Team ages range from 15 to 80

Penpushers, representing Bideford and District Skittles League, won the Devon County skittles championship at Exeter.

Skippered by Mr Clarrie Metherell, who just over a week earlier topped the poll at his first bid in a municipal election at Bideford, the team’s age range is from 15 to 80!

The octogenarian is that ever-green enthusiast of local skittles, Mr John P Cleverdon, of Northam, and the 15 year old is Graham Mountjoy whose father, Mr Charlie Mountjoy, is also a Penpusher of many years play. The team included two reserves as the competition was for teams of eight instead of six as locally.

What makes the victory all the more satisfying is that the Bideford skittlers were playing under different alley conditions to those applying in this area. There was a wide-set diamond of smaller pins and the balls were required to strike a pitch-board to count. This accounted for what would be very low scores. For instance skipper Metherell started the final throw with a score of one, although he got a 12-spare later in the game. J P Cleverdon left his spare for the last rub but then put the ball right through. Some players scored nothing on a visit to the alley including Rodney Pett.

The players were – Clarrie Metherell, John Cleverdon, Rodney Pett, Graham Mountjoy, Roy Fisher, Charlie Mountjoy, Trevor Beer and Ken Brend.

Gazette article dated 24 May 1963