Last updated at 11:43, Thursday, 31 December 2009

THE Boatside Out-By quoits team from Warden were the First Division Champions of the Allen Valley Quoits League, winning all 14 league games to finish ahead of runners up The Comrades Club A team.

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In the second division the Carts Bog A were champions, gaining promotion at the first attempt back to the first division, with Barrasford Arms joining them as runners up.

The third division went right to the wire with the Elks Head B narrowly claiming top spot, over the Kirkstyle Inn B.

The Cumberland from Alston was awarded the Bum Team Shield.

After a better summer than last year for quoiting, finals day was held at the Wallace Arms, Featherstone, where the weather held out again and all attending had a great day out.

The Boatside Out-By team claimed the double for the 2009 season, beating the Comrades Club A in the final.

Winners of the KO doubles were Alan Edwards and Cliffy Waitt, defeating Jimmy Stobbart and Des Armstrong in a close fought final.

Jimmy Stobbart had better luck in the Singles KO, coming through to win for the second year running, the first player to do this since John Wright in the early 90s.

Willie Reay received the runner up trophy.

The Junior KO cup saw a very tight final with Will Stonehouse just beating Adam Ridley in the final.

Throughout the year a record is kept of all singles winners in the league and results were as follows:–

Division One, winner Paul Barber 12/14, runner up Willie Reay 12/14 (after play off).

Division Two, winner Will Stonehouse 12/14 (second year running), runner up Eric Maddison 11/14.

Division Three, winner Steve Porteus 9/12, runner up Dave Lister 9/12 (after play offs).

Final totals for all players can be found on www.allenvalleyquoits.co.uk

The season went very well considering the poor economic climate and the league managed an equal record 23 teams playing this year.

Earlier in May the Allen Valley League entered, once again, a team into the National Quoits Association Inter League competition at Stockton.

They did their best ever, reaching the final, only to beaten by a ‘crack’ North Yorkshire Moors select team.

All seven team players P. Barber, K. Ridley, R. Macdonald, J. Armstrong, J. Kennedy, R. Little and C. Morrison received a runners up medal for their endeavors.

In late May, the first KO competition of the season was held at the Sun Acomb where Mike Mendelsohn from Whitby beat Jeff Kennedy in the singles final.

Mike teamed up with Chris Charlton only to be beaten in the doubles final by his friend Doug Ingles and Kevin Barber in the final.

This event raised over £500 which was kindly donated to the Tynedale Hospice at Home charity.

June and July saw many country shows and the NQA championships at Beamish.

Paul and Kevin Barber returned with the first medals that anyone from the Allen Valley league has won, finishing in the last eight of the NQA doubles competition.

In August the Bobby Dover KO was held at the Elks Head, Whitfield.

There was another good turnout and local man Willie Reay beat Mike Mendelsohn from Whitby who is renowned as one of the best players in the UK in a closely fought final.

Willie completed his ‘on form’ day by also winning the pairs with Connor Patterson defeating John Armstrong and Richard Macdonald in the final.

Over £50 was raised for local charity.

Also in August the Kirkstyle Triathlon was again held this year, and 28 entries were taken.

The weather was kind yet again and the overall champion this year was Richard Macdonald with Ant White claiming runner up.

Dave Lister won the Pool KO overcoming Richard Macdonald in the final. Neville McMahon reached the darts KO final but lost out to Neil Coulson.

The Quoits KO final was won by Richard Macdonald with Ant White claiming the deserved runners up prize.

In September, Whitfield Country Fair also had 18 entries for the quoits competitions.

Firstly the singles KO was held and Peter Hunter was unlucky not to beat the eventual winner Malcolm Stonehouse in a very close final.

The doubles KO followed and in the final Peter Hunter teamed with Craig Barber to overcome Raymond Little and Craig’s father, Kevin Barber.

A total of £17 was donated to the show committee.

League secretary Richard Macdonald would like to express his thanks on behalf of the Allen Valley Quoits League to its ongoing sponsors; John McGough – Coanwood, Harry Wilson – Coanwood, and Jeff Kennedy – Acomb.

Also many thanks to Duncan and Sharon, at the Wallace Arms, for an excellent spread on finals day.

Thanks to Michelle Macdonald for the marvellous Painted Glass Trophies supplied for various events at the Sun Inn, Kirkstyle, and the Wallace Arms over the 2009 season.

Please contact Richard on 07966 156370 if you are interested in a entering a new team for the 2010 season within the boundaries of Gilsland Garrigill Nenthead Allenheads Hexham Barrasford Wark (approx 12 miles radius of the Carts Bog, Langley).

Angus Dalton 8/12; Dave Pye/Bob Nixon/Noel Hakeman/Duncan Macmillan/Stephen Kennedy/Josie Brown/Dave Taylor 7/12.

First published at 10:38, Thursday, 31 December 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk