Another great Railsport Games at Blackpool
The sun shone brightly at Stanley Park, Blackpool, venue for the 11th Annual Railsport Games, as over 1,200 participants from rail companies throughout the United Kingdom took part in the ten sporting events on offer. And enthusiasm for the games was as keen as ever.
Presentation of awards was carried out by David Franks of National Express and Chairman of Railsport GB.
Football - Once again five a side football attracted the largest entry with 76 teams contesting the Open and Over 35 years competitions. Network Rail Midlands took the main honours defeating Dynamo Deansgate 2-1 in the final. The Over 35 years tournament was won by Metrolink Old Guns who beat Glasgow Central Enforcers by the same score.
Results by Pitch / Group Results / Overall Competition Results
Netball - Six teams contested the Netball Tournament with each team playing each other in a round robin tournament. Undefeated throughout the day, Pensions Management, who were last years runners up, proved a class act finishing with maximum 25 pts. Runners up this year were Arriva Trains Northern on 21pts and in third place Norwich (London Eastern Railway).
Rounders - Serco Railtest of Derby competing in the event for the first time won a thrilling Rounders Tournament contested by no fewer than ten eager and enthusiastic teams. The top two teams from the group stages played off in the final with Serco Railtest emerging eventual winners by 8 pts to 7 ½ pts. Network Rail had led 4 ½ to 4 pts after the first innings, but narrowly failed to hold onto their lead against a very positive Serco team.
Cricket - Problems with the two wickets delayed the start of the cricket and resulted in minor changes to the rules before the event could get underway. In the glorious sunshine some exciting and close finishes ensued, none more so than in the final, where Collis Engineering requiring four off the last over won the match with a bye off the very last ball of the game to defeat a talented Great Western Link side. All of the games were played in an exceedingly good spirit with credit due to each of the players that took part.
Flat Green Bowls - Bob Davies of Southern won the singles with Glynn Brierly of Network Rail (Birmingham) runner up. In the doubles, victory went to Glynn Brierly and Patrick Shaw of Network Rail (Birmingham), with runners up Chris Halford and Geoffery Dartnell of Southern.
Table Tennis - Held in the Sport Centre at Stanley Park, Steve Woodley of Midland Mainline won the Singles, defeating seasoned campaigner Dave Fox of Atkins Rail in the final. In the Doubles, a combination of Dave Callaja of Network Rail, East Anglia Engineering and Julie Burgess of Thameslink Rail Limited proved a shade too good for the father and son pairing of John and Peter Hockley from ONE (Anglia).
Chess - Held over both days in the Sports Centre, Peter Eldridge of South East Trains won the individual event with Dave Stuttard from East Lancs Railway second. The Team event went to Mike Broad (Network Rail), Nigel Holroyd (Thales) and Paul Jackson (Atkins Rail). Second in the team event was Peter Eldridge (S E Trains) and Ian Underwood (Clem Tech Rail).
10K Road Race - Phillip Johnson, a driver with Midland Mainline won the 10k road race in a time of 34min 46sec. Second was Tony Barrable representing Serco Railtest, who won the over 35 years category. The first lady to finish was Mary Mills of Carillion in a time of 43min 26s, in second place was Lyndsey Smith from the National Railway Supplies at Crewe. Serco Railtest won the team race with Atkins Rail second.
Badminton - Father and daughter shine in Badminton. Kevin Langley of EWS took the Men’s singles with runner-up Craig Harrup of Thales, while daughter Alexander Langley won the Ladies singles, Alison Jenkins of Merseyrail was runner-up. The veterans title went to Mark Crefield of Southern, while the Men’s doubles was won by Craig Harrup of Thales and Duncan Fraser Midland Mainline. Craig Harrup and Alison Jenkins took the Mixed Doubles title.
Ten Pin Bowling - This year saw a record entry of 71 teams contesting the 4 man team event won by North and South East with 2110 pts, Southend Victoria for whom Sue Harvey recorded a high game of 214 finished second team on 2015 pts.
The men’s singles competition dominated the whole competition with Mike Gladwin from Network Rail in Birmingham bowling an almost perfect game. Mike had 10 consecutive strikes to record a high game score of 298. His other two games scores were 202 and 222 to give him victory and a high series for the competition of 722. Runner up in the singles was Brian Thomas of EWS Toton Tigers with a score of 640. In third place was John Pattison of First North Western’s Manchester Victoria Station.
The Ladies singles was won by Sue Harvey of Southend with 490 pts, while husband and wife Team of Julie and Brian Thomas, EWS Toton, won the mixed doubles with a score of 1049 pts.
