Triumph for the old and the new in David Johns Trophy

Our internal competition days invariably throw up the opportunity for new members to play alongside experienced ones – and possibly win trophies.

And this year’s David Johns Trophy – sponsored for the first time by our newest sponsor, Martlet Manor - was no exception.

New captain Jill Hatfield had to deal with the sort of logistical problems that most of her predecessors have had to do on such days, busily scrambling numbers, formats and team make-ups to fit who turned up.

And it was back to triples this year, with four matches for each team before lunch and two more in the baking afternoon sun.

It proved as successful as any previous ones, with the schedule running largely to time, excellent lunches, prepared by Tina Milsom and her team and worthy winners – including the sort of old-and-new partnership that has been a feature of most of our special one-off competitions – the Carrow Cup, David Johns and, last year, the Terry Gasson.

Victory for Barton and co

This year’s champions were Graham Barton and his team-mates, Robin Parris – in his first competitive season with us – and Elsie Wilding (in her millionth – or thereabouts!).

They actually lost their first four-end match but won all the rest to take the trophy with the highest points total and points difference of the day.

They pipped the trio of Bill Mann, Mark Gooch and Doug Cowell, who also lost only once - their final match – and with it the chance of the trophy.

Anne Bosman’s team came third, despite losing two of their five matches, and Neville Dalton, Paul Palmer and Linda Huntley – in contention for the trophy at lunch – faded on the court of doom in the afternoon heat, just managing to pip Rowland Morris’s team to fourth place.

Basil, Wendy and Ted trailed in a long way behind the others – but probably would have won the prize for best humour if there had been one.

Results:

Winner: Graham Barton, Robin Parris and Elsie Wilding 36-9
Runners-up: Bill Mann, Mark Gooch, Doug Cowell 33-11
3rd: Anne Bosman, Peter Burman and Jill Hatfield 25-14
4th: Neville Dalton, Paul Palmer and Linda Huntley 23-19
5th: Rowland Morris, Sheila Fletcher and Stephen Banks 21-18
6th: Bob Sutton, John Milsom and Marge Breading 12-25
7th: Peter Huntley, Fiona Burman and Sue Berry 12-31
8th: Basil Larkins, Wendy Alexander and Ted Prince 7-41