Whist

Results, September 19: top score: Muriel Griffiths; 1st lady - Joan Dorling; 2nd lady - Gerry Meaney; 1st gent - Vera Burrows; 2nd gent - Pauline Barnikel; 1st half winner - Ray Cullimore; 2nd half - Gladys Cleaton; longest sitter - Mair Marquiss; raffle winners - Gerry Meaney and Mair Marquiss. Thursday, September 22: top score - Mabel Whitaker; 1st lady - Mair Marquiss; 2nd lady - Gerry Meaney; 1st gent - Vera Burrows; 2nd gent - Ray Cullimore; 1st half winner - Bill Whitaker; 2nd half winner - Pauline Barnikel; longest sitter - Muriel Griffiths; raffle winners - Pauline Barnikel and Gladys Cleaton. Important notice to all members: The Monday evening whist now changes to Saturday afternoon, commencing on Saturday, October 8, at the usual time of 2 pm sharp. There will be no whist on Monday, October 3. For the duration of the off-season, whist will be played in the function room of Tenby Bowling Club every Thursday evening at 7.30 pm sharp and Saturday afternoon at 2 pm sharp. New members and visitors are very welcome. TENBY 112 NEWQUAY 111

This match had more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie thriller. We knew it would be one of the hardest matches of the season, as this was the third annual visit of the Newquay Club to us. To compound matters even further, the Seasiders were without seven regulars, who had to cry off for various reasons, so it was a case of players playing in positions that they were unfamiliar with, and drafting in subs to fill the gaps. Everyone was conscious that this game was the one that stood between us and the unbeaten record that stretches back to June 2004. Gerald Hewitt, in his first game at skip, was immense, and slotted into the role with all the calm assurance of a seasoned veteran. With Stuart Askew calmness personified, Lilian Howells all enthusiasm and encouragement and Lon Evans gelling well with Gerald, the rink came home by three shots, but significantly kept a stranglehold on their opponents. It was a disastrous count of six that allowed Gwyn Beynon's opponents back into the game, but they stuck to their task and came away with a creditable draw. While there was tense feelings on the surrounding rinks, Mair Marquiss was all calm as she cajoled and coaxed her foursome to only a four-shot reverse. By the 14th end, Alison Redman was staring a 14-shot deficit in the face, but our Allie is a fighter and the rink hauled themselves back into the game to trail by only seven shots. But then horror of horrors, they dropped a count of six, to swing the balance of the match back in favour of the visitors. Another who never gives up is Terry Howells, and ably assisted by Graham Hill and Lloyd Wilton, who is improving with every game, they picked up a four on the last end to ease home by nine shots. Mike and his crew were involved in a titanic struggle with visiting captain, Tom Beauchamp. Margaret Skyrme had her hands full with the visiting lead, but again did not give an inch, while Chris Morgan again served up a magnificent performance. Again the home side picked up four shots on the final end to ease home by nine. Back in the pavilion, with only Alison out still playing, a quick tot up of the scores saw the home side up by 17 shots. How was Allie doing? When all the dust had settled, she had held on to keep the deficit to 16. But that was not the end of the story, as visiting captain Tom had worked it out that the visitors had romped home by 17 shots, until he realised that he had put one of the home scores down for the visitors. Home by one shot, the record was intact! Mike thanked all the squad for all their endeavour and commitment over the long season, and then the party started! There was singing and enjoyment by all the assembled members that we had come through a long season unbeaten. Rink scores (Tenby first, visiting skips only) were: C. Roberts, H. Meades, A. Owen, A. Redman 14, I. Evans 30. M. Skyrme, P. Jones, C. Morgan, M. Crockford 24; T. Beauchamp 15. V. Roberts, L. Wilton, G. Hill, T. Howells 25; F. Kendal 16. M. Burns, M. Draper, J. Taylor, G. Beynon 17; N. Beauchamp 17. G. Brutnell, G. Beeken, R. Wilkins, M. Marquiss 14; I. Watkins 18. S. Askew, L. Howells, L. Evans, G. Hewitt 18; E. Jones 15.

PARTIES GALORE

Friday night, cold and windy, saw the end of season party for the friendly squad members, The Redman Catering Company, as usual, put on a great buffet, helped by Marnie Owens. A 'spider' was won by Lillian Howells after Chris Morgan had knocked the 'dummy' bottle flying - far better there was water on the green than whisky! Various prizes were awarded during the evening and everyone enjoyed themselves to the full. Indeed, it was a week when the whole club seemed to be partying. The ladies, all 17 of them, had decamped to a local restaurant to start their evening off on Wednesday and, judging by the stories the following day, they partied well! On the Saturday, the annual ladies versus gents match was played in bitterly cold conditions. Making their debuts for the respective teams were Mel Bray and Kenny Williams. Vera Williams, as she did last year, was again victorious for the fairer sex. In the evening, captain Andrew Muskett led his Tenby team out for their annual end of season meal. It was a great weekend to round off the season.

REVEALING STATISTICS

As mentioned above, the Tenby team enjoyed a night out on the town on Saturday. Whilst the season had not been the most successful ever, with several new faces having come into the line-up during the past summer, it was generally agreed that the team had 'punched above its weight'. They had been title challengers for much of the time, before finishing a creditable fourth in the county league. They had also reached the semi-final of the Diment Cup and had won through as one of the county's two representatives in the Carruthers Shield. During the night, Peter Day was the popular choice as 'player of the season', having been the clear winner in a ballot amongst the Tenby squad. Captain Andrew Muskett congratulated Peter and presented him with a small gift, and went on to thank the players for their support during the season. Peter had been one of the team's four skips, and in comprehensive statistics produced by captain Andrew, it was revealed that all four of them had played in all 23 matches (League, Cup and Carruthers)! Of those matches, 15 had been won and eight lost. Pat Currie finished as the top skip with 17 wins under his belt, followed by Peter with 14.5, captain Andrew with 13 and Terry Howells with 12. Biggest rink win (+33 shots) was a 38-5 success by Pat Currie, Craig Guymer, Neil Dickinson and Steve Taylor, while most shots scored by a rink was a 40-9 tally by Andrew Muskett, John Webb, Graham Hill and Luke Guymer - including a 'hotshot' count of eight. Finally, captain Andrew thanked everyone for paying their fines during the season, which certainly contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the night's celebrations!

WORKING PARTY

Greenkeeper Chris Jenkins was hard at work minutes after the Newquay game had ended, spiking the green, and all the cores extracted were cleared by Monday morning. The topsoil will be laid on tomorrow (Saturday). Anyone wishing to help with this task will be welcome. Make sure you tell Reg Thake if you want tea or coffee.