Category: Sports News

ANOTHER week of mixed results in a busy week at Thame Bowls Club. Thame Ladies got their season off to a flying start with a big win, 73 shots to 38, against Henley Ladies.

Top rink for Thame was that of Carol Boyland, Maire Duncan and skip Val Birchley. Unfortunately Thame Men couldn’t match the Ladies performance in the Thursday League and lost to a strong Headington side. Thame did have a winning rink skipped by Graham Penn, aided by Vic Brooks, John Rawson and Robin Jenner, but their score wasn’t enough to secure the overall win.

On Saturday, Thame Men’s team travelled to Hagbourne and put up a brave show in the Five Triples match but lost by just 20 shots overall. Top winning rink for Thame was skipped by Les Canfield with Gerry Barry and Michael Ralls assisting. On Sunday the first of the two annual Ladies versus Gents matches took place and resulted in a win for the Men by just 14 shots, 85 to 71.

With just a few ends to go, the match was very evenly balanced but Thame Men secured wins on the last ends to creep ahead. The Ladies won on three of the five rinks but it was the big win by skip Paul Heafey, Will Hawes and new bowler Chris Shannon that made the difference winning by 20 shots. Captains Caroline Walker and John Rawson and their teams will do battle again in August.

There will be another Open Evening at the Queens Road green on Tuesday May 31, to give you the chance to have a go at this wonderful game.

THAME Town Cricket Club has followed up on the success of last season’s Crick-fit initiative and this winter’s indoor coaching at Lord Williams’s school, by helping the town’s first women coaches to earn an ECB qualification at the club.

Julie Jenson (pictured left) and Faye Wilkins (2nd from right) came through their Coach Support Worker course (CWS) successfully on April 10. Furthermore, Sean Hayes (2nd left) also passed his CWS qualification and Dan Patey (right) is currently completing his ECB Level 2 course.

This will take the number of ECB-qualified coaches at the club to 14, which has doubled over the past 12 months.

ANOTHER busy week at Thame Bowls Club saw a gradual improvement in performances. Although the Men’s league team lost their first league match of the season to Hanborough, with just two ends to go, it looked like honours even, but dropped shots on the last ends handed the overall win to Hanborough.

On a cold Friday evening (May 13), the Thame mixed match away at Wingrave proved to be an even closer affair. Although Thame’s top rink of Maureen Giles, Christine Liddle and skip, Trevor Copley won by six shots, the final result was a one shot difference in Wingrave’s favour, 83 to Thame’s 82.

On Saturday, May 15, Thame Men’s team travelled to Adderbury and faced a very tough test against a team in a higher League. Thame’s team included several new bowlers who all performed well, but Adderbury ran out winners by 28 shots over the 4 rinks.

Sunday’s Mixed game against Henley at Thame proved to be a complete turn around of this season’s previous results with a resounding win for Thame. Top rink was that of Jill Brooks, John Walker, Mike Smith and skip, Mel Dale who won by 10 shots contributing to the final score of 101 to 66 in Thame’s favour.

THE weather was perfect, and so was the football from Thame Boys Under 13s last Saturday, May 14, as they
swept to victory in the annual Risborough Rangers JFC tournament.

A brilliant start left the Boys topping their group with three wins, and two draws against some tough local opposition.

A nail-biting semi-final against the hosts very strong Youth team awaited, and at half time, at 1-0 down, it looked like the Boys might come up short. However after half time, they re-grouped and turned the game around with goals by Jamie Rutland and Alex Marshman to win 2-1.

This took Thame Boys into the final against a very good Maidenhead team, both teams having played some very good football throughout to get to this stage. There was no score at half time, and with five minutes left of the second half, Adam Griffin volleyed a spectacular goal from a throw-in to give Thame Boys the lead.

More nails were bitten, but the Boys remaioned determined under pressure, to close out a well-deserved 1-0 win and lift the cup.

Well done to all the players below, and their very enthusiastic and supportive parents!

Jake Ambridge-Wood, Alex Bartholomew, Jamie Mather, Jamie Rutland, Drew Murray, Alex Marshman, Adam Griffin, Matty Knight

A great way to start tournament season!

SOURCE: Contributed by Andrew Marshman

IT was the end of Thame Town Cricket Club’s First team’s long, unbeaten record on Saturday (May 14), after 19 unbeaten league matches stretching back into 2014, when they fell to a six-wicket defeat away to Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Put into bat on a wet wicket, Thame’s batsmen struggled as they regularly lost wickets. Only Captain, Higgs (58) and Garg (43) were able to get going as the side were dismissed for a below-par 177.

On a drying wicket, Shipton scored more freely as Hemming, with 63 not out, led the way. Higgs took 3 wickets but Shipton eased over the line in 38 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.

Thame travel to Horspath on Saturday, May 21.

FOR Thame’s 2nd XI, much has changed in 12 months – barely scraping a draw at Bledlow Ridge on Day 1 of last season, this time they moved to a convincing win with 22 overs to spare. After early wickets from Ian McStay and Chris Jeffcock, Dan Patey took 3 key wickets and Chris Penny the rest, dismissing Bledlow Ridge 1sts for 117. In reply, Andy Jinman (43) and Chris Jeffcock (35) took the score to 88 for 1 and took the game out of reach. Guy Holmes (13*) and Dan Patey (11*) then finished off the chase in a hurry, in the 30th over. Thame 2nds entertain Didcot 2nds this Saturday in Thame.
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The drama of the day, however, was reserved for Thame 3rds visit to Bletchley. Getting off to a good start with Christian Warwick (32) and Liam Earwicker (23) putting on 43 for the first wicket, Thame then had Vim Desai to thank for holding the innings together with the top score of 37. Despite him, Thame were all out for a below-par 140. Bletchley’s openers got off to a flying start, cruising towards the target at 111 for just 1 wicket. It was bowling changes that cracked Bletchley’s code, with Ed Mather (3-15), Jamie Wiles (3-10) and a special 15 balls for Ally Illsley who took 3 wickets without conceding a single run. This incredible turnaround saw Bletchley losing 5 wickets on 125 and Thame storming to a 14 run win.

IMPROMPTU cricket matches being played in streets were once a common sight across the land, but these days heavy traffic and the fear – real or imagined – of children being hurt or even abducted, means that such events these days are a rarity. But, in June, a very special cricket match is to be played in the middle of Thame High Street.

The Queen’s 90 Not Out street cricket match, aimed particularly at what the event organiser, Manoj Parmar calls ‘non active’ children, will be part of Her Majesty’s birthday celebrations next month.

The town centre will be closed to traffic from 4.30pm on June 10, and the event will be opened at 6.15pm with a live Steel Band, and at 6.30pm by John Howell MP, and Thame’s Mayor, Linda Emery. Ex professional cricketer and Cricket Coach, Manoj Parmar, added: “It is an incredible feat of uniting the town and its residents on a day that their Monarch turns 90! The event has taken an enormous amount of logistics and could only happen via the support of many businesses and local organisations.

“All that attend will be watching, playing and learning about cricket… as we deliver 90 NOT OUT. Everyone welcome.”

Full details on the MP Cricket Academy, website: LINK HERE

THE bowling season at Thame Bowls Club is well under way and so far results have not been in Thames’s favour.

The midweek team lost to visitors Waddesdon, despite a big win by Peter Southam, Simon Bell and skip Trevor Copley. On Saturday, May 7, Thame entertained Maidenhead Town and although Thame were winning on four of the five rinks for most of the game, the last few ends went in Maidenhead’s favour who ran out winners by 19 shots.

Top rink for Thame was that of Jonathan Dadson, Ian Rutherford, John Rawson and skip, Les Westcott, who won by 11 shots.

On Sunday Thame travelled to near neighbours Watlington, and once again were beaten by a much more experienced team. Thame’s rink of Frances Goodyear, Alfred Jochum, Maureen Giles and skip, Steve Silver, were the only success winning by 14 shots.

Don’t forget the Open Evenings at the Bowls Club on Wednesday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 31, to try your hand at this wonderful game. Just bring flat-soled shoes – all other equipment will be supplied as well as coaching by the more experienced players.

SOURCE: Contributed

CHINNOR RFC hosted a Tag Festival for Years five and six boys and girls from local Primary schools in Thame last Wednesday, April 27, and what a fun time was had by all!

The event was co-ordinated by Nick Todd of England Rugby, Jamie Hazeldine and Steve Trenchard of Chinnor RFC. It was sponsored by Star Hotshots who provided the three trophies, all the medals and goodie bags for every competitor. An army of volunteers helped with refereeing, marshalling, and goffering, not only from Chinnor RFC but also some from the PACK Volunteer programme, a legacy from the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Thame’s John Hampden and Barley Hill schools, St Andrew’s, Chinnor, Long Crendon and Testworth schools took part in the festival which was rescheduled from last term, because of bad weather. On the day however, the sun shone on these five schools which between them fielded six teams – all of mixed girls and boys. Each team played five matches in the preliminary rounds.

As the matches progressed, the skills and confidence grew, and the rugby flowed. After the five matches, each team progressed to compete for either the Cup, Bowl or Plate. The final results saw St Andrews winning the Cup, John Hampden the Plate and Tetsworth the Bowl. Every player went away with a medal and a goodie bag.

One partiular team is worthy of special mention. At first they didn’t even know each others’ names, but they quickly put their sporting skills into practice to soon become a creditable team. The ‘Federation’ was made up of a mix of players from John Hampden and Tetsworth schools.

Hopefully every player, teacher, parent, volunteer and spectator went away with a positive view of competitive sport, and England Rugby’s message of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.
SOURCE: Contributed by Steve Trenchard

YOUNG Thame Duellists’ Fencer, Hal Seed, fought to strong results in the National Youth Championships in Sheffield last weekend.

Fencing in the Boys’ Under 12 category, Hal was taking part in his first National Championships, having qualified with strong performances at regional level earlier in the year in both the foil and épée disciplines of fencing.

Lord Williams pupil Hal, who now trains with the England Fencing youth development training programme as well as in Thame, secured 23rd place in the epee event on Saturday, April 30. Not content with that, he returned on Monday for what was expected to be a tougher foil event and exceeded his épée result with 11th place in the foil. He started strongly, winning five out of six fights in the group stage, only losing to the eventual overall winner of the competition, Jaimie Cook of Scotland.

Hal then fenced through to the last sixteen with a bye in the round of 128, then fighting through a taxing bout in the last 64 – managing his frustration after a couple of early errors and coming back strongly at the end of the fight. His bout at the last 32 stage was a more comfortable 10-2 win, before finally falling short 2-10 in the last 16 to Joseph Blair of Yorkshire who went on to take bronze.

Club coach, James Kingston, said: “I’m thrilled for Hal doing so well in his first appearance at the National Championships – and to do that in two different weapon events is fantastic. He’s worked hard all year and is maturing as a fencer all the time.”

SOURCE: Contributed

THE new bowling season at Thame Bowls Club got off to a chilly start at the weekend with Thame bowlers emerging from their winter hibernation to play their first games in fairly wintry conditions.

On Saturday, April 23, Thame, Captained for the first time by new Club Captain John Rawson, entertained a strong mixed team from Flackwell Heath and despite the Thame bowlers winning on two rinks, the visitors ran out winners by 16 shots.

Top rink for Thame was that of skip Trevor Copley ably assisted by Sharon Heafey, Alfred Jochum and Derek Goodyear with a score of 27 shots to 13.

On Sunday, April 24, Thame travelled to Chesham to play on the artificial surface at Chessvale and in even chillier conditions, were eventually beaten by just 12 shots.

Top rink for Thame was that of Captain Andy Walker with Vic Brooks, Marion Keal and Shirley Foster contributing to the 21 shots to 11 victory.

There will be Open Evenings at the Queens Road bowling green on Wednesday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 31, for anyone interested in taking up this great social sport. Watch local press for more details.

SOURCE: Contributed