Stamford Ski Downhill against Boston

Post date: Feb 19, 2018 11:09:19 PM

Well everything started off ok, our latest 'friendly' opposition Boston even managed to turn up with the right number of players. Last year they turned up with seven. Would you believe we were one over, our captain Maggie Holden holding herself in reserve in case she received that dreaded five minutes before the start phone call.

So away we go, one on the first two ends. Howard Neath, one of our three debut skips, fortified by eating leftovers from those having a twelve thirty lunch, he didn't want to pay for a lunch and spoil his after match meal, went 4-3 ahead after five ends only to run out of calories as the smell of stuffed chicken wafted over the rinks. Debutante skip number two Bob Hulka and his rink battled to 15-15 after sixteen ends only to drop seven shots on the last two. Our third 'newboy' Paul Green's rink went one ahead,6-5, after nine ends but only managed a total of three more shots. What of the others in our 'Friendly Fighting Force'.

At halfway our previous best rink winners Janet Benns, Ann Preston-Bambridge and Nigel Trigg were six all. Colin and Cherry Burgess and their skip Doug Ellis were having a nightmare, one of those days where nothing would go right, were seventeen down with none on the scoreboard. Sorry you three we won't mention it again. Better news on rink two where Rosemary Roberts, Ken White and Helen Holroyd led 14-5 and were in contention for best rink prize, something that has eluded Helen for the past couple of matches.

So into the dreaded, by those who have been there before, second half and what could become a new and frightening experience for those who are going there for the first time. Thirteen ends have been played, unlucky for us; the scoreboard told us we are thirty eight shots down. Well it didn't do our sitting on the sidelines nervous nail biting captain any good. she pulled out a white handkerchief from her hand bag threw it on to the green shouted "WE SUBMIT" at the top of her voice and made another beeline to the bar.