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With the Indoor Bowling Championships moving into the second week of the qualifying rounds we saw the Pairs being played and producing some shock results.

In a very tight match we saw some great bowls in the quarter final match between reigning Champions Clive and Mark McGreal and the less experienced pairing of Mike Ashmole and Peter Greenlees which ended in a victory for the latter pair. The next of the quarter finals again went to the less experienced  players at  Indoor Bowls with Shaun Seal and Ian Moore defeating Bernice McGreal and Janice Pilling while the in form pair of David Quirk and Dee Lewis beat Jimmy Sansom and Phil Kerruish. In the final match of the night we saw Mike Skelly and Phil Watterson beaten by Marcia Pearson and Muriel Cain.

The semi finals on the following night started with the question being would Ashmole and Greenlees retain their previous nights great form against Seal and Moore but with the latter pair starting well and piling on the pressure it was the Seal/Moore pairing that qualified for the Final. In the other semi final Marcia Pearson and Muriel Cain started as favourites against David Quirk and Dee Lewis but with Quirk playing some good lead bowls and  ‘skip’ Lewis coming up with some fantastic saving shots they proved to be too good on the night for the Pearson/Cain duo.

The Pairs Final then on the 1^st February sees Shaun Seal and Ian Moore take on David Quirk and Dee Lewis and we hope to see a great match with the question being can the very experienced David Quirk use his great knowledge of the game to bring his team victory or will the Seal/Moore pair who currently lead the Second Division Pairs League manage to snatch the win from their Premier Pairs League opposition?

Whatever happens on Finals Day great credit must go Dee Lewis, Shaun Seal and Ian Moore who are all relatively new to Indoor Bowling and have made great improvements in their skill levels this season.

The event continues through the week with more Men’s qualifying on Wednesday evening and then both Ladies and Men’s Quarter Finals on Thursday and all Semi Finals on Friday.

There has been a slight amendment to the time schedule for Finals Day on this Saturday 1^st February with the Triples Event now starting at 12-15 pm, the Pairs at 2-15pm and both Ladies and Men’s Singles being played at 4-00 pm. These timings may vary slightly and it is hoped to have a short break between the Pairs and Singles matches.

Here are the results of the preliminary round of the pairs:

Here are the results from the first night’s play of the 2020 Triples Championship

ISLE OF MAN INDOOR BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS  2020

CONDITIONS OF PLAY

1. Singles: Four bowls per player. Pairs: Four bowls per player.  Triples: Three bowls per player.
   The Laws of the Sport, Crystal Mark Third Edition will apply unless otherwise stated in these Conditions of Play.
2. Prior to the start of a match, each player will be allowed two trial ends, each end being of two bowls per player.
3. Players are not permitted to practice within 3 hours of the start of a match.
4. Singles:
   i) Each match will consist of two sets, each set being played over 9 ends. The winner of each set will be the player with the most shots at the completion of the 9^th  The winner of the match being the best of two sets. A set will be decided if, at any point, it becomes impossible for one player to draw or win the set given the number of ends left.
   ii) If the shot scores are tied after the last end of a set, the set is drawn. If the match is tied (two drawn sets or one set each) after the two sets have been completed, a match tie-breaker consisting of 1 end will be played to determine the winner. If the tie-breaker end is tied a further tie-breaker end will be played.
   iii)  In all cases a tied end will count as one of the 9 ends played.
5. Pairs and Triples:
   i) Each match will consist of 10 ends.  A match will be decided if, at any point, it becomes impossible for one team to draw or win the match given the number of ends left.
   ii) If the match is tied after the 10 ends have been completed, a match tie-breaker consisting of 1 end will be played to determine the winner. If the tie-breaker end is tied a further tie-breaker end will be played.
   iii) In all cases a tied end will count as one of the 10 ends played.
6. First to Play-Law 56.4
   i) At the start of the match the opponents should toss a coin and the winner of the toss has the option to either: place the mat and then deliver the jack and the first bowl; or tell the opposing player / team to place the mat and deliver the jack and the first bowl (the opposing player/ team cannot refuse)
   ii) At the start of the second set (Singles only) the winner of the first set should place the mat and then deliver the jack and the first bowl. If the first set is a draw, the winner of the last scoring end in that set should place the mat and then deliver the jack and the first bowl.
   iii) First and any further ends of a tie-breaker: the opponents should toss a coin and the winner of the toss has the options as described in i)
7. Play in all other ends: In all ends after the first but apart from an extra end, the winner(s) of the previous scoring end should place the mat and then deliver the jack and the first bowl.
8. Re-spotting the jack
   If a jack in motion passes completely outside the boundaries of the rink of play, or rebounds to a distance of less than 20 metres from the mat line, the end should not be declared dead. Instead, the jack should be placed with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line at the appropriate spot described as follows and play should continue:
   i) If the jack passes outside the side boundary on the right of the rink, it should be placed with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line at a spot on the rink which is 2 metres from the front ditch and 1.5 metres to the right of the centre line.
   ii) If the jack passes outside the side boundary on the left of the rink, it should be placed with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line at a spot on the rink which is 2 metres from the front ditch and 1.5 metres to the left of the centre line.
   iii)  If the jack passes above the face of the bank that is within the side boundaries of the rink of play, it should be placed with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line at a spot on the rink which is 2 metres from the front ditch and on the centre line.If the appropriate spot is partly or completely covered by a bowl, the jack should be placed as close as possible to the covered spot, in line with that spot and the corresponding spot at the opposite end of the rink, without touching a bowl.
9. Visiting the head
   i) Players in Singles matches may only visit the head after delivery of their third bowl.
   In exceptional circumstances however, a player may seek permission of the Marker to visit the head before they deliver their third bowl.
   ii) The lead in Pairs may not visit the head. The skip may visit the head after their third bowl.
   iii) The lead and second in Triples may not visit the head.  The skip may visit the head after their second bowl.
10. All touchers should be marked with spray chalk.
11. Substitutions will be permitted for Pairs and Triples, but only in exceptional circumstances and with the prior approval of the Committee.  N.B. Substitutes are not permitted to play Skip.
12. Players should be at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of their match in order to be present for the draw for rinks and so that trial ends can take place.  Any player not ready to play at their official start time for any match shall forego their right to play trial ends and then if they are not ready to play within 15 minutes after the official start time of their match shall forfeit the match to their opponent(s).

Notes:

All competitors and officials are expected to be aware of and abide by World Bowls Regulations including those relating to the Code of Conduct/Ethics and disciplinary issues.  Full details are available on the World Bowls website

www.worldbowls.com

The 2020 Isle of Man Indoor Bowling Championships are to start with the Triples Competition for which qualifying runs over the week commencing Monday 13^th January with the Final being played on Saturday 1^st February which will be the Finals day for all classes.

Triples championships

The draw for all competitions was made on Saturday 4^th January and this threw up some interesting matches and I have picked out those which I consider the most interesting. The first match out of the ‘hat’ saw complete newcomers Paul, Michelle and Harley Cowley face a team which contains two of last years winning team, this being Steve Cook, Tony Dugdale and Edward Carlyle. Also a team which must be considered as having a chance of going all the way is that of Stuart and Paula Garrett and Jimmy Sansom who will most certainly not underestimate their opponents who are Win and John Kewley and Andy Bowers. To conclude my quick look at the Triples I have to look at the very experienced team of Bernice and Clive McGreal and Janice Pilling as one of the favourites but they will be pushed all the way by the very capable trio of David Quirk, Mike Ashmole and Peter Greenlees in their opening match.

Pairs championships

Monday 20^th January sees the commencement of the Pairs and once again the draw has thrown up some interesting battles and on the opening night and the first match to be drawn out may prove to be just that as Tony Dugdale and Steve Cook take on Peter Greenlees and Mike Ashmole in a match that could produce a close battle. Also on the opening night we see title holders Clive and Mark McGreal take on the much less experienced duo of Colin Brown and Peter Wilcox in a match that should be won by father and son McGreal pairing but both their opponents have improved rapidly this season and will be trying very hard to produce an upset. On the Tuesday night we see Paula and Stuart Garrett take on Phil Kerruish and Jimmy Sansom in what should be a closely fought battle and also the Gary Lenton and Gary Lee pairing should have a tight game against Marcia Pearson and Muriel Cain.

Men’s singles

The Singles Championship will be played on the week commencing 27^th January and opens with the Men’s Competition and immediately see Clive McGreal take on Stuart Garrett in a match that could be a tough test for reigning Champion McGreal. Another close match on the opening night could well be between David Quirk and Gary Lenton while the match between Mike Ashmole and Gary Lee could well produce a close result.

Ladies’ singles

The Ladies Championship opens on the Tuesday night with reigning Champion Paula Garrett taking on Win Kewley while the very experienced Muriel Cain takes on Marcia Pearson in what should be a very tough contest. Dee Lewis takes on last years runner up Win Collister and again this could be a close battle and finally on the Tuesday night the experienced Bernice McGreal takes on newcomer Michelle Cowley.

Finals day Saturday 1 February

So there is a lot of great bowling to look forward to before we reach the Finals Day on February 1^st and if you would like to come and support the bowlers contesting the Championship please feel free to come down and create an atmosphere in the Hall which always helps.

Finally may I apologise for not mentioning everyone but space simply wouldn’t allow for that.