News & Results 2009 Page 1

The Club was started by Ted Hamlin and Bob Urquhart to further develop the game. This meant splitting the existing Chapelfield Club to enable family members and other individuals to participate.

In 1984 club fees were 50p adults and 25p Junior/Cadet.

Home terrains in order of usage have been the Norman Centre, Harford Centre, Racecourse Inn and the St Faiths Centre.

Membership in the first season totalled 23 including 7 young people. Membership at the Norman Centre between 1984/5 and 1995/6 averaged 40 including 5 young people. Membership at the Harford Centre between 1997 and 2000 averaged 38 including 2 young people. The 2000/01 season at the Racecourse Inn attracted 30 members including 2 young people.

The first season at the St Faiths Centre 2001/02 attracted 31 members including 5 young people but this has increased substantially over the eight year period to current 56 members including 15 young people.

Ted Hamlin has played for England against Scotland.

Shaun Kennett and Sarah Urquhart were runners up in the 1994 National Pairs and were champions in 1995.

Shaun Kennett, Sarah Urquhart, Bob Urquhart and Lynne Urquhart have all reached National Semi-Finals on more than one occasion.

Current Club members of the victorious Anglia Region team at the National Inter Regional Tournament 1991 were Ted Hamlin, Shaun Kennett, Mick Sadler, Bob Urquhart, Sarah Urquhart and Lynne Urquhart.

Bob Urquhart along with Jerome Morais (Sporting Club) are the only two players to have represented the Anglia Region at every National Inter Regional Tournament.

Current Chairperson Louise Robinson has served on the Committee for 22 years.

1987 team names were Wanderers Lost, Wanderers Found and Wanderers Forgotten.

Youngest member to serve on the Committee was James Urquhart aged 13 years.

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Ted Hamlin, Margaret Hamlin, Louise Robinson, Bob Urquhart and Sarah Urquhart are the only people to have been club members for the whole 25 years.

Other long term members Wally Brown, Michael Hamlin and Lynne Urquhart 23 years and Irene Andrews 20 years.

Past and Present Chairperson - Bob Urquhart, Brian Taylor, Robin Tovell, Russell Harris and Louise Robinson

Past and Present Secretary - Ted Hamlin, Alison Taylor, Gloria Smith, Peter Neville, Bob Urquhart and Lynne Urquhart

Past and Present Treasurer - Ted Hamlin, Alison Taylor, Margaret Hamlin, Bob Urquhart and Irene Andrews

Membership ranges from 7 year old's Amee Kennett and Ryan Watker to an individual who shall remain nameless aged over 80.

In 2008 Wanderers St Faiths had more Junior/Cadet members than any other club registered with the English Petanque Association.

Wanderers St Faiths latest signings are 15 year old Tom Turner and 14 year old Curtis Hoy, who increase the total overall individual membership of the Club to 203.

Successes in 2009 to date:-

Big C Charity Pairs Winners - Ronald Stone and George Manchett (Sprowston)

Russell Harris Fun Pairs Winners - Chloe Urquhart and Bob Urquhart

Anglia Region Junior Pairs Winners - Josh Wilcox and James Urquhart

Anglia Region Junior Triples Winners - Jessica Shoesmith, Chloe Urquhart and James Urquhart

Norfolk County Junior Pairs Winners - Georgie Wright and James Urquhart

Anglia Region Pairs Winners - Derek Shoesmith and Peter Astle (Gt Yarmouth)

Bob Carter Centre Junior Pairs Winners - Chloe Urquhart and James Urquhart

2009 Regional Team members for National Inter Regional Tournament - Dave Abery, Peter Walker, Jose Garrido, Phil Wright, Lynne Urquhart, Chloe Urquhart, Bob Urquhart, James Urquhart, Gloria Smith, Dean Wright, Georgie Wright along with Jessica Shoesmith and Josh Wilcox who are playing in the Junior team.

Participating in the Challenge tournament are Derek Shoesmith, Linda Shoesmith, John Nooney and Bernice Walker

Four of the Anglia Region young guns decided to test the water in the big pond when they entered the final round of the English Junior (under 18) petanque team tournament at Bury St Edmunds.

Knowing that the unsuccessful entries in the series had already dropped out it was apparent that they would only be competing against three teams vying for one World Championship and two British Championship places.

With the other teams carrying forward ten, eight and seven wins from sixteen games played previously the chances of qualification from just twelve games outstanding was minimal.

The Anglia team comprising Curtis Money, Christopher Peel, James Urquhart and Chloe Urquhart with an average age of just under 15 at the start of the year, were therefore instructed to enjoy the occasion and left to make their own decisions rather than receive touchline coaching.

They then proceeded to beat the ultimate World Championship team from Chiltern by three games to one in a match comprising a singles and triples played simultaneously followed by two pairs.

The second match was a close encounter resulting in a 3-1 loss to a multi-region team from four different areas of the country.

Anglia concluded the day with a last match 3-1 victory over series runners-up Kent.

This meant that Anglia and Chiltern both recorded 7 wins from the day's games followed by Kent on 6 wins and the multi-region team on 4 wins.

National Secretary Kevin Moss complimented the Anglia team on their performance, as did officials and players of the other participating teams. The Chiltern Team Manager was particularly impressed and thought it a shame this was their first appearance in the qualifying series before quickly adding 'but maybe not'.

Bob Urquhart

PS. Congratulations to Georgie Wright from the Anglia Region who was a member of the multi-region team who have now qualified to play as England Juniors '2' at the Home Nations Competition this year hosted by Wales and to be played in Swansea 15/16 August.