Marown Bowling Club hosted the fifth annual Juan Kelly Cup last week with 48 pairs taking part.

As is becoming the norm in these competitions there were some interesting pairings making use of the handicap system, which was played over two qualifying nights - Tuesday and Wednesday, with four pairs qualifying each night in order to qualify for the finals night on Thursday evening.

The format was any combination doubles, played over 15 ends with ends five, 10 and 15 played as ’power’ ends counting for double points.

The pairs were given a handicap based on their rankings in the men’s and women’s game. If scores were tied after 15 ends, a one-bowl shootout would take place to decide the winner.

Spot prizes were awarded on both qualifying nights to the pair with the highest break. A one-bowl shootout took place on Wednesday between Nick Firth and John Ferguson of Peel versus Gordon Corran and Dougie Allan of Peel with the score tied at 21-21 after 15 ends. The Peel pair won the shootout to progress to the next round.

For finals night a re-draw took place to determine who would play who, with a good mixture of high and low handicaps still in the competition. The excellent floodlights came into good use for the duration of the event.

Losing quarter-finalists were South Ramsey’s James Teare and Jenny Moore (+2), who lost out heavily to Onchan pair Will Penhallurick and Jamie Clague (+7) 13-24, while Reg Temporaza and Rob Monk (+2) looked to be going through to the next round against home greeners Phil Kelly and John Gelling (+1) only for a brilliant last bowl from Gelling to swing the game in their favour and produce a stunning 18-17 win.

Marown D team players Phil Dunn and Steve Rough (+8) agonisingly lost out in a one-bowl shootout to Port St Mary’s Steve and Mavis Franks (+7) having tied 23-23 after 15 ends. The last quarter-final was an all-Marown affair with Withers and Dunn (+0) proving too strong for Matthew Keggen and Paul Kelly (+2), winning 23-8.

The semi-finals were all one-way traffic in the first half of the game in favour of both Marown pairs, with Kelly/Gelling up against Penhallurick/Clague, the Onchan men clawing their way back into the game only to lose out 12-24.

Dunn and Withers reached the final with a 29-14 win over the Franks.

A well-contested final saw the score tied at 9-9 after nine ends played with little to choose between the pairs.

On end 10 Dunn and Withers scored a two, which was doubled up to count four to lead 13-9.

The following four ends were exchanged with Dunn and Withers scoring another four, while Kelly and Gelling scored three to put the score at 17-12.

On end 15 only a three (to score six) would do for Kelly and Gelling to win the game. There was a shot on, which they couldn’t quite pull off, resulting in Dunn and Withers scoring a one to win 19-12.

Their success carried on the tradition of different winners every year since the competition was introduced.

At the conclusion of play the presentation was made by Brian Kelly, who thanked Juan Kelly for once again sponsoring the competition, the women for the refreshments over all three nights, the players for entering, and all who came to support.

Juan was then introduced to present the prizes, with the latter paying tribute to everyone at the club including the green keepers for their work on the green.