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.

Barnstaple bank manager’s second win in three years

Neville Jutsum, a 50-year-old Barnstaple bank manager, on Monday won the South-Western Counties’ amateur golf championship, for which the Royal North Devon Golf Club was host and continues so for the allied county matches during the week.
In perfect conditions, high summer weather, Jutsum recorded a morning round of 73 and in the afternoon he returned clinching a 70 – two strokes below the course par – to give him a total of 143 and his second win in three years.
Jutsum’s 143 was three better than runner-up George Irlam. Both players are from the Weston-super-Mare club. Last year’s winner, Gilbert Bicknell, of Newquay, finished fourth, while taking third place was Jolyon Gardiner, of Minchinhampton.
Mr Jutsum is also a member of the Royal North Devon and of the Saunton clubs. Married with two children, a son aged 12 and a daughter of 20, Mr Jutsum has been entering the individual championship for many years.
Most successful Royal North Devon member was Ken Whitfield. Other leading scores were: J W Goodban (Saunton); C R Brookes (Minchinhampton); G N Bicknell (Newquay); K Whitfield (Royal North Devon); G Moggridge (Taunton and Pickeridge); D J Strange (Filton); D Holmes (Parkstone); K Longmore (Parkstone); I R Patey (Long Ashton); M R Gardner (Yeovil); P O Green (Bath); E Bennett (Trevose); R J Radway, D I Stirk, D G Porter, D Bassett, A J Richmond and R Langford.
The team championship was won by Somerset while Devon was pushed down to fifth place. Finals totals were: Somerset 927, Gloucestershire 933, Dorst 947, Cornwall 957, Devon 958, Wiltshire 985.
The Devon team returns were: R P F Brown, 78, 82-160; R J Radway, 77, 81-158; R B Redfern, 82, 84-166; B G Steer, 78, 79-157; D I Stirk, 81, 77-158; E D Trapnell, 82, 77-159.
Somerset Sweep On
Present holders Somerset were in irresistible mood against Gloucester in the first games of the South West Counties golf team championship with a 13-1 victory.
After losing the singles by 3½ to 4½, Devon improved in the foursomes against Dorset and their advantage gave them an overall winning margin of 8-6. Devon and Dorset details – (Devon first): Singles – R B Redfern halved with G J Butler; E D Trapnell beat K Longmore; J W D Goodban lost to R G Peach; R P F Brown lost to D Holmes; D I Stirk beat R Lawford; B J Steer lost to A J Richmond; K Whitfield lost to N L R Cook; D G F Porter beat D Bassett. Foursomes – R B Redfern and D I Stirk beat G J Butler and W McInerney; R P F Brown and B J Steer lost to R G Peach and D Holmes; E D Trapnell and K Whitfield beat K Longmore and A J Richmond; D J F Porter and P B F Browne beat R Lawford and D Bassett.
Full Gazette article is dated 14 June 1963

Champions!

Congratulations from Trainer Herbie Shute for Bideford Amateur Rowing Club's novice (under-20) crew, this year's champions of W.E.A.R.A.

It is some years since the club won the novice championship.
Left to right: F Hutchings, G Tithecott, S Liddiat, D Elliott, Trainer Shute, and A Blackmore.
All the young rowers are from Bideford, with a strong representation from East-the-Water. They will be rowing
in the Glenburnie tomorrow.
When his own rowing days were over, Mr Shute devoted his experience and enthusiasm towards the training of
other rowers. One of the highlights of his success in this sphere was being trainer of the crew winning the 'Daily Herald' Cup.

Gazette article dated September 2, 1960

John Scored 5,680 in 15 Minutes

Torrington Entry in Broadcast Darts

Congratulations on a very fine performance to John Hocking, the Torrington and District Darts League representative, who was the runner-up in the ninth round of the BBC West of England Darts tournament. On the air in the Plymouth Studio on Saturday, John scored 5,680 with 143 throws in the allotted time of 15 minutes, an average of approximately 40 per throw.
Returning to the league games: Buckingham Arms shook the league championship aspirants, Union Inn, when they held them to a draw in the pairs competition. The scrumpy boys were unfortunate in losing by the odd leg in the foursomes.
Nobby Slade slammed home 174 for Newmarket A who met their second team for the return game and completed a league double by winning 6-1. Partnered by Handlebars Ayre, Nobby scored a further 127 to enable his colleague to finish on a double 18, after only nine darts had been thrown, to complete the leg.
Full Gazette article dated 1 March 1957