The race for the Small Heath Summer League title goes on as leaders Custard House, on 18 points, took on McDwyers, also on 18 points. The result a vital 5-4 win for the Custard House. Helping the Custard House to their victory was T.Randell who hit a maximum together with J.Pears, K.Maloney, P.Randell and T.Webster. Winning for McDwyers were S.Dwyer, R.Connolly, J.Quidley and M.Connolly.
Although McDwyers have fallen slightly behind in the race Black Horse continue to gallop on. A 7-2 win against Victoria Flights keeps Black Horse well in contention for the finishing post as their win brings them level on the same 20 points as Custard House, trailing by just 5 points average.
In the other games played Saltley Heath Flights beat bottom team Red Hill 7-2 and by the same margin Sheldon Heath Flights accounted for the Bear.
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Two teams, Midland Red and the George, both challenging for honours in division one of the Harborne 401 Summer League, chalked up 8-1 wins in their most recent games. Midland Red, with a 180 from P.Clifford and M.Hollyoake overcame the challenge of Ladywood Social, while the George defeated the Stonehouse.
In division two there was a shock 5-4 defeat for the Highlander at the hands of the Lickey Banker outfit. As a result of their 5-4 win at Avenue Social, Hobsons Choice have now taken over the number one spot. Golden Cup got the 8-1 verdict in the local derby with Village Stump.
Cock Inn have already been acclaimed champions of division three following their vital 7-2 win over second placed Harborne Stores. Two maximums were hit in the match, one from P.White (Harborne Stores) and the other L.Emery (Cock Inn).Bartley Green FC were too good for Travellers Rest and ran out 8-1 winners despite a 180 from W.Bounds.
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The Harborne and District Winter League will be holding an extra-ordinary AGM on Sunday 17th September at 11-00am. All teams entering the winter league should attend this meeting at the league’s headquarters the Stonehouse.
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This coming weekend the BDO Inter Counties Championship gets underway. West Midlands will be playing another season in division two and start their programme with a home tie against Cornwall.
Eager for promotion and in a bid for a change of fortune West Midlands have decided on a change of venue. This season they will be playing their home games at the “99” Club, Tat Bank Road, Oldbury. The men’s team are strengthened by the signings of Andy Bastable, Clive Francis, Paddy Johnson, Fred Parsons and Jamie Parsons. The ladies have lost Dawn Holdcroft and Penny Hooley but replace them with Leanne Jennings, Claire Hobbs and Janet Hubbard.
Selected to play in the opening match are, Men’s ‘A’:- T.Aldridge, I.Jones, S.Parkes, D.Platt, T.Walker, A.Arnold, P.Johnson, M.James, C.Davies, A.Singh, D.Robbins, G.Taylor, Men’s ‘B’:- J.Biggs, S.Brindley, V.Lloyd, S.Penwright, R.Johnson, N.Walters, F.Johnson, M.Tibbetts, J.Platt, A.Bastable, C.Francis, Reserves:- F.Parsons, J.Parsons, B.Hadley, P.Hadley, M.Littleford, R.Kinsella, P.Evans, A.Parvez, Women’s ‘A’:- F.Allen, G.Cook, A.Perry, R.Mycock, D.Tolley, C.Downing, Women’s ‘B’:- R.Sanders, J.Denton, S.Smith, T.Johnston, L.Jennings, C.Hobbs, Reserves:- J.Cox, V.Arnold, B.Phillips, D.Harvey, J.Hubbard.
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Warwickshire, newly promoted to the premier division will be facing London at the Belvedere Sports and Social Club, Tamworth. Lining up for their first encounter will be, Men’s ‘A’:- K.Dowling, S.Hine, C.Fowler, S.Dwyer, A.Sharratt, T.Brown, G.Podmore, S.Cain, P.Rouse, M.Flood, C.Laffar, P.Koyce, Men’s ‘B’:- M.Kane, T.Frost, C.Betteridge, P.Brotherton, M.Strong, M.Hollyoake, P.Cummings, B.Stephens, D.Clarke, D.Shorthouse, R.Shenton, L.Thompson, Reserves:- D.Harris, G.Mills, J.Brookes, J.Gilbert, S.Sharpe, Women’s ‘A’:- T.Gulliver, D.McPherson, J.Dwyer, C.Pike, T.Bellamy, C.Jackson, Women’s ‘B’:- P.Thornton, L.Butler, L.Newcombe, D.Barnes, D.Jones, S.Deery, Reserves:- M.Jennings, C.Dumbleton.
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The Belvedere Club was also the venue for the Warwickshire county play of the Winmau Men’s and Women’s Championships. With two players going through to the next round on November 5th at Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent, the winners of the two semi’s were the winners. In the first game Andy Smith (Birmingham Vauxhall) defeated Tamworth’s Mick Bagley by two sets to one. The other play off was a straight two sets victory for Tamworth’s Gary Podmore over another Birmingham Vauxhall man, Peter Brotherton.
The ladies final was contested by Warwick’s Pat Thornton and Birmingham Central’s Lesley Newcombe., the result a stunning 3-1 success for Pat Thornton. Pat also goes through to the finals at Stoke on Trent.
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The Belvedere was also the setting for a play off for the Winmau World Youth Championships. The winner of the boys section was Andrew Wilcock (Leigh, Lancashire) who with a 3-2 scoreline beat Warwickshire’s Daniel Guest.
The girls title went to Charlotte Hicklin, from Nottinghamshire, she won 3-0 against Yorkshire’s Lynne Sokolow. Both winners go forward to the World finals at Lakeside Country Club on December 1st and 2nd.
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