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Indoor Bowls 2019/2020 Season Preview
With the Isle of Man Indoor Bowling Association 2019/2020 Season beginning on Monday 14th October, this is the point when I put my head ‘on the block’ and say what I think may happen during the season.
Premier Team
The Premier Team Competition will, I think, be a three way battle between TBC, Villans and Cheesemakers. I find it difficult to favour any one of these over the others, and the Birdies are also capable of getting into the top three.
First Division Team
The First Division Team competition will, I think, be closely contested by Maxums and Spinners with Odd Balls and Smugglers also in the mix, and perhaps the team of newcomers CAOS can cause chaos for a few teams.s I have seem them practicing, and think once they get a few games under their belts, they may test a few teams.
Premier Pairs
Beginning with the Premier Pairs, I would suggest that the Cheesemakers will be the favourites to take the honours in what will be a very closely contested League. However, Villans and Young Guns are both quite capable of pipping them to the post. The new pairing TOU, David Quirk and Dee Lewis, should also be close behind with Dee rapidly improving as a relative newcomer to the sport.
First Division Pairs
In the First Division Pairs I am going to tip newly promoted team the Villa Boys to be challenging for the top spot along with the Spinners and, I anticipate, Enigma and Kencoe close behind.
Second Division Pairs
In the Second Division Pairs, I think that this may be the year that Reckless Rollers finally win the League, but there are others who may push them all the way, such as Sunset Rollers and Girl Power, but time will tell.
Tuesday Morning League
The remaining competition is the Tuesday Morning League, and I have to say that reigning Champions Villans will be looking for another win, but there are some other very strong teams who will be looking to stop them taking another title. Ellan Vannin, Maxums, Onchan Royals and Hillbillies 2 are all capable of pushing Villans all the way and even taking the title.
Fixtures to go ahead on Wednesday 16 October
Finally, contrary to what I wrote last week that the NSC Bowls Hall would be closed on Wednesday 16th October, it has now been decided that the work will be completed during the afternoon so that the Premier League Matches can go ahead at 6-30 pm as planned.
Good luck
I sincerely hope that I haven’t upset anyone with these predictions but that is how I see it but I could be proved to be very wrong at the end of the season.
So all that is left to do is to wish everyone good luck and hope that they have a very enjoyable season and please don’t forget to swipe your card at reception on the way in.
Indoor Bowling Season starts on the 14th October
The much awaited start of the Indoor Bowling Season at the National Sports Centre starts on the 14th October with many eagerly looking forward to what we anticipate to be an exciting season.
It is quite difficult for me to do a full preview this week as looking at the list of teams I see new teams in leagues and I need to see what players make up the teams before I can judge who may be in with a chance at the end of the season. I do however hope to do a full preview next week.
The format will be as previous years with the Premier Pairs on a Monday evening, the First Division Pairs on Tuesday, Premier Teams on Wednesday, First Division Teams on a Thursday and Second Division Pairs on a Friday. As previously there will also be a Morning League on Tuesdays with a 10 am start and all evening sessions start at 6-30 pm with all members being encouraged to turn up in good time so we can have a prompt start.
The popular Saturday Round Robins will again take place and will start at 1-30 pm on the 12th October.
Finally, I have two reminders, the first being that the Bowling Hall will be closed for work on the carpet on the 16th October, and the second being will everyone please ensure that they check in and get their card swiped at reception for all sessions including just going down for practice.
Free come-and-try bowls sessions at NSC
The association will be running introductory sessions to indoor bowling at the NSC this month and next.
When?
Tuesday 27th August, Thursday 29th August & Tuesday 10th September, anytime between 6pm and 8pm.
Who?
This invitation is open to both Male and Female players and non-players. Any under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Crown Green and Flat Green Bowlers who would like to have a go are most welcome.
What do I need to bring?
Just yourself!… or why not come along with a friend. All the equipment will be provided on the night for you free of charge.
For further information please contact the Indoor Bowling Association’s secretary Dee Lewis sec@iomindoorbowling.org or simply turn up on the night for your
FREE session!
IIBC First Morning’s Play
The mixed pairs against Ireland started poorly for the Manx pairing who were slow to find the pace of the green in the first set but sparked a revival in the second set to lead into the last end and holding a set winning position until the last wood which deprived Clive & Bernice the opportunity to take the match to a tie break.
In his first singles match Clive was up against the crown green specialist from England, Jack Bird was was quick off the mark to take the first set by a margin. The second set was keenly contested with Clive holding a set winning head with a toucher inches from the ditch with just the bowl come when Jack Bird drove off the shot bowl to tie the set but take the match.
In her first game Bernice took on the legendary Janice Gower, another major force from the crown green code who performed well at Potters last year. Bernice got off to a flyer and commanded the first set with great bowls taking it quite comfortably. The second set was more of a thriller with both ladies exchanging some super shots but Bernice was in fine form taking the second set to win the match.
For live scoring visit iibc.org.uk/
UPDATED
For all scores and results of the IIBC Championships click here
Annual General Meeting 2019 Agenda
This year’s AGM will take place in the NSC Bowls Hall on Friday 29th March 2019 at 6.30pm. The agenda is as follows:
- Welcome address
- Apologies
- Update from NSC Manager
- Minutes of the 2018 AGM
- Matters arising
- Treasurer’s Annual Report
- Matters arising
- Appointment of Auditor
- President’s Annual Report
- Presentation of League Trophies
- Annual Subscriptions
- Affiliation to the International Indoor Bowls Council
- Election of officers:-
- President – Win Kewley willing to re-stand
- Treasurer – vacant
- Secretary – vacant
- Fixtures Officer – Tony Dugdale willing to re-stand
- Press Officer – Norman Kneen willing to re-stand
- Website Manager – Paula Garrett willing to re-stand
- Committee Member – David Quirk willing to re-stand
- IIBC reps
- Proposed new rules
- Motions:
That Association members who represent the Isle of Man at International Indoor or World Bowls or Disability Bowls or Crown Green Bowls approved competitions are allowed to rearrange any league matches which occur during the competition timeframe, up to a maximum of 2 rearranged matches within a season, if they are unable to field a substitute for the league.
Rationale :
-
- In the spirit of fairness throughout the sport of bowls and to raise the profile of bowling in the Isle of Man we should encourage and support bowlers selected to represent the Isle of Man both nationally and internationally.
- World Indoor Bowls Council has affiliated to World Bowls and changed its name to International Indoor Bowls Council and forged closer links between the two organisations for the overall benefit of the sport of bowls.
- Indoor Bowling Associations in the U.K. and internationally allow members to reschedule games when representing their country in Indoor /Lawn Bowls /Disability Bowls/Short Mat/Crown Green Bowls competitions and, by maintaining our current stance of only allowing rescheduling for International Indoor events, we are damaging the reputation of the Isle of Man Indoor Bowling Association.
Proposer : Win Kewley
Seconder : Pam Makin
- Any other business
Final Week sees good bowling
In the final week of the Indoor Bowls season we saw some great bowling which went to prove how much the standard of the game is improving locally.
In the Premier Pairs the Champions Dragons were held to a draw by Likely Lads while second placed Cheesemakers beat third placed Villans 4-0 in a game that saw Cheesemakers playing very well and Villans not getting any luck on the night. Young Guns beat Northern Nomads 4-0 and Spinners achieved the same result against Jazz while Radical Heads and Tee Pegs played out a 2-2 draw.
In the final night of the 2018/2019 Season we saw the First Division Team Champions Maxums have a bye and the runners up Odd Balls beat Mann Utd 6-0. Smugglers beat Castletown Crofters 4-2, Bowledly Going Nowhere had a strong 6-0 win over Flat Mats and Odds and Bob’s finished strongly with a 5-1 win over third placed D.N.A.
So with this being the end of the season I will give a quick look at the final leagues positions. In the Premier Pairs we have Dragons as Champions with Cheesemakers runner up and Jazz relegated.
In the First Division Pairs we have the League Champions as Orange Peelers, runner up is Castletown Crofters and relegated are Odds and Bobs.
The Second Division Pairs has been a great success and has seen the development of a number of newcomers, the Champions are Odds and Bob’s 2 with the runner up Reckless Rollers with no relegation from this League.
The Premier Team League was won by Dragons with QPR as runner up and relegated are Saltire. This has been a hotly contested League with some very close matches throughout the Season and I have watched some great bowling at the games.
The First Division Teams League has been supported with great enthusiasm and the Champions from this are the very popular Maxums with Odd Balls as runner up.
Finally we look at the equally enthusiastically supported and popular Morning League which saw Villans become Champions for the third year in succession with Maxums as runner and again there is no relegation from this league.
So that brings the 2018/2019 Season to a close and may I wish good luck to all for their outdoor summer bowling whether it be in Crown Green or Lawn Bowls and don’t forget the A.G.M. on 29th March at the N.S.C.
Maxums win First Division Teams League
On Thursday 7th March Maxums lined up against Odds and Bobs hoping to get a 6-0 win to strengthen their lead over Odd Balls who were breathing down their necks to take the League Championship. Shaun Seal of Odds and Bobs however had different ideas and with a great show of bowling pulled off a good win against Phil Smith in the Singles. This didn’t put off Maxums who played well to take the Pairs and Triples and earn a 4-2 victory.
Odd Balls were then left to push for a win against Castletown Crofters but the Southerners ran out 4-2 winners which ensured that Maxums couldn’t be beaten and sealed the League win with one week still left to go. In the other matches Mann United lost 4-2 to Flat Mats and DNA drew 3-3 with Smuggles.
This left Maxums as League Champions with 62 points, Odd Balls in a safe second place with 55 points and DNA third with 49 points and closely followed by Castletown Crofters on 48 points and still able to take third place over DNA depending on the results on 14th March.
In the Premier Pairs League Champions Dragons beat Tee Pegs 4-0, Likely Lads lost 4-0 to Cheesemakers, Villans were unable to play and so Young Guns took a 4-0 walkover and Northern Nomads and Jazz played out a 2-2 draw.
This left Dragons top of the Premier Pairs League having already sealed the Championship on 60 points followed by Cheesemakers on 46 points and Villans on 42 points.
This left one more week to play for the Premier Pairs and First Division Team Leagues with all the other Leagues having finished for the season.
The Trophies for all the Leagues which will be presented at the Annual General Meeting which will be held in the Bowls Hall at the N.S.C on Friday 29th March at 6-30pm and would be great to see a good turnout for this.
Maxums lose but still favourite to win First Division Teams League
The First Division Teams League saw long term leaders Maxums defeated 4-2 by Bowledly Going Nowhere which gave second placed Odd Balls a chance to close the gap on them by beating Flat Mats 4-2 while in a hard fought match Castletown Crofters and DNA drew 3-3 while Odds and Bobs beat Smugglers 4-2.
So with two more weeks to go this left Maxums top with 58 points followed by Odd Balls on 53 and DNA third on 46 points. This now makes it look as if this League will go ‘right down to the wire’ as Maxums have only one match to play as they have the ‘bye’ on the last week leaving Odd Ball two matches in which to close the gap and overhaul Maxums.
In the Premier Pairs the Dragons pairing of Clive and Mark McGreal increased their lead with a 4-0 win over Radical Heads while Villans just held on to second spot with a draw against Jazz. Third placed Cheesmakers had a good 4-0 win against Young Guns and Likely Lads beat Tee Pegs 4-0.
This leaves Dragons in first place with 56 points, Villans second with 42 points and Cheesmakers third also on 42 points.
As these two Leagues are the only remaining ones still not to be completed we will have a look at the winners and runners up in the remaining Leagues which are as follows:
- Premier Teams – Winners – Dragons 61 pts Runner Up – QPR 56 pts.
- Morning League – Winners – Villans 84 pts Runner Up – Maxums 75 pts.
- First Div Pairs – Winners – Orange Peelers 38 pts Runner – Up Castletown Crofters 34 pts.
- Second Div Pairs- Winners – Odds and Bobs 2 – 46 pts Runner Up – Reckless Rollers 37 pts.
So only two weeks now until all matches are completed but please do not forget the Annual General Meeting on Friday 29th March at 6-30 pm in the NSC Bowls Hall.
Dragons march on in Premier Pairs
With only three Leagues left to finish the Premier Pairs League saw Dragons needing a 4-0 result to seal a League win and they achieved this by beating Young Guns 4-0 while Villans moved into a clear second place by beating Spinners 4-0. Cheesemakers lost 3-1 to Tee Pegs and Likely Lads and Jazz played out a 2-2 draw while Northern Nomads lost 4-0 to Radical Heads. This then sees Dragons in the lead with 52 points followed by Villans on 40 points and Cheesemakers in third with 38 points.
In the last fixture of the Tuesday Morning League we saw Villans who already won the League finish with a 4-2 win over Castletown Crofters while Maxums sealed second place with a 4-2 win against Onchan Royals. Hillbillies beat Ramsey Raiders 5-1 and Thru the Gap also had a 5-1 win over Ellan Vannin. In the final match Cushags ended their season with a 4-2 win over Early Birds. So after eighteen very enthusiastically supported matches in the Morning League we saw Villans top the table with 84 points followed by Maxums on 75 points and in third place Onchan Royals with 68 points.
The First Division Teams saw leaders Maxums beat Mann Utd 5-1, Odd Balls beat DNA 4-2 and Flat Mats beat Smugglers 6-0 while in the final match Odds and Bobs took a 4-2 win over Bowledly Going Nowhere. The League Positions after this with three matches left to play are Maxums at the top with 56 points, Odd Balls second with 47 points and DNA third on 43 points.
Finally this week may I remind all Isle of Man Indoor Bowling Association members that the Annual General Meeting will be at the NSC on Friday 29th March at 6-30pm and all ‘Notices of Motion’ should be emailed to sec@iomindoorbowling.org by 1st March.