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Wednesday saw a long awaited event at Heckmondwike. 18 players from each club played in a triples competition based on the Mansfield formula where 4 rounds were played but the first 3 were a standard snake but the 4th round was seeded on the results of the previous 3 games. This meant that in the last round the top home team played the top away team so everyone played a team their own level at the end.

Here’s the team photo. Numerate readers will count 16 players. Two were missing at this stage – one arrived but another was unwell so one of our triples was a double.The most eagerly anticipated item on the day was the free lunch and with an 11 o’clock start this was expected after the first game at about noon. But as experienced players know only too well some games were over quite soon and some took a long time. Some teams started their second game. Lunch started about 1230 and went on for a while. Some teams had played one; some had played two. Lunch was great although the wine that was rumoured turned out to be Cotes de Nowhere.

First round was 3-3; second round was 4-2 to Huddersfield; 3rd round was 3-3. That meant Heckmondwike had to win 4-2 to draw. It went down to the last wicket partnership between Ralph, Kath and Roger Farrar and a close game which ended with the win they needed. So it was 12-12 draw but to determine the winner we looked at points scored and it was Heckmondwike 233 to Huddersfield 215. The Ashes returned to Heckmondwike.

Here’s the complicated scoresheet.

In the crowded clubhouse there was a thank you speech by Gordon (Heckmondwike Chair) who thanked the caterers and then Clive (Heckmondwike Secretary) told us the story of the Ashes and presented the trophy to himself and stated provocatively that the trophy would never leave Heckmondwike. Paul (Huddersfield Chair) proposed rematch in summer 2018 and everyone agreed to that. Here’s the little Urn.

Clive was obviously worried that the trophy would be snatched by Huddersfield so had hired a mafia hitman as bodyguard for the day.The history of the Kirklees Ashes is on the wall in Heckmondwike clubhouse if anyone wants to read the full story. From memory the home team wins and there have been 3 such fixtures in 3 years.

Huddersfield’s best team was Brendan, Roy & Sue who won all their first 3 games.

Sunday 22nd October saw this event take place. 10 teams of 6 players each turned up at the Fox in Stockton to play at 9am and being as it was our first such event we weren’t sure what the format would be. Roy, Sue, Brendan, Paul, Kevin and Christine were our team. Photos of our team may surface on the dark web shortly.

The format was 3 pairs followed by 2 triples. Wins were assigned different points. A win where opposition scored 6 or more was 2 points, a good win (opposition scored under 6) was 4 points and a thrashing (opposition on zero) was 6 points.

Here’s the complicated master score sheet where you can see some of the team names and some results and points scored. And here’s Huddersfield’s results.  Round 1 was difficult getting used to the terrain and the level of play which was quite high. We scored nowt. Round 2 there was a single win but in Round 3 there were 3 wins. No big wins so we ended the pairs on 8 points and were tying for last place with 3 other teams. The triples went badly although 2 games that looked like wins suddenly turned into losses (8-3 up and lost to a 4 and a 6 in consecutive ends and 11-9 up and losing 11-13) and we stayed on 8 points to end up as the strongest team in the competition. (Holding the rest up). Overall result yet to be announced but we’ll bring it to you when we see it. We left before the end.

Overall it was great day out. 60 dedicated and competitive players (many who had represented the region and a handful of internationals). Playing good players is important to improve our own levels. It would be nice to see similar event down here in the sticks (Kirklees). We have a terrain big enough with a good clubhouse; we have capable organisers; we have an empty calendar for 2018. How about it Hecky?

Last week we finally received the plaque in memory of club member Pat Beazley.
Pat loved playing pétanque and was a keen supporter of the club. She had a strong competitive streak and played to win. She also loved going out for a meal and having a drink with “the girls”. Even in recent months when her illness prevented her from playing she always had a smile for every one. Pat really was a lovely lady and a good friend to many club members. She certainly will be sorely missed.

Her family is also planning on planting a rose bush in the club grounds. We’ll let members know when this is going to be done.

8 teams entered on a great autumn afternoon. Prize money of £45 to give out. (one team only had 2 players).

After 3 rounds only one team had won all their 3 games. Three teams were on 2 wins and 3 teams were on 1 win. One team failed to register a win.

When the scores were all added up and checked through the winners were new members Pete and Margaret playing as The Odd Couple recently returned from a 6 month break on a caravan park near Bordeaux where they played a bit of boules.  They took away £21. Of the teams with 2 wins SRB (Sue, Roy and Brendan) claimed 2nd place with £15 and Paul, Barrie and Sandie (BPS) won 3rd place of £9,

SRB could have won the prize but their game went to 12-13. If it had been 13-12 They’d have scooped the 1st prize. C’est la vie.