LBIOM

Lawn Bowls Isle of Man have been blessed over the past two weeks, having had the National Mixed Pairs last week and the National Triples and Fours competitions this past weekend. Fingers are crossed that we have the same good fortune next weekend for our singles and pairs finals.

On Saturday the Ladies and Men’s Triples took place and despite the cooler temperature, and only playing with 2 bowls instead of four which leaves little room for error, the competitors gave it their all. They provided the club members and spectators with some excellent displays of flat green bowls and more than a few nail biting moments!

The final match in the Ladies Triples saw the team of Barbara Reed (lead), Win Kewley (second), and Dee Lewis (skip) facing Libby Andrade (lead), Anne Watterson (second), and Pam Makin (skip). This match was never going to be a foregone conclusion. With the lead changing from one team to another throughout until the final end when the team of Lewis, Kewley and Reed managed to hang on to a slender lead and take the title of 2020 National Ladies Triples Champions.

In the Men’s Triples Championship once again the final proved to be a real nail biting event as the teams of Kevin Quirk (lead), Phil Watterson (second), and Gary Lenton (skip) faced David Slack (lead), John Kewley (second), and Phil Smith (skip). Excellent bowls from all players especially the skips lead to a nerve wreaking last end resulting in a draw causing the teams to have a one end playoff. The playoff went down to the wire and only decided when a fantastic wick shot from skip Gary Lenton took the jack from the opposition to claim the title of 2020 Men’s National Triples Champions.

By Sunday the weather had improved as the sun shone in Onchan Park for the fours competition finals.

The Ladies Fours saw the teams of new member Caroline Corlett (lead), Barbara Reed (second), Marcia Pearson (third), and Janice Pilling (skip) face Libby Andrade (lead), Win Kewley (second), Dee Lewis (third), and Pam Makin (skip), in a match which both teams were determined to win. The team lead by Janice Pilling got off to an early lead playing some fine bowls to pull ahead of the opposition, however Pam Makin’s team were not about to give up as they dug in and determinedly fought back to reduce the score difference to one shot by the final end. With the appreciative audience of club members and spectators on tenderhooks Barbara Reed delivered an excellent bowl to take the jack from the reach of the opposition bowls followed by well placed bowls from Pearson and Pilling. Despite determined attempts from Lewis and Makin to overturn the opposition advantage Janice’s team held on to their lead and claimed the title of 2020 Ladies Fours Champions.

The Men’s Fours Championship was no less entertaining, club members and spectators guaranteed to see some excellent bowling and they were not disappointed. In the final match the team lead by Gary Lenton got off to an early lead with some fine bowls from all players and despite the team lead by Clive McGreal of new member John Piekelens, John Kewley, and Phil Watterson producing some excellent bowls to complement the experience of Clive McGreal it was the Lenton team who despite dropping shots on the last end were able to hang on to the lead and claim the title of 2020 Men’s Fours Champions.

Congratulations to all our winners. We look forward to next weekend!