14th JANUARY 2011

With regular players Peter Willmor and Dave Leach unable to play we knew we could be in trouble against, on paper, a strong Beckenham team…and so it was!

Robert Smith and Nigel Belle were on first and both at 1/1 looked potentially to make it wins for the GB Vets. But both eventually lost 1/3. The stalwart lady vets, Mandy Akin and Karen Hume both succumbed 0/3 – Mandy not at her best and nursing a niggling injury and Karen unusually outplayed.

So at 0/4 down it was left to a very tanned, recently turned 60 in Cape Town, Peter Young, to salvage some pride and honour and save us from a whitewash. His opponent, Ian Smith, also a GB Vet, went 0/2 down so a win was a distinct possibility. However Ian’s dogged play wore Peter down and after an exciting, tense match came through a 9/7 in the fifth winner.

But a heavy defeat was soon forgotten as we all tucked into a marvellous four course meal washed down with ample supplies of beer, wine and port!

It was good to see Oliver Pollard supporting and looking so well at 80+.

Speeches were mercifully short – Ian inviting the GB Vets back next year for a return match and Nigel in reply thanking Ian for organising a brilliant evening and vowing to reap revenge in 2012!

Nigel Belle