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Tennis in the heart of Bedfordshire

Club Tournament Presentation Evening November 2008 - place mouse over picture to enlarge photo

 

Friday 20 June 2008  Pub Games Night   Mike Reay about to insert a dart into John Kitchener’s ear for missing the double one again. Twenty five eager tennis club members attended the Pub Games Night on Friday 20th June, held at the Wingfield Club in Ampthill.  Darts, Table Football and Skittles tournaments, together with a competitive spirit, a busy bar and a buffet supper all created a great fun atmosphere. This competitive spirit was much in evidence in the pub games challenges.  The Table Football competition created as much perspiration and amusement as the Euros in Austria and Switzerland, and the Skittles Knock Out was rather noisy and if you stood too close, dangerous. Due to the special prizes on offer, much international interest was being shown in the Darts Tournament. Whilst the eager members who attended have different abilities on the tennis court, they all shared a common inability to throw straight.  The Organisers hope that each round should comprise of three legs of 501 was hopelessly optimistic. Soon this was dropped to three rounds of 301, then to one round.  Nonetheless there were some impressive performances.  Derek Hicks achieved a 140, and Duncan McLaren went out with a spectacular three dart 118 finish, ending with a bull.  Unfortunately Nick Benjamin had to point out to him he had scored 10 too many and should have finished with double top. Ouch. The eventual winners were Mike Reay and John Kitchener – pictured above.  As they already both have a Speedboat, they declined the first prize and accepted a bottle of wine each instead.  Derek Hicks and Jan Howell were the disappointed losers in the final – Derek was particularly upset as he had already bought a pair of water skis in anticipation of victory. Richard and Maria Jose Ernest convincingly won the Table Football.  Showing much evidence of a misspent youth, and hours of lunchtime practice, Richard’s excellent shooting blew away everyone they came up against – including Tracy and David Cartwright in the final.    The disappointment of losing the Table Football inspired Tracy and David Cartwright to win the Skittles Tournament overcoming Nick and Linda Benjamin.  Tracy says that she owes her victory to her Northamptonshire upbringing; apparently skittles is popular up North.  More likely it was the significant alcohol intake. All in all an enjoyable, noisy and fun evening.  Many requests for a repeat event were made, and it’s hoped that it can be repeated in the autumn. Martin Howell, Social Secretary
Friday 4 April 2008 Team Points The Shergar Tinned Dog Food Co. 150 In No Particular Order 150 The Old Codgers and Shelley 148 The Young ‘Uns 146 Norfolk ‘n’Good 142 The Champions 142 Ampthill Meths Spirits 140 Top Tips 134 Universally Challenged 132 The BC’s 131 University of Life 123 The Sarah Bellam Five 116 Toy Boys 116 Game, Set and Match 109 Pensioners 87	Quiz Night at Parkside Hall, Ampthill “Who was the last British driver to win the Formula 1 driving championship?”   “What three words were used to give ”Durex” condoms their name?”  “In the eleventh century who said “If you don’t put that bow and arrow down, you’ll have someone’s eye out””?  If you know the answers to these questions then you would have been successful at the first Flitwick & Ampthill LTC Quiz Night, held at the Parkside Hall Ampthill, on Friday 4th April.    Fifteen teams entered and pitted their wits and intelligence against ten rounds of questions – set by me.  As well as the standard general knowledge, sport and literature rounds, there were film rounds with video clips, song lyric rounds and TV theme rounds.  At half time a ploughman’s supper was served, which just helped to soak up the fairly significant amount of alcohol being consumed.  Many interestingly named teams entered, including “Game Set and Match, Ampthill Meths Spirits,  Norfolk‘n’Good, but the winner of the best named team was “Universally Challenged” which was deemed not only the most clever name, but also the most apt, bearing in mind its team members. Once all the rounds were completed and the scores calculated, it was discovered that there was a tie for first place between “The Shergar Tinned Dog Food Company” and “In No Particular Order”.  A tie break question was asked and Shergar won it - by a nose so to speak. It was a noisy evening and good fun was had by all.  Special thanks go to Derek Hicks as Technical Operator, plus helpers on the night, Barbara Turner, Yvette Hicks, Ann Scotts,  Jan Howell, Mike Reay and Luc Scotts.  Thanks also to Terry Mabbit for sorting out the raffle, plus Emma Howell for burning a bit of midnight oil with me making sure the questions were not entirely biased towards the over 50’s. For those of you who were there, we hope you enjoyed it, for those of you who couldn’t make it, then make sure you come to the next one! Martin Howell PS  The answers to the three questions above are:  Damon Hill.    Durability, Reliability, and Excellence.   King Harold in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings
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