Clean sweep for Kings at Leamington championships

SPORT DIGEST

BOWLS

Kings Bowling Club based at the seafront in Torquay became the undisputed number one club in England after winning the Men’s and Women’s National Top Club Competitions at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa, on Sunday.

In the afternoon’s finals the men’s side defeated Norfolk to complete a hat-trick of successes in the event, while the women’s side beat Sutton from Surrey to win the title for the first time since 2009.

HORSE RACING

There are just three meetings left before the curtain comes down on Newton Abbot Racecourse’s 2018 season and, on Friday, the course hosts a six-race card headed by the Devondale Electrical Novices' Chase over two miles, writes David Hucker.

One For Billy tops the weights for the feature race and this 140-rated chaser would have every chance of taking the day’s biggest prize following his recent run when behind second to Caid Du Lin at Worcester. Back in fifth that day was Royal Plaza, trained at Shaldon by Katie Stephens, who didn’t run badly on his last appearance over the course.

Cheltenham Festival winner Flying Tiger is an interesting newcomer over fences, as is the progressive Highway One O One, who has won three times over hurdles.

Four previous winners are amongst the 18 entries for the opening Independent Racecourses Limited IRL Novices' Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles that gets the card underway at 2.10pm.

On official ratings, there is little to choose between Francky Du Berlais, who has chased home useful novices Hatcher and Angel Of Harlem on his last two starts, and No Hiding Place, who has failed to sparkle in two runs over fences.

Accord, who is still looking for a first win over hurdles after five starts, is also entered in the following race but, if running in this one, could give Francky Du Berlais most to do.

Dulverton trainer Jeremy Scott could hold the key to the Devondale Electrical Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, having entered Guerrilla Tactics, who has an alternative entry in the closing race, and Moorlands George.

After finishing a close second to Call Me Vic over the course in July, Guerrilla Tactics reverted to hurdles at Stratford last month and just got home from Dreamsoftheatre by a diminishing head. Back over fences, he would race from a 5lb higher mark and could have course winner Moorlands George, who is returning after wind surgery, to beat.

Colin Tizzard’s Top Chief has become a bit of a standing dish at the course in recent weeks and Calin Du Brizais, who has been mixing hurdles and fences, continues to drop down the weights.

The music of Acker Bilk will be familiar to West Country jazz fans and the horse carrying the same name struck at the first time of asking over jumps for David Pipe after being sold out of Keith Dalgleish’s stable. He looks the one to beat in the Happy 60th Birthday Chris Cross Novices' Hurdle although, in receipt of weight, Victor Dartnall’s River Bray could give him a run for his money if in top form after a nine-month absence.

There is a massive entry of 29 for the Peter Edwards 80th Birthday Party Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, with Mauricio, who came good at the fourth time of asking for trainer Dr Richard Newland, and Stratford winner Ladies Dancing looking the pick.

ANGLING

Excellent catches continued at Town Parks Fishery as the fish remained on the feed!!

The Specimen Lake in particular saw anglers enjoying frantic sport with several personal bests reported.

Aaron Slade usually fishes the Match Lake but decided to try the Specimen Lake to try to improve his personal best fish of 5lbs 8oz.

Slade was not left disappointed when he banked two Carp, both personal bests.

First to grace the bank was a superb Common which tipped the scales at 26lbs dead which was closely followed by a Linear of 18lbs 2oz much to Slades

Kings’ Sam Tolchard celebrates in Royal Leamington Spa delight. Regular Dave Smith fished for Bream but banked two Catfish of 32lbs 4oz and 19lbs 2oz and topped off with a mid-teens Common.

Smith fished sweetcorn which also tempted plenty of Bream.

One unnamed angler visited the venue on three consecutive days having never caught a catfish.

On each day he took three Cat’s with the best at 48lbs 7oz.

The biggest cat ran round the central island and snagged up but after leaving plenty of free line the beast swam back out and eventually hit the net.

Red halibut and krill pellets proved effective!

Catfish were abundant with most anglers taking at least one fish and many reporting multiple catches taken both day and night time!

Many fish over 40lbs were reported.

On the Match Lake sport was also good as the carp fed throughout. Up to 18 carp per session were reported with all the pegs producing. Pellet and luncheon meat were the preferred baits!

A group of disabled young adults enjoyed a tutored day hosted by the Masons on the top lake.

The group fished maggot offered shallow from three-metre whips.

Everybody caught roach and perch which was exciting as none of the group had fished before. Bream showed from dam wall pegs with some medium bags reported.

GOLF

The good weather has seen the course at Bovey Tracey Golf Club speed up considerably which has resulted in some good scores in competitions.

The Ladies Rabbit Trophy, run as an 18-hole stableford for ladies with handicaps of 36+ was won by Eileen Ashall (37) with 35 points, two points ahead of Linda Cooke (39) who took second place.

On the same day the ladies also played a midweek medal, this being won by Sue Adams (30) with a net 70, Dawn Taylor (32) and Tracy Crooks (12) were second and third respectively with net scores on 71 and 72.

The final Championship of the year was the Seniors Club Championship, played in good conditions reflected in the winning score of nett 66 by Glynne Watson (25). Second place was taken by Kelvin Maddick(26) with a nett score of 67 which was one stroke ahead of Phil Gaywood(18) who claimed third place.

Pride of place should go to two of the ladies, Helen Frankpitt and Sheelah Ayliffe, have played in the Daily Mail Foursomes trophy. They have now played seven rounds on a knockout basis, four at home and three away, and have done very well to now take a place in the finals to be played at St Pierre on October 14-16.

SNOOKER

Brixham Cons A confirmed themselves as Torbay Winter Snooker League Premier Division runners-up as the 3-3 draw at sixth-placed St Marychurch A with Simon Plummer having a 35-clearance for Brixham and Pete Bicknell a 25 for St Marychurch, saw them finish three frames clear of long time challengers St Marychurch G who were also held to a 3-3 draw at Matchroom D.

Champions Match Room A completed their season with Dave Mucklow (40), Adrian Tocknell (48) and Dennis Thorn (13) having breaks in their 4-2 victory over fifth placed Match Room Z.

Ellacombe Cons A won the battle of the bottom two 4-2 to condemn Match Room E to bottom spot.

With Match Room F crowned Division One champions last week, Brixham Sea Anglers X secured second spot with a 5-1 win at seventh-placed Galaxy E, while long time top two team Teignmouth Social A went down 4-2 to fourth placed Preston Cons B despite a 42 break by Andy Hill but the defeat saw them slip to third place. J

ason Matthews had breaks of 35 and 26 as Central Cons A finished fifth, confining Paignton Cons A to bottom spot.

Match Room F completed their season with a 5-1 win with Ian Thompson having a 30 break for the Champions leaving St Marychurch in eighth place.

Roundham A confirmed themselves as champions of Division Two with an emphatic 6-0 victory at bottom placed Paignton Cons B, while Matchroom T secured runners-up spot with a 4-2 win at seventh placed Roundham B.

Galaxy C secured third spot with Ryan Gibson (21) and Darren Nicholls (39) helping them to a 4-2 win at fourth placed Brixham Sea Anglers A, while Hookhills A finish fifth and St Marychurch C ninth as they drew 3-3 and Preston Cons A secured sixth spot with a 4-2 win at eighth-placed Teignmouth Social B.

The presentation evening will take place at sponsors The Match Room on Friday, October 5. This will include the Alec Astin final, a free buffet, games and a raffle – all to commence at 7.30pm.

The Torbay Match Room Winter Snooker League will commence on October 4.

GOLF

The Annual John Gutteridge Memorial Trophy was played on the Championship Course at Dartmouth Golf Club on Monday.

This was

an

individual Stableford qualifying competition played off the blue tees. All entry monies have been donated to Devon Air Ambulance in memory of the late John Gutteridge.

To mark the tenth anniversary of this trophy former seniors captain George Reeve kindly offered the following prizes for this event – a £20 M&S voucher.

For nearest the pin on the par three third, fifth, seventh and 18th holes there was a bottle of wine and a sleeve of three balls.

Longest drive on the par four 399 yard 14th hole won a bottle of wine and a sleeve of three balls.

Twenty-eight golfers contested this prestigious event.

It was a greyish and wet start to the day as the remnants of the recent eastern US weather system began to hit the Devon coastline.

Fortunately, the weather did hold good for the duration of the competition and surprisingly the players got away without having to don the wet gear!

Early scores in did suggest that the course was playing reasonably well with Trevor Pretty recording 40 points (21/19) and Gordon Holmes 39(18/21).

Early birds Alistair Forbes and Geoffrey Jewell were also in the clubhouse with 38 & 36 respectively.

Thereafter it was a case of waiting to see whether these numbers which had been posted would be challenged. Indeed they would and it was Alan Goldthorpe, an individual Stableford winner on August 13, who just pipped Trevor on count back split 18/22 to win the event.

Graham White too had a good round with 39 (16/23) points to finish third on count back.

Best unblemished round of the day came from the consistent Mario Aresti playing off 6 handicap who shot a gross 78 – but this was only good enough to finish in eighth position.

Nearest the pins at the par threes winners were Stephen Owen, Robert Waye and Alan Goldthorpe. No one troubled the 200-yard seventh green.

Longest drive on 14 was shot by Alistair Forbes – with a bullet – which went around 275 yards. He promptly followed the shot up with a birdie.

The Senior's captain Michael Whitelaw held his away day at Dainton Park Golf Course on Friday September, 14, with 34 golfers contesting the fun day event.

Geoffrey Jewell was on fire winning four prizes in total but it was the ' artful dodger' Paul Dunkerley who stole the show with 38 points.