The Isle of Man Short Mat Bowls team compete at the World Championships in Belfast next weekend. Representing the Island in the triples is a full house of Marown BC members. Father and son duo Colin and Tom Kelly and Paul Dunn. Colin is a well known face as a local postman and also on the crown green circuit, having won plenty of titles on and off island. He now has all the equipment at home to engrave trophies, as it was costing too much to get all of his done at the local engravers. Colin’s son Tom is also known to reach a few finals at crown green bowls and since he has started playing short mat he has also added those to his finals list, he just recently won the Morton Hall singles league. Tom will keep the lads on the right track as he knows where he’s heading. His days are spent teaching Geography at QEII so hopefully they won’t get lost in Belfast. Skipping this triples is Paul, better known as Dunner. This will be Dunners first World Championships. But he isn’t a newcomer to playing bowls at a top level. I’m pretty sure this guy was born with a bowl in his hand. Along with our singles player Nev, these two took home nearly all the pairs trophies last season at the crown green competitions. In fact I’ve just heard he’s buying a new house as he needs a bigger trophy room. Dunners partner Tash and puppy Denzil the rottie spend most weekends supporting him around the greens and if dogs were allowed I’m sure they both would have been in Belfast supporting too. 

Our other Triples team consists of two newcomers to the game this season Richard Bregazzi and Steven Rough along with skip Jayne Smith. Although new to the game of short mat bowls Rough and Bregazzi are keen crown green bowlers at Marown BC and can be found in their free time on the green. Rough also spends a lot of his free time on the other green surface as he’s a keen golfer. Whilst Bregazzi prefers the faster more adrenaline paced sport cycling, where he is currently riding out on the roads abroad. Skipping this triples is Smith, who’s the President of the Manx Short Mat Bowls Association. Smith has had a busy season setting up a new short mat club in Douglas, where they have been playing on a Friday afternoon at the New Roundhouse Sport Centre in Braddan and on a Sunday at the NSC. When not bowling Smith is usually found in a field tending to her Horses, Goats and Chickens or helping out at Onchan Raceway Stock Cars where her son, daughter in law and grandson all race. 

We wish all our player the best competing in next weeks 2024 World Championships in Belfast.

he Manx Short Mat Bowls Association Fours Rink team representing the Isle of Man at the World Championships in Belfast on 15-17th March 2024 consists of Heather McKenna, Michael Corlett, Seamus Whelan and Collin Holland.

Leading the fours is McKenna who is a keen Golfer and has changed her swing to delivering the perfect bowl. This is her first World Championships and she is looking forward to gaining lots of experience from it. Heather has the support of her Husband Peter who is also traveling as a reserve.

Playing second is Corlett, Who you can’t miss when he’s on the mat with those Orange speckled bowls. This is also Corletts first World Championships. After taking a couple of seasons off from playing, Corlett is playing extremely well at present and is an asset to the fours team.

Our third is our Team Manager Seamus Whelan. Along with the skip of the team Collin Holland, these two have been playing bowls and been the heart of the Manx Short Mat Bowls association for as long as I can remember. They both have plenty of experience playing in world championships and will be able to advise the other two along the way.

Over the years you would usually find Whelan with camera tucked under his arm, but these days most of his spare time is spent with his family and watching his grandkids playing football. As for Holland who’s taking full advantage of retirement if it’s not bowling, it’s Castletown over 60s, Bingo or car boots at Morton Hall or Dancing with his wife, our other traveling reserve Christine Holland. Whelan and Holland are also keen crown green bowlers, where they play for their local clubs down south at Port Erin and Castletown.

We wish our Fours team the best of luck in the forthcoming World Championships.

The Manx Short Mat Bowls Association are sending a squad of 16 players to represent the Isle of Man at the upcoming World Short Mat Bowls Championships to be held in Belfast on 15th/16th/17th March 2024.

Representing the island in the Pairs are firstly the experienced bowlers, father & son duo Steven & Bernie Durcan. This is a 1st time these two have paired at the world championship’s. They are usually skipping a team. But with Bernie’s current drawing form this year I am sure they will go far. They narrowly lost out in the pairs final to Gale & Smith. In the summer months you will find them playing Crown Green Bowls at their local Port Erin Club.

Our other pairs duo are also Crown Green Club mates at Finch Hill, Mark Taylor & Dave McCabe. You will often find McCabe in an open final playing his favourite short mark on the crown circuit. This is Taylor’s 1st season playing short mat bowls, and he has taken to the sport very well in a short 4 months of playing. He was the new Douglas Short Mat Bowls Clubs 1st member when the club started in October last year. Taylor has shown great form recently beating some top bowlers in the Morton Hall singles league.
We wish both pairs all the best in the upcoming world championships next month.