A quality field of 54 entered the inaugural Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup drawn doubles event at Finch Hill on Sunday.

With showers and a cold breeze in the early, playing conditions were challenging to say the least, but the green was in excellent condition, albeit a little slow.

With this drawn format there is less chance of two top players being paired together, but there were early indications of the more competitive pairings.

In the first round, Alison Keggen and Lyn Bolton dispensed with Libby Andrade and Caroline Corlett 21-7 while Eddie Carlyle and Rebecca Teare came through 21-15 against Shirley Corrin and Reginald Temporaza.

Bryan Masterton and Sue Gawne overcame Paul Quirk and Frank Christian 21-11, while Nathan Hamilton and Bernie McPhee came through 21-16 against Kevin Firth and Derek Allen. Stefan Kelly and Sid Bolton had a reasonably comfortable win against Sylvia Kennaugh and Brian Lindsay.

Teare and Carlyle continued their winning ways in round two with a 21-16 win over Sam Clague and Steve Waters. Harry Minor and Glynn Hargraves started their campaign with a 21-15 win over Masterton/Gawne. Steve Parker and Austin Hart came from behind to beat Helen Murphy and Gordon Corrin 21-19, as did Hamilton/McPhee with two four-pointers in the final two ends against Mike Ashmole and Lynda Clarke.

Sam Stannard-Duke and Gary Lenton cruised past Hazel Hughes and Terry Bates 21-13, while John Harris and Jenny Moore picked up three points in the last two ends to beat Walter McCarthy/Alan Moore 21-18.

The closest match of the day was between Keggen/Bolton and Frank Watson with youngest player Ryan Hargraves, but with a three-pointer on the final end it was the girls who came through 21-20. Kelly/Bolton were finding their length and went into a 19-8 lead against Peter Venables and home favourite Paddy Murphy before winning 21-13.

In the quarter-finals, Teare/Carlyle cruised to a 21-12 victory over Parker/Hart, while in the same part of the draw Kelly/Bolton scored consistently to beat Stannard-Duke/Lenton 21-13.

The bottom half of the draw saw Harris/Moore take the honours against Hamilton/McPhee 21-12, while Minor/Hargraves did just enough to hold off Keggen/Bolton 21-18.

In the first semi-final, Kelly/Bolton scored strongly and, only losing three ends, ran out 21-11 winners against Teare/Carlyle. Despite getting off to a good start with a four-pointer on the first end, Harris/Moore could not hold off Minor/Hargraves who took the game 21-16.

Kelly and Bolton continued their strong scoring in the final and, in only 11 ends, they beat Minor and Hargraves 21-9.

l The prize presentation was made by Deputy Mayor of Douglas, Ian Clague, with cash prizes to all the semi-finalists and finalists, plus the Douglas Borough Corporation Challenge Cup to the winners. Thanks to the Corporation for supplying the cup, Greeba for the refreshments, Peter Hughes and Sefton Dent for stewarding, and all who helped make this the most successful open competition of the year at Finch Hill.