Sport

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Bernard Barnes, the young ex-Plymouth Argyle footballer who was persuaded by Bideford player-manager Sam Booth to return to the Bideford club could well become one of the Western League’s top goal scorers this season.

Barnes snapped up three goals in Bideford’s 4-1 victory over Frome Town in the Robins’ opening match in a way which augers well for the future.
However, a big question mark hangs over this talented youngster’s future. Barnes finishes his training at Aldershot this week and he said on Saturday that he did not know where he would be posted.
Colin Beer, Booth’s new centre forward signing from Exeter City, tried desperately hard to get his name on the goal sheet.
Inside-man Jack Smith and wing halves Sam Booth and Bill Harrower formed the base from which mover after move began. Had it not been for a series of fine saves by Webb, the young Frome goalkeeper, Bideford would certainly have enjoyed a bigger advantage at half-time.
Bideford, however, allowed the initiative they had held throughout the first half to slip away after the break. Frome settled down in this period far better and twice the upright came to Bideford’s rescue. Sandwiched in between came Frome’s only goal, an individual effort by Eric Bryant, who last season was Bideford’s top goal scorer.
Bideford’s third goal was typical of the eager way in which the home forwards seized their chances. Beer failed to get an outstretched foot to a cross from Barnes and the ball seemed to be running dead until it was rescued by Trever Hall. The winger chipped the ball back and the curly head of Dave Ferguson did the rest.
Marsh, Doyle and Booth were outstanding in defence but my heart has palpitations when I see Alan Marsh coming up so far in attack.

After leading 3-1 at the interval, Bideford fell away in the second half when they met Newton Abbot Spurs in the Exeter and District League.
Spurs rallied well in the second period and, with their front line moving smoothly and well, pushed their way to a 5-4 win. Bideford’s danger man was Paddy Blatchford, who was a constant danger. Bideford scorers were Oke and Burnette.

Bideford Youth XI have started the season well.
On Saturday, Bideford were ahead within five minutes when Graham Moore netted from a penalty. A header from Derek May from a cross form Doug Fisher made it 2-0. Then Ray Prance scored three in a row.
The home side added further goals through Derek May, Graham Moore, Ray Prance and Dave Evans.
The full Gazette article is dated 29 August 1958

Champions Indeed By Performance At Appledore

Appledore Darts League Division 1 title holders, Champion B, crowned an outstanding season when they retained their two team trophies at the League’s annual ‘finals night’ held at the Appledore Hall on Friday.

The powerful Champion team, led by skipper Ralph Marshall, repeated the success they achieved at last year’s event. Champions’ opponents in both the finals of the team knock-out cup and the Salmon Cup were the Royal Artychokes. Other members of the team are: Jackie Marshall, Andy Bowden, Reg Jeffery, Fred Seath and Eric Johnson.
For the first time the name of Sid Hosegood will appear on the singles trophy. In a hard fought final he beat Bideford title holder, Eddie Kitte. Last year’s winner, footballer Bobby Bailey, was put out in a semi-final match by Hosegood. Landlord of the Royal, Derek MacMurray, was the other beaten semi-finalist.
Champion also had representatives in the pairs events, with Reg Jeffery and Jackie Marshall, but they were eliminated in a semi-final. The winners were Archie Harding and Noel Lock of Royal Artychokes.
Prizes were presented by Mr and Mrs Philip Harris of Appledore.
Singles – E Kitto beat D MacMurray; S Hosegood beat B Bailey; Hosegood beat Kitto.
Pairs – A Harding and N Lock beat D Bale and J Bale; T Peake and V Keen beat R Jeffery and J Marshall; Harding and Lock beat Peake and Keen.
Team knock-out – Champion B beat Gunners; Royal Artychokes beat Abbotsham A; Champion B beat Royal Artychokes
Salmon Cup – Division 1 champions v Division 2 champions; Champion B beat Royal Artychokes.
Full Gazette article dated 18 April 1958

Langtree School Sports Excitement

For the first time for several years parents had the pleasure of watching their children compete at the annual sports of this year’s Langtree County Primary School.

Exciting finishes were a feature of the sports.
Michael Tucker won the over-10 age group high jumping with a jump of three feet five inches – a height equal of the over-11 group winner, Barbara Dove.
The ‘green’ team retained the school championship with 90½ points, seven more than nearest rivals, the ‘blues’.
Results were:
Flat race: Group A – Margaret Sutton, Diane Hearn, Terry Vanstone,
Group B – Michael Tucker, Leonard Ford, Judith Fisher
Group C – Ronald Marshall, Angela Hearn, Clive Mitchall
Group D – Michael Dunn, Brenda Sutton, Jane Thompson
Group E – Rodney Sutton, Margaret Bond, Emmeline Vanstone
Group F – Peter Mills, Joyce Curtis, Richard Thompson
Group G – Patsy Jenkins, Kathleen Sutton, Leslie Box
Wheelbarrow: Pat Gerry and Barbara Dove, Pat Dunn and Diana Hearn, Margaret Sutton and Pamela Curtis, Patrick Mitchell and Michael Cox, Patsy Curtice and Judith Fisher, Raymond Hancock and Derek Sutton, Ronald Marshall and Clive Mitchell, Shirley Curtis and Angela Hearn, John Gerry and Charles Ley, Michael Dunn and David Jenkins, Jane Thompson and Brenda Sutton.
Sack race: Diane Hearn, Terry Vanstone, Margaret Sutton, Judy Fisher, Raymond Hancock, Roger Brock, Clive Mitchell, Angela Hearn, Ronald Marshall, Michael Dunn, Brenda Sutton, Winnie Box, Rodney Sutton, Emmeline Vanstone, Margaret Bond, Marilyn Gerry, Joyce Curtis, Nicky Beck.
Potato race: Margaret Sutton, Barbara Dove, Peter Sutton, Michael Tucker, Judy Fisher, Derek Sutton, Clive Mitchells, Angela Hearn, Ronald Marshall, Brenda Sutton, David Jenkins, Charles Ley, Rodney Sutton, Emmeline Vanstone, Margaret Bond, Marilyn Gerry, Richard Thompson, Joyce Curtis, Patsy Jenkins, Denise Coombe, Leslie Box.
High jump: Barbara Dove, Diane Hearn, Pat Gerry, Michael Tucker, Roger Brock, Judith Fisher, Angela Hearn, Clive Mitchell, Ronald Marshall, Michael Dunn and Brenda Sutton, Jane Thompson.
Three-legged race: Pat Gerry and Margaret Sutton, Pamela Curtis and Barbara Dove, Derek Sutton and Raymond Hancock, Patsy Curtice and Judy Fisher, Roger Brock and Michael Cox, Clive Mitchell and Ronald Marshall, Angela Hearn and Shirley Curtis, David Jenkins and Michael Dunn, Jane Thompson and Brenda Sutton, John Gerry and Charles Ley, Nicky Beck and Joyce Curtis, Marilyn Gerry and Gillian Hearn, Peter Mills and Richard Thompson.
Egg and spoon race: Margaret Sutton, Diane Hearn, Barbara Dove, Leonard Ford, Raymond Hancock, Derek Sutton, Clive Mitchell, Angela Hearn, Ronald Marshall, Pamela Ford, Josephine Huxtable, Michael Dunn, Rodney Sutton, Margaret Bond, Emmeline Vanstone, Nicky Beck, Bruce Poulton, Peter Mills, Patsy Jenkins, Denise Coombe, Leslie Box.
Skipping race: Barbara Dove, Margaret Sutton, Pat Dove, Leonard Ford, Judy Fisher, Roger Brock, Ronald Marshall, Clive Mitchell, Angela Hearn, Michael Dunn, David Jenkins, Pamela Ford, Emmeline Vanstone, Margaret Bond, Rodney Sutton, Gillian Hearn, Jennifer Elston, Nicky Beck, Kathleen Sutton, Denise Coombe, Patsy Jenkins.
Flower-pot race: Pat Gerry, Margaret Sutton, Pat Dunn and Barbara Dove, Judith Fisher, Raymond Hancock, Derek Sutton, Ronald Marshall, Angela Hearn, Clive Mitchell and Brian Mills, Winnie Box, Brenda Sutton, Pamela Ford, Emmeline Vanstone, Rodney Sutton, Margaret Bond.
Relay race: yellow team, green team, red team.
Final team positions: green (90½), blue (83½), red (76½), yellow (64½)
Gazette article dated 8 August 1958