District Sports: Skittles, Darts and Quiz

AFTER AN enforced break of three years, the Rotary District Sports have returned. Seaford entered teams into the Darts, Skittles and Quiz competitions.

Seaford B skittles team. From the left: Val Percival, Brian Percival, Lizzie Holt, Ken Holt, Bill Pierce, John Windsor, Frank Thompson, Paul Vaesen, and John Lockyer plus Keith Ross behind the camera

First to do battle was the Seaford B skittles team who played in the preliminary round against Storrington & Pulborough A team on 26th October . The match took place at The Fountain Inn, a 16th century public house located in the beautiful village of Ashurst, West Sussex; the team being driven there in the Lions’ bus.

The best laid plans do not always work out as hoped. Such was the case for Seaford B skittles team when three players had to withdraw due to poor health.

So the team was grateful for Lizzie Holt, and our Lions’ bus driver Brian and his wife Val stepping into the breach to ensure there was a team of 10.

The match was in a purpose-built ‘barn’ next to the Inn. Bill Pierce bowled the first bowl for Seaford B and with Brian and Frank knocking all the pins over with their three bowls, Seaford B scored 68 and led by three after the first leg.

Our opponents won the second leg by a single point 68 — 67 to reduce the overall arrears to two.

Supper was then served and refreshed by the sustenance, Seaford scored well, led by Paul Vaesen who top-scored with 15, the best of the match, to win the third leg 74-68 and, consequently, the match by an overall 209 to 201.

Nerves were shaking however when the last player for Storrington & Pulborough A knocked all the pins over with his first bowl, but fortunately for Seaford B, added only two with his remaining bowls.

Out thoughts go to Roger Jamieson, our hosts captain, who had a nightmare match failing to knock down any skittles in two legs and only knocking two down on the third for an overall score of two. If he had scored more than three on each leg, Storrington & Pulborough A would have won.

Meanwhile, despite encountering torrential rain and wind on the journey, Seaford ‘A’ team of Rotarians and friends had a very jolly time playing 4 rounds of skittles at The Royal Oak, Barcombe. We were warmly welcome to a ‘romantic skittle alley’ which was lit by real candles, and where we also enjoyed Steak and Ale Casserole and Coq au Vin.

Our opponents from the newly formed “Rotary Club of Cuckfield, Lindfield and Haywards Heath” so named because three Clubs have merged to form this new Rotary Club. They proved to be a friendly collection of Rotarians and friends.

Despite gallant efforts by Steven Willox and President Ann’s much improved performance the final results of the Rotary competition was 2 – 1 with Seaford A losing. They did, however, win a charity round with £15 being raised.

In the first round of the Quiz competition Seaford C (Mandy Davis, Chris Davis, Janice Vince and John Windsor) hosted Lewes Castle B and emerged victorious by 68—52 points.

The new-look Seaford A team of Bill Pierce, Clive Livingstone, Martin McGill and Ann Mason however had a sad demise. Despite leading for the first four rounds against a very friendly Lewes Castle A team at the John Harvey Tavern, and only one point behind at the break the team faded after half time and finished ten points down at the end with the score 61 — 51.

Bill Pierce said “ My fears over a new District Sports Officer setting tougher questions were unfounded and remain much as before in degree of difficulty. It is just that age has withered our powers of recall regarding answers that, really, we know! For example I am supposed to be a football expert, apparently, but I went blank on the question ’Where was the 2022 European Champions League Final played?’.

Last to test their brain cells were Seaford B (Keith Ross, Mike Allen, Paul Vaesen and Peter Fenwick) who were drawn against Lewes B.

In a high scoring match at the White Lion Hotel, Seaford B established a 3 point lead at half time leading by 34 — 31. The lead was enhanced in round 6 with Seaford B scoring a maximum on Classical Music. Despite Lewes B clawing back some of their handicap, Seaford B held on to win by 70 — 65 points.

The Dart’s team played Lewes Castle A at the Black Horse, Lewes on 29th November and won 2—1 in a match reduced to best of 3 as both teams had a propensity to miss the doubles and each leg ended on the double 1!

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Seaford B skittles team. From the left: Val Percival, Brian Percival, Lizzie Holt, Ken Holt, Bill Pierce, John Windsor, Frank Thompson, Paul Vaesen, and John Lockyer plus Keith Ross behind the camera

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