Skittles Evening

Sat. 13th May 2006

Tortoises grab nine-pin glory but Bob snatches extra-time victory

All organiser Len Quartly's planning paid dividends as the skittles event to raise funds for the Hilly 100 and Welsh Castles Relays was a great success. Over 40 persons of all ages enjoyed the evening at the Alloys social club in Redditch. Len cajoled the latecomers from the bar, organised six teams and acted as master of ceremonies throughout.

The 'Tortoises' triumphed over the 'Snails', 'Sloths' and the other teams (was Len trying to tell us something by his choice of team names?) with  Ken top-scoring, including two of only three nine pin clearances of the night. Rita Brownlie may be a qualified track official but she cried foul to no avail when Len invoked 'Quartly Rules' to reduce her score on several occasions (some technicality about the ball coming off the wall of the alley). Len may find himself marshalling a dark, cold and wet spot on a race as his punishment.

A sumptuous spread of savouries and pudding was laid on by Emily and Ann Beacham for the mid-contest break. In fact there was so much that many of us left with our Sunday lunch in doggy bags.

The fund-raising raffle was also a success with added interest provided by the use of two sets of green tickets with the same numbers. Be warned, never come between Irene Nicholls and a raffle prize, but all was sorted amicably in the end.

The finale was the killer competition to win a bottle of whisky by seeing who could get a silver coin closest to it. Phil Anderson looked to have this sewn up until the arrival of serious money in the form of Bob Kesterton and his sister-in-law (sorry, I don't know her name). If only there had been more time, they surely would have donated enough small change to fund the relays completely! In a conclusion worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, Bob fluorished his last ten pence in front of the excited audience and spun it up the alley. The hush was broken as the coin slid in to pole position. But even as Bob jumped into the air, she had leapt like an Olympic sprinter from the blocks to sieze the bottle. Surley next month's World Cup cannot hope to match this for pure sporting drama. As I left, it was still not clear who would claim the ultimate prize.

So congratulations to Ken for an excellent event. Thanks go to Ann and Emily for terrific grub and to those persons who donated raffle prizes and of course to everyone who turned up to make it such an enjoyable evening and raise very welcome funds for the club.

(PA)