Wadebridge Men ended the season on a high, even compared with their success in winning the league and the Croydon Marks knockout.
After six rounds featuring 17 Wadebridge players, Sunday 6th September proved a victorious day, as Wadebridge became County Championship winners of the Top Team Final – the first time ever for the club.
In the morning semi-final match at Holman’s BC, Camborne, they won through with a 3-2 win against Group 3 winners St Stephen.
Travelling a short distance onto Bickford Smith, the afternoon final brought an exciting 3-2 win against current holders, the superstars from Carnon Downs (Group 4). Vociferous supporters at the green, and numerous followers of ‘Live Scores’ on the website, witnessed a tight match, which went right to the wire, with a last end win in the fours securing the overall game.
The County Top Team semi-final and final saw the last appearances at the club for Peter Woodley and skip Harry Tinker. It also saw club veteran Roger Priestley participating in the winning team 43 years after reaching the finals in the first ever Top Team competition in 1983.
One problem that occurred was that these matches coincided with the last day of Wadebridge’s own Finals Weekend, taking several of the club finalists away that day, and compressing matches into Friday and Saturday. It’s a nice problem to have, as they say (though the competition secretaries Tom Prout and Pat Archer might not agree with you).
Wadebridge has had an excellent season led by the men’s A-Team Captain Richard Jones. The club is immensely proud of the achievements gained this season, and looking forward to a much-needed rest before the indoor season begins again in earnest.
End of Season Coda
Congratulations to Harry Tinker and David Grant for their victory in the Benevolent Pairs County Final on Thursday 10th at Redruth. They won 21-12 against Bob Shields and Sheldon Grigg from Chacewater.
Their path to victory started at home to a Bude pair, then Looe, Kensey Vale, Stratton and the Group 2 final against Liskeard. The County semi-final was played at Stenalees against a Grampound pair.
Story and photos: Richard Jones and Iris Richards
