The second semi-final saw Sid & Lyn Bolton get off to a flying start, taking a 17-6 lead against Steven Waters & Paul Allison. Despite a mini revival by ‘Geordie’ & ‘Nuts’ it was the South Ramsey pair who secured their place in the final.

In the final it was Quirk & Parker who had a strong start racing into a 17-7 lead. Sid & Lyn replied scoring five over the next two ends. However it was Kevin & Steve who sealed the victory by picking up single chalks in four of the following five ends to eventually win 21-13. It seemed very fitting that Kevin & Steve secured the victory, as the trophy was put up in memory of Steve’s father Ken Parker. Kenny was a member of both North & South Ramsey clubs and is fondly remembered by many.    

North Ramsey competition secretary Gary Merrill presented the prizes on behalf of Blackford Financial Services Ltd. Gary thanked everyone that had helped organise and arrange the day. Kevin thanked North Ramsey for running the competition and in particular the ladies in the Beehive who had worked tirelessly though out the day for both this event and the Rheuben Thomas Memorial Junior event held earlier in the day. Steve reiterated what Kevin had said and was moved to have secured the trophy in his father’s memory.