LAST year’s Douglas Golf Club captain Stephen Skillicorn (2) and Sefton Dent (21) will be crowned FBBB club champions at this Sunday’s lunchtime presentation.

This was the outcome of last Sunday’s second round of the 36-hole competition when they added a nett 60 to their opening 63 of the previous week. Although Skillicorn was the strong man throughout, Dent’s nett birdies at the 8th, 11th and 17th proved the difference between taking the title and being outside the winner’s enclosure.

Three pairs went into a card play-off for second and third place goodies after finishing two back of the winning total - first round leaders Michael Murray (12) and Jack Shimmin (22), Stuart McBurnie (10) and Brian Lindsay (14) and Jimmy Shipsides (10) with Steve Dawson (11). The Murray/Shimmin combo were soon eliminated, their second round 64 being two worse than the other contenders who had both added 62s to their first lap 63s. Eventually team McBurnie was slotted into the runners-up position with team Shipsides having to settle for bronze.

The pleasant overhead conditions on Sunday were, no doubt, a factor in some excellent returns headed by a best-of-the-day 59 from club treasurer and vice-captain Don Taylor (11) and partner Max Neale (8) fresh from his couple of goals for Corinthians on Saturday.

Their first round 67 had left them too much to do, although a birdie at the last on Sunday would have seen them snatch the runners-up spot. Alas they had to settle for a par and fifth place overall in company with the Lee Hunt (2)/Peter Murray (10) who added a 61 to their previous 65. Any two in the competition gets a shop credit of £9.

Ex-professional football player with Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday, Peter Musson (15), known affectionately as the Yorkshire Pudding, teamed up with ex-St George’s goalminder Mike Kenna (9) to shoot a winning nett 60 in last Saturday’s two-man Texas scramble with the handicap allowance set at a quarter of the combined.

A couple of dropped shots on the way out were off-set with birdies at the 2nd, 4th and 8th holes and another gross 33 coming in saw them secure the victory - but by the narrowest of margins.

Just half a shot back in second spot was the Neil Smith (14)/Matthew Savage (16) pairing with a nett 60.5 with bogeys at the 16th and 17th proving costly. A shot further back taking the third of the three sets of vouchers on offer was the Robin Crellin (5) and Michael Siebke (5) partnership with the Kevin Clarke (8)/Noel McCourt and Karl Logan (5)/Anthony Crawley (8) outfits just a quarter shot out of the prizes.

A two on Saturday earned a £6 shop credit to be shared between the pairings.

An individual stableford this Saturday is followed by an 8am shotgun start on Sunday for a three or four-man Texas scramble (depending upon number of entries) the teams for which will be drawn on Friday with entries being placed in three or four pots graded as near as possible by handicap category.

A team will thus comprise one player from each pot. The event will be followed by lunch and prize presentation which will also include the awards for the Colas Winter League and the FBBB Championship.

Isle of Man junior golfer and Sport Aid recepient Emma Harris has been selected by the English Women’s Golf Association to be part of their Nations Cup team for 2012.

England select two teams of three for the international event which is played in conjunction with the Scottish Under-16s Open Stroke Play Championship and takes place at Strathmore Golf Centre in Perthshire from April 12-13.

It will be Emma’s second Nations Cup team selection and she will join the team from April 10-14.

All team players will also be competing in the individual event. England are the current holders of the Nations Cup.

ROWANY Golf Club held a two-man Texas scramble recently and both the winners and runners-up were family teams.

With a very impressive 59 points were the winning brothers Tom (0) and Patrick Gandy (11) while the runners-up were the father-and-son team of David (9) and Robert Hester (7) just a shot back on 60.

Saturday’s club stableford was very well supported with many scoring 36 or more. Top of the tree was Paul Corrin (12) with an excellent 44 points, two clear of the runners-up Mike Cregeen (10) and Paul Thomas (11). The latter two were separated on countback with second spot being awarded to Cregeen.

On Sunday the club held the second round of the Tower Insurance-sponsored Sunday stableford, which was again well supported and witnessed some excellent scoring. It was another great day for the Corrins, this time it was won by Dickie Corrin (14) with 40 after a close run battle with his son Dale (15) who was just a point behind.

This was a bit of déjà vu. Having previously and erroneously described a close see-saw battle between these two, this time it was for real. Dickie managed to covere the last seven holes in one-under-par to Dale’s level-par, although this was sufficient for the latter to edge Patrick Gandy into second spot on countback.

This Saturday there is the Tower Insurance monthly medal followed on Sunday by round three of the Sunday stableford series.

More news, results and events are available on the new-look www.rowanygolfclub.com There is also news relating to junior golf sessions for the Easter holidays and news coming soon about beginners looking to get into golf.

MARK Jones (13) recently returned from Turkey toting a brand new set of TaylorMade irons, woods and a putter thanks to a wonderful win in the TGI Golf Partnership Pro/AM team challenge held at the Lykia Links resort at Antalya. Led by former Walker Cup and Castletown professional, Mike Brooks, Jones and his team won by six clear shots to load up the loot.

Back to colder climes to compete at Castletown in a modified Am-Am, Jones could only coax his colleagues, Anthony O’Mahony (5), Bryan McMahon (5) and Dave Litton (18) to take fifth place, but luckily for some, he was selected as the competition’s joker.

Hence, Peter Miller (11), Manny Manuja (15) and Lindsay Black (24) received an injection of 16 bonus points to pluck them from relative obscurity to top of the lot with 89 stableford points. Mind you, Manuja helped the cause with 27 points, seven of which came from tremendous twos on the 13th and 16th. Miller averaged two points on 12 scoring holes while Black banked 22 points from just eight holes that included a nett eagle on the 11th and five further nett birdies.

Frankie Doherty (10), Stuart Campbell (12) and Lord Gort (2) similarly soared up the ranks receiving 12 points from Jones to secure second place with 87 points. Doherty donated 26 over 12 holes, Campbell contributed 22 on 11 and Gort generated 27 from a dazzling dozen, which included beautiful birdies on the 3rd, 9th and 15th holes.

The first full four-man team to feature included last week’s Medford competition runners-up Peter Robertson (11) and Brian Graham (17). This week they were joined by Tim Callow (18) and Cal Kinmond (23) who helped compile 84 points for third place but no prizes.

David Morris (10), Billy Hare (9), Mark Teare (6) and Ross Byrne (17) were one point back finishing fourth, just ahead of ‘Team Jones’ and then two more three balls in receipt of significant inputs from joker Jones.

We’re nearly back to proper golf this weekend, a bogey competition, the Woods Cup, currently held by Robert Quine.

YEAR six pupils at St John’s School were transported back in time to occupied France during the Second World War last week.

Each of the 28 pupils, aged 10 and 11, took on the persona of an undercover agent, known as Special Operations Executives (SOE), for the event at Knockaloe farm, in Patrick.

They performed a range of special tasks including code-cracking, laying traps to blow up enemy vehicles, deactivating bombs, sending radio messages home and making shelters.

And they learned how to move injured SOE agents by making an improvised stretcher from coats and broom handles.

The day also saw the children being interrogated by the Germans and hiding from a Gestapo officer – head teacher Nigel Bennett.

Teacher Sara Ayres has previously arranged ‘evacuation days’ for children, based on the home front in England but she explained that this year she wanted to take things a step further by looking at life in occupied France.

‘I wanted them to get a flavour of what it would have been like to an undercover agent in France,’ she said.

Mrs Ayres said: ‘I hope the day has given them a real sense of how scary it was and yet how brave these people were with taking chances with their lives.’

She said that the children had described the trip as one of the best they had ever been, adding: ‘I just hope it will stick with them.’

Mrs Ayres thanked Shaun Gelling of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for his support.

• See more pictures and order copies at {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/buyaphoto|www.iomtoday.co.im/buyaphoto}.

SATELLITE tags placed on basking sharks by the Manx Basking Shark Watch last summer have come off on schedule after 226 days.

Jackie Hall said it would take a few months to fully anaylse the data but said the pop-off locations indicated that the sharks have been over-wintering in the same grounds as most of the other tagged basking sharks.

Only one, a basking shark sponsored by Tower Insurance in 2007, went to Canadian waters, explaining why there seems to be significant genetic mixing between basking sharks worldwide.

She said the tags cost nearly £4,000 once analysed, but the information was priceless in starting to understand where these rare, endangered animals spend the winter.

The calmest of Sundays greeted the brave members who snuck out to Port St Mary Golf Club on Mother’s Day.

The scoring for the prizes was very close with Keith Wilkins shocking the field with an electrifying 37 points. Wilkins was playing off a 21-handicap and had a steady front nine and a back nine of 20 points.

Runner-up on a back six countback with 36 was regular prize winner Para Quirk, who just edged out Peter Crebbin, Roy Smithers and Evo. Smithers was unfortunate to have two no-scores on the back nine and, rumour has it, he isn’t blaming the course!

Bringing up the rear was Nelson and playing partner Pat O’Meara both with 12 points. The latter was disqualified after putting too high a handicap on his card. Seamist avoided buying the coffees by staying at home and nursing a major hangover.

This Sunday is the Albert Hotel Rosebowl kindly sponsored by Pat and Kay, the presentation is at 8pm prompt in the Albert all entrants are expected to attend.

RADICAL solutions have been proposed by consultants commissioned to review the island’s housing strategy, which concludes that rents must rise.

In fact, to eradicate the £7m deficit on public sector housing, it says rents would have to increase by inflation plus 16 per cent for five years. Even then, public sector rent would be 25 per cent lower than that on the open market.

In addition, the first-time buyer scheme comes under fire, with a recommendation it is scrapped in favour of a shared equity scheme.

The team’s report – the first to be carried out in the Isle of Man – uncovers just how unaffordable our existing affordable housing policy really is.

David Tolson Partnership was appointed by the government to analyse the current housing market, assess the sustainability of support provided for housing and to come up with a series of policy recommendations.

On Monday, the Department of Social Care announced a wide-ranging review of its housing policy, including the possibility of means-testing. But there was little reference made to the content of the report which preceded the consultation. The Manx Independent has taken a close look at the findings of the David Tolson Partnership.

Its report has been compiled against a backdrop of a massive cut in government income through the revision of the VAT agreement with the UK and at a time when the island is facing the challenge of a growing and rapidly ageing population, with the number of over 75s forecast to expand by 62 per cent by 2026.

The supply of affordable housing - whether public sector housing or homes subsidised under the First Time Buyer scheme – has not kept pace with the needs and demands of a growing population, says the report.

It found that while new house building has kept pace with the growth in the number of island households, the amount of public sector housing is only marginally higher than it was 15 years ago, despite substantial investment in new social housing.

The consultants found public sectors rents are low at an average of £52 per week compared with North West England (£57), South East England (£72), London (£82), Jersey (£145) and Guernsey (£167). And this understates the affordability of public housing here which is available to households with a maximum income ranging from £33,555 for households with no children up to £41,990 for households with three or more children.

By contrast public housing in Jersey is subject to strict eligibility criteria – applicants must be residentially qualified, and must either have young children, or be over 50 or have medical, physical or mental disabilities resulting in a need for special types of housing.

The consultants found that the public housing sector is increasingly financially unsustainable and the annual cost to the public purse will spiral over the next 10 years.

The housing deficit, the difference – picked up by the taxpayer – between rental income and construction and maintenance costs, currently stands at £7 million and is expected to increase by two and a half times by 2016.

David Tolson Partnership concludes that increasing rents is the only way to make a significant impact on the financial viability of public rented housing.

It calculates that to reduce the deficit to zero by 2016 would require annual rent increases of 16 per cent above inflation for five years, taking rent levels to above those in London Housing Associations - but would still be below open market rents by at least 25 per cent.

But the consultants concede that rent increases of 16 per cent, or even 10 per cent over inflation, would create difficulties of affordability for some households. It is possible that large rent increases might ‘push’ more tenants into benefits, they say. But if increases were more substantial for large properties, it could encourage under-occupying households to ‘trade down’.

The consultants suggest the income threshold for new tenants should be lowered and that ‘income review’ tests should be carried out at periodic intervals with those tenants earning above a set level having their tenancies re-evaluated or withdrawn as appropriate.

The consultants also found the construction costs of social housing were higher than anywhere else in the British Isles except the Channel Islands.

In December, it was announced public sector rents were due to go up by 10 per cent in April.

The report looks not just at public sector housing but also the need for sheltered or supported housing, first time buyers’ homes and the private rented sector.

Private rentals accounted for 12 per cent of households in 2006. Private sector rents in the Isle of Man are far higher than public sector rents, the report notes, but they are comparable with rents in towns in South East England and there is no evidence that they are higher than would be expected given market supply and demand.

The development of a Landlord Registration Scheme will help improve standards, the consultants conclude.

They also found that the first-time buyer scheme, which had has helped more than 1,200 households over the last decade, is not well targeted on need and it is unclear exactly what proportion of those who have used the scheme would have been able to buy some form of housing without its assistance.

The consultants suggest all purchasers should have to put down a minimum deposit of 10 per cent, or possibly 15 per cent.

However, they recommend that the first-time buyer scheme is phased out completely and replaced by a Shared Equity Scheme, where purchasers buy a share of the property in line with their ability to pay and the remaining equity share is held by a public body or housing association.

Turning to supported housing for the elderly, the consultants recommend means testing and supported needs assessments. Raising access barriers for more wealthy residents would also give an incentive to the development of private provision, the report adds.

IT’S time to start decorating your bras and planning your costumes for this year’s annual bra dashes.

Everyone from schools, sports teams, clubs, pubs, Women’s Institutes and Young Farmers are encouraged to get involved in the event, in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer Isle of Man.

Since its launch in 2005, the event has raised £123,132 for the charity.

The four dashes – in Douglas, Castletown, Ramsey and Peel – take place on April 27 and 28, and the aim is to raise awareness of the disease and fund research into a cure and prevention.

The first dash will start from the Marks and Spencer car park entrance, in Drumgold Street, Douglas, at 1.15pm on Friday, April 27. Call Angie Aire on 498864 or email {mailto:bradash@manx.net|bradash(at)manx.net}.

Fifteen minutes later, the Castletown dash will start from the Market Square. Call Tracy Clayton on 450217.

On Saturday, April 28, Ramsey dashers will leave from Shoprite at 12.30pm. Call Debbie Taylor on 458787. And, finally, Peel bra dash will take place on the Saturday at 2pm from Market Place. Contact Ian Baker on 201039.

At each of the four dashes, those who take part dressed up in teams of four or more could win £50 sponsored by Lloyds TSB Bank. There will be prizes for the fastest dasher, best dressed dasher, and best dressed child.

Residents at Sunnydale Residential Home, in Douglas, are already working on their costumes. Last year, they took part in the Douglas dash with the help of their wheelchairs, zimmer frames and walking sticks.

Hundreds of dashers took part in the 2011 dashes, and they raised £17,132 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Fancy dress costumes included Percy Pigs, an Olympics team, Pink Panther and a range of customised bras.

For more information and to download a sponsorship form, go to {http://www.bradash.com.bradash.com} Angie Aire thanked event sponsors Lloyds TSB Bank, 3FM, Shoprite and Coca-Cola.

POLICE are appealing for information for the whereabouts of Robert Dawson, aged 34.

Officers have concerns for his welfare and are asking anyone who can help locate him to get in touch.

Mr Dawson was last seen in the Braddan area at midday today (Saturday) wearing a red hoodie with white writing on the front, blue jeans and new white trainiers.

He is slim, about five feet eight inches tall with very short hair.

He has a large scar on the back of his head.

Anyone with information should contact police headquarters on 631212.

Isle of Man men’s national football side beat Southern Amateur League 2-1

THE Isle of Man booked their place in the final of the FA Inter-League Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Southern Amateur League at the Bowl this afternoon.

In front of a bumper 2,012 crowd the hosts once again had to come from behind after Alex Ewin gave the SAL a first-half lead.

As has become the re-occurring theme of Kevin Manning side’s current cup run the Men produced a much-improved second-half showing and Ciaran McNulty levelled the tie six minutes into the second period.

The St George’s striker’s goal buoyed the hosts and the Manx were soon awarded a penalty when man of the match contender Julian Ringham’s surging run was brought to an abrupt end in the Greater London side’s box.

Nick Hurt saw his resulting spot-kick well saved by SAL keeper Dan Ashley, but undeterred the Manx continued to battle and with 61 minutes on the clock edged in front when Frank Jones turned in Ringham’s cross from the right.

SAL pushed for a late equaliser, but the Manx held firm to book their place against Jersey or Cheshire, who meet next week, in April 28’s final which will also be held at the Bowl.

* In the day’s other game Union Mills booked their place in a second cup final in as many weeks as they beat Pulrose 8-2 in the semis of the GH Corlett Woods Cup. The Millers will face Douglas Royal in the final on the evening of Thursday, April 5 before playing St George’s in the Cu-Plas FA Cup final three days later on Easter Monday, April 9. Both games will take place at the Bowl.

Full reports on both games, plus reaction from Kevin Manning and Sean Quaye in Monday morning’s Examiner.

Laxey draw Rushen, while Old Boys travel to Peel

Ties to be played on the evening of Sunday, April 15

St George’s v Marown

Douglas Royal v Union Mills

Colby v Foxdale

Laxey v Rushen

RYCOB v Pulrose

Castletown v St Mary’s

Malew v Police

Ronaldsway v Corinthians

Gymns v St John’s

Peel v DHSOB

Vagabonds and Ramsey draw 3-3 in derby match in South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two

South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two

Vagabonds 3-3 Ramsey

Douglas 29-15 Sefton

Shimmin Wilson Manx Trophy

Southern Nomads P-P Douglas B

Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl

Castletown 24-31 Emerging Nomads

AN annual church charity collection gets under way at the end of the month raising money to help some of the world’s most poverty-stricken people.

Last year people in the Isle of Man contributed more than £6,500 towards the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s appeal which works with 120 countries trying to eliminate world poverty.

Noel Apugan, pastor of the Isle of Man Seventh Day Adventist Church, said: ‘The objective is to achieve a world without poverty by giving poor people the resources, skills and opportunities they need to meet basic needs and transform their lives.’

The charity supports people in the UK, Africa, Asia and elsewhere helping them to survive disasters and conflicts.

‘Every £1 donated is worth £6 because there is a top up from the European Commission,’ he added.

With this supplement, the total raised in the Isle of Man was boosted to just under £40,000 last year.

Money raised in 2010 is currently helping to fund projects in Burma, Somalia, Ghana, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, Zambia and the UK.

‘We provide opportunities and tools to address poverty, hunger and helath problems like HIV and AIDS,’ Mr Apugan said.

As part of this year’s appeal, volunteers in the Isle of Man will be making door-to-door collections around the whole of the island for two weeks from March 31 to April 15. All collectors will have identification and wear yellow vests with the ADRA logo on.

As much money as possible is spent on lasting solutions, in other words giving people the means to help themselves, rather than simply providing short-term relief. To this end, the charity has provided help drilling wells for fresh drinking water, seeds for people to grow their own food and support for children in education.

FIRSTLY, my apologies. I am still here! Owing to popular demand, as in no-one else would do the job, I have been asked to continue to compile the golf reports for this year. So, for those of a weak disposition, you have been warned.

Saturday saw the first major competition of the season at Ramsey get under way with the St Patrick’s Day bash.

The competition was jointly sponsored by Ramsey’s own Harbour Bistro and Heron and Brierley, and was played in excellent conditions which reflected in the scoring.

This was also helped by the fact, it being a mixed competition, us blokes had to play off the women’s card and stroke indexes while still using the men’s tees. It certainly made for some interesting scoring.

Proving they have the stamina, commitment, startling good looks and a propensity for downing copious amounts of the black stuff, it was the dream team of Tim Kelly, Robbie Moore, Adam Greenwood and Steve Westcott who took top honours on countback with a score of 98 pints. Erm, sorry, points.

Second, also on 98, were the slightly less glamorous team of Sean Cunningham, Pete Callister, Ray McAlleney and Paul Routledge, with the sponsors team of Pat Devenney and the Kinrade quintuplets taking third by virtue of having the worst back nine.

Our grateful thanks go to the Harbour Bistro for sponsoring the event yet again, and to Heron and Brierley for their ongoing commitment to Ramsey Golf Club.

Now that the gorse is in flower and the daffs are blooming it is a sure sign that spring is on its way and with it the start of the golf season proper.

I look forward to compiling further reports and keeping you informed how we folk at Ramsey are getting along. Till the next time, swing true.

A BUSY St Patrick’s weekend at Mount Murray Golf Club produced some great, along with some not-so-great, golf over the two days culminating in Tim Calladine and Paul Carson securing the much coveted Corbridge’s Winter League title with a hard fought 2 and 1 victory over Marcus Avery and Neil Dunwell in the final.

In Saturday’s four-person Am-Am the team of Johan and Herman Loubser with Rob and Paul Noon came out on top with a fine score of 90 points, with all four making significant contributions to the total.

Second went to Charlie Garside, Andy Nicholson, Peter Smith and team event specialist Neil Atkinson with their score of 84, just beating Peter Wood, Richard Groenewald, Jeff Moore and Bob Eaton on a countback.

Many thanks to Mrs Gubay for her support of the event, the Guinness and Irish stew were very much appreciated.

Sunday’s individual stableford went to vice-captain Brian Kelly with a super effort of 42 points even with a blob. Completing a very successful weekend in second place was Rob Noon on 41 points with another of Mount Murray’s fine crop of juniors Alex McAuley in third on 38. Mike Pigott also scored 38 points but missed out oncountback.

This Sunday’s shotgun start is the final round of the winter league plate and will be followed by all the winter league presentations and lunch.

THE annual St Patrick’s Day Am-Am was played at Peel Golf Club last Friday and, for once, the forecast was sadly right as it rained cats and dogs from start to finish.

Despite this, 23 of the 25 teams set off and more than half completed the course. Long drive for the women went to Briedhe Gore while the men’s went to Robin Dawson. Nearest the pin on the 2nd went to Nigel Rawlinson, to Jim Kewin on the 6th, John Becket on the 10th and Alan Gault on the 17th.

In third place was the team of Mat Williamson, Ray Hughes, Glenn Saunders and Simon Whewell with 77 points just behind the authentic Irish team of Jimmy Keane, John O’Brien, Brendan Conroy and Brendan McLaughlin in second with 80 points. The winners on countback were the president’s team of Ray Teare, Joe Peruzza, Les Gale and Steve Heap. Cheap Guinness and a hearty stew were enjoyed by all beforre everyone headed home to dry out!

Saturday was a total contrast with no wind, warm sunshine and spring in the air. An individual stableford was the format. Paul Crellin (4) had 39 points for sixth place, while James Kelly (8) was fifth on countback also with 39 and in fourth place Chris Duff (16) had a terrific front nine of 23 points but faded a bit at the end for 40 points.

Shaun Corrin (11) finished with four straight pars to take third on countback with his 40 points while second place with 41 was David Cairns (16) but it was George Harris (4) who was the winner with 41 points, getting the decision on countback with an excellent 22 points on the homeward nine. He was back in 32 with a bogey up 18 and sees his handicap reduced down to 3.2.

This Saturday’s comp is one of the club’s biggest, the Joe Gale Bogey.

TWO Manx students mixed with the likes of Her Majesty the Queen, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma during a visit to London for Commonwealth Day.

Abby Dixon, from St Jude’s, and Kirsty Renshaw, from Crosby, joined more than 1,000 schoolchildren, London-based High Commissioners and distinguished guests in a multi-faith celebration in Westminster Abbey for the annual celebration of the Commonwealth nations.

Abby and Kirsty, both 23, were selected to attend by the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to join other young people nominated by CPA branches throughout the UK. The 2012 theme was Connecting Cultures, illustrated through music and dance to demonstrate the Commonwealth’s ‘extraordinary cultural tapestry’ as referred to by Her Majesty in her Commonwealth Day message, which was broadcast throughout the world.

Abby said: ‘It was a fantastic day and an incredible opportunity to meet and network with young representatives from all over the Commonwealth.

‘The atmosphere inside the Abbey was wonderful and the celebratory performances of all kinds a real pleasure to witness.’

The pair also attended presentations led by UK and visiting parliamentarians that dealt with issues affecting the Commonwealth and focused on the CPA’s work in promoting parliamentary democracy. The day concluded with a reception at Marlborough House in Pall Mall, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Abby is reading for an MSc in migration, mobility and development at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), while Kirsty is reading law at BPP law school, London.

CPA Isle of Man branch chairman Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘I am pleased that Abby and Kirsty found the experience memorable and were able to witness something of the scale, scope and diversity of the Commonwealth, a body of nations working to share experience and knowledge and strengthen its ties of citizenship.’

THE top player at King Edward Bay Golf Club hadn’t been in the best form heading in to Saturday’s stableford but Neil Caine (1) finally shook off the winter blues with a scintillating gross 62.

Walking off the 12th green at level par, the island player set alight his favourite stretch of holes going birdie-par-eagle-birdie-birdie-par to tally a winning 41 points and once again cement a scratch handicap.

The highlight was undoubtedly his eagle on the par-four 15th after driving the green, which was followed by another two mammoth tee shots down the 16th and 17th leaving basic chip and putts. Afterwards he said his disappointing start (two over after three) was the reason he didn’t break that illusive 60 barrier, but something tells me we won’t have to wait too long to see that from him.

Runner-up was club captain Roy Callow (11) with 39 points; he too overcame an iffy start to return in super five-under-nett, helped by a tidy birdie two on the 12th. That gave him a one-point cushion ahead of vice-captain Chris Murphy (7) who found his stunning best form over the closing stretch.

After starting the back nine with a fatal double then triple, the Scratch League player birdied the 12th, 14th, 16th and 18th to finish three under his handicap. If only for that damned 11th, eh?

Honourable mentions this time to Mike Maddrell (19), Ralph Sutcliffe (10), John McMullan (5) and the top-finishing Irish player on Paddy’s Day - John Gilpin (11).

Sunday’s three-man yellow ball comp produced a comfortable victory for Joey Doyle, JP Kenna and A. Taylor whose 79 points were three clear of the family team of Ramsey Corlett, Mike Harrison and Greg Harrison.

This was one better than the 75 scored by Adrian Copley, Lee Harrison and Syd McKnight with Trevor Rilatt, Jimmy Russell and Mel Todd just off the pace.

It’s the usual stableford banter on Saturday followed by the monthly medal on Sunday – anyone who rocks up an hour late for the tee time will be suitably mocked in next week’s report.

ERIC Landheer, a senior figure in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has visited the island in a bid to drum up business from Manx-registered firms seeking a foothold in Asia.

The island was granted approved status by the Hong Kong exchange in October 2010, but despite inquiries no firm has yet taken the plunge to seek a listing.

Californian Mr Landheer was invited to speak at the Sefton Hotel by the Department of Economic Development. The event was co-hosted and sponsored by Douglas law practice Dougherty Quinn. The tie-up is part of a new joint approach between government and the private sector to raise the island’s profile around the world.

Mr Landheer, senior vice president of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, who is on a whistlestop tour of 15 venues across Europe, told Business News he was impressed with the way the island does business and he is confident Manx registered firms will come on board.

Steven Beevers, head of special projects at the Department of Economic Development, said the island was one of only 23 countries given approved status by the Hong Kong organisation. Organisers said it was a real coup for Mr Landheer to agree to come and speak to a local audience. He stressed the importance of Hong Kong as an international finance centre.