Skittles Champions Again!

Skittles is not everyone's cup of tea but most of you are interested in our performances during the competition.

This year there were 2 pools of 5 teams and the winners for the semi finals would be between the winner of pool 1 and the runner up in pool 2 and visa versa. We were in Pool 1 with Braunton, Ilfracombe, South Molton and Bideford Bridge.

You would think it would be easy to arrange a series of matches ie 4 games before Xmas.  As Rotarians we arrange multitudes of projects, help numerous organisations, raise bucket loads of money, but the one thing that we cannot do effectively is organise a skittles match on time!

In our first game we thrashed South Molton away and in our second game we were well beaten by Braunton who are a very good side. It was one of our poorest performances for a while, perhaps not enough ale was consumed!! Ilfracombe were frightened of our reputation and gave us the game, and then we went on to beat Bid Bridge.

We were runners up in our Pool which was a bit disappointing as the loss against Braunton was our first defeat in 2 years. We played a very good Braunten Caen (Pool 2 winners) in our semi final and despatched them after a hard fought match.

Braunton also got through to the final and their captain and myself were forever fixing dates, trying to make sure we both had our best teams out. We finally fixed the date and played towards the end of May at the Rolle Quay Pub in Barnstaple, A very fine, hospitable pub with good food but the outside Skittles ''shed'' left a lot to be desired. Our team were totally fired up for the final, no nerves, totally focused, deep sense of revenge and the juices flowing. This all added up to a convincing win beating them 4 out of 6 rubs and 21 points ahead. Everyone played well with a couple of the team having their best ever game.

Braunton were magnanimous in defeat and we had a good fellowship evening sitting in the beer garden with them and  polishing our shield once again. Considering most of our squad are not regular players, it is quite surprising that we have been so successful. We have in fact won the North Devon Trophy for the last 3 years and (specific years escape me) possibly two or three times before that.

We were down to play the winners of South Devon but unfortunately I could not raise a team before the end of the Rotary Year.

I would like to thank the squad for their success this year, a magnificent effort by everyone and I hope that we can continue in the next Year.