Press Box
Below is a selection of news stories relating to the Club that have appeared in various publications. They are all of an international nature and reflect the Clubs achievements in recent years on the world bowls stage.
From the "Isle of Man Examiner " Tuesday December 6th 2011
Bowled Over: Enjoying a celebration game of bowls at the NSC on returning from the European Team Bowls Championships in Portugal are, from left: Lesley Keenan, Clive McGreal, Manx Gas sales and marketing manager Gary Creegan, Tom Keenan and Bernice McGreal.
Bowlers Fly the Flag in European
Husband and wife flat green bowls team Tom and Lesley Keenan and Clive and Bernice McGreal made sure the Isle of Man flag was flying when they took part in the 2011 European Team Bowls Championships in Portugal.
Sponsored by Manx Gas, the team faced a hectic playing schedule with three matches on most days in one of the most prestigious international events in the bowling calendar. In the group section they were playing against teams from Cyprus, Ireland, Israel, Guernsey, Portugal, Netherlands, Wales, Spain, Scotland, England, Turkey and Germany.
Preparation
In preparation for the tournament they competed in the warm up event, the European Open Amateur Week, and were successful in taking the Bronze Medal position, competing against members of the Portuguese national team on their home green.
In the championships the star performers were the Ladies pairing of Lesley Keenan and Bernice McGreal who played seven matches and lost only two. The highlight for the Ladies was a well deserved draw against defending champions Scotland.
“In a fiercely competitive match the Island team won the first set, but Scotland managed to take the second for a share of the points,” said Clive.
“The standard was extremely high, with most of the opposition fielding members of their 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games squads. The Manx Gas sponsorship gave the team, who are all members of the Isle of Man Flat Green Bowling Association, the opportunity to compete at the very highest level and gain valuable experience for future international events.”
The overall event was won by a very strong Wales team against which the Island men’s pairing of Clive and Tom put in a tremendous performance only to lose the second set with the last bowl of the end.
The event was hosted by the Vilamoura Bowls Club and officially opened by the Mayor of Quarteria who was presented with a gift from the Island representatives, inscribed with a personal message from Chief Minister, Allan Bell MHK.
“The players can reflect on some solid performances where the margins between winning and defeat were on occasion literally a hair’s breadth,” said Clive.
“Overall, the results went in favour of the larger, stronger nations whose playing memberships run into thousands of bowlers and whose domestic competitions are more keenly and intensely contested at district level with more frequent international test matches.”
Further recognition of the Island’s standing within the international bowling community was the election of Tom Keenan as Junior Vice President of the European Bowls Union at the AGM held during the tournament.
Manx Gas sales and marketing manager Gary Cregeen said: “We were delighted to have been able to support the team in what was a major international event. They have every reason to feel proud of their achievements when competing against internationally recognised.”
From the "Isle of Man Courier " Thursday November 17th 2011
Manx women on form in Portugal
The IoM flat green bowling team of Tom Keenan, Bernice McGreal, Lesley Keenan and Clive McGreal had some mixed results in the 2011 European Team Championships in Portugal.
The star performers were the women’s pairing of Lesley Keenan and Bernice McGreal who played 7 matches and lost only 2. The highlight for them was a well-deserved draw against the defending Champions Scotland. In a fiercely competitive match the island team won the first set, but Scotland managed to take the second for a share of the points.
The standard was extremely high, with most of the opposition fielding members of their 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games squads which gave the Manx team, sponsored by Manx Gas, the opportunity to compete at the very highest level and gain valuable experience for future international events.
A further enhancement to the islands standing within the international bowling community was the election of Tom Keenan as Junior Vice President of the European Bowls Union at the AGM held during the tournament.
From the "Isle of Man Courier " Thursday November 10th 2011
Manx up against the cream of European bowls
The IOM flat green bowling team of Lesley Keenan, Clive McGreal, Bernice McGreal and Tom Keenan are representing the Island in the 8th European Team Championships in Portugal against the cream of European Bowls from the 6th till 11th of November.
In preparation for the tournament, the team, sponsored by Manx Gas, competed in the warm up event the "European Open Amateur Week" and took the Bronze medal position competing against members of the Portuguese national team on their home rink.
The team also took up the kind offer of the Santo Antonio Lawn Bowling Club for a warm up game and in a highly competitive match the IOM side won all 3 disciplines to run out 3-0 winners.
In the main tournament the IOM team face a hectic playing schedule with 3 matches on most days in one of the most prestigious International events in the bowling calendar. In the group section the Island team faces matches against Cyprus, Ireland, Israel, Guernsey, Portugal, Netherlands, Wales, Spain, Scotland, England, Turkey and Germany.
From the "Isle of Man Courier " Thursday August 6th 2009
Island's Standing Grows
McIntyre impresses in Ayr 
ANNE MARIE MUNRO
The Isle of Mans stature and reputation on the International Scene of the Flat Green bowling world was once again enhanced in the past week due to the efforts of Stephen McIntyre at the World Champion of Champions Singles Competition at the Centre for Bowling Excellence at Northfield in Ayr.
Representing the island at this prestigious event McIntyre won 5 of his section games against Malaysia, Spain, Botswana, United States and New Zealand and narrowly losing in the tie break to Canada. With just a little luck during the remaining section games may have just crept into the final qualifying stages. The highlight for him was surely defeating the Malaysian Champion Azim Ariffin who plays professionally all over the world.
It was an outstanding effort by the IoM player and this coupled with the Manx team's efforts at the European Championships shows just how distinguished the country now is at international level.
From "The Booler " magazine spring 2009
Isle of Man Scots best finish
The Isle of Man had their best finish and highest points total at this years European Championships, thanks to the efforts of the two Scots representing the Island.
Andy Munro and Stephen McIntyre produced some inspiring performances in both the singles and mixed pairs matches.
One of the many highlights was the defeat of England where Andy partnered by Pauline Kelly beat the highly fancied pairing of Simon Skelton and Mo Monkton by two sets to nil, whilst Stephen partnered by Jean Harrison drew with England's other pairing of Nicky Brett and Sue Davies.
Some excellent results and performances by Andy and Stephen helped amass over 100 points of the Island's total score of 162.
Andy and Stephen have also made their mark in the Isle of Man during the winter season, with Andy winning the National Singles Championship and, along with Stephen, clinching the first division pairs title at their first attempt.
Andy and Stephen are both looking forward to the outdoor season starting in April, continuing their succesful run and hopefully helping Stephen to make a mark in the forthcoming Champion of Champions at Ayr, in July.
It was also reported in February's Booler that whilst out in Cyprus at the European Championships Andy was to marry his fiance Anne Marie. Well he did ... and here is the picture to prove it!
Keep an eye for more Manx/Scottish news in the coming months.
From "The Booler " magazine October 2008
Cancer will not beat battling bowler Andy Munro.
Andy Munro will compete in the World Singles Champion of Champions Lawn Bowls Competition in Aberdeen.
"I may never have the chance to compete at this level again. But I remain positive and hope to put the Isle of Man on the lawn bowling map"
CANCER sufferer Andy Munro will fulfil his ambition this week when he competes in an international bowls competition.
'I was having pain in my side for about a year,' Andy explained. 'When I first came to the Isle of Man I started doing more physical work and thought it was just a strained muscle. I went and got it checked out and was sent for a scan and they found my kidney was enveloped with a tumour.' He had the scan on May 15, 2007 and was operated on just two weeks later.
His daughter Reeanne, was born in January 2007, just months before he was diagnosed and, following surgery, Andy found it difficult at times to pick her up.
Despite having major surgery and receiving the news that the cancer has spread to his lungs, Andy returned to the bowling green and won the Men's Singles Club Championships in 2007, enabling him to qualify for this year's event.
Andy is receiving ongoing drug treatment for the tumours in his lungs and although there have been setbacks in his treatment he has remained positive and focused throughout. Side effects from the medication caused his remaining kidney to fail which led to the dosage being reduced.
'I'm feeling OK but get a bit tired,' he said. 'When I get on the bowling green it just goes to the back of my mind and I just concentrate on the bowls.'
The World Singles Champion of Champions Lawn Bowls Competition takes place in Aberdeen until September 6 and, thanks to Manx Cancer Help and local businesses Andy, 46, of Saddlestone will be representing the Isle of Man.
He played at a high level in Scotland but said there were more opportunities to take it further in the Isle of Man.
'I'm playing against 24 of the best in the world as far as bowls is concerned,' Andy said. 'It's probably, next to the World Singles Championships, the second biggest event in the bowling calendar.' While there are some high profile contenders he 'hopes to take some scalps'. 'I'm not really fazed about it. I've played some of them before,' he added.
Managing director of Miracles Recruitment Tom Martin said Andy's situation had touched a raw nerve and he had great pleasure in donating £400 to help make his dream come true. Bank of Scotland International also donated £100 and the Steam Packet Company have assisted with travel costs.
Andy said the firms' generosity had also touched a raw nerve and without their help he would not have been able to afford the cost of travel, accommodation and uniform.
'With cancer you don't know what's around the corner, but bowling is my passion and it gives me something to focus on away from the reality of having cancer,' he said.
'This is one of the biggest events in the lawn bowls calendar and I may never have the chance to compete at this level again. But I remain positive and hope to put the Isle of Man on the lawn bowling map.'
Andy certainly did put the Isle of Man on the map, with his courageous performance on the green finishing an impressive 8th in the table and with the same number of points as Russel Meyer of New Zealand.