Weston Super Night Mare

Another high spirited KCC tour despite dismal weather conditions.

The Touring Party arrived in Weston Super Mare on Wednesday to find ideal surfing conditions, with tidal waves rolling in across the hotel car park.

Undeterred, the tourists packed fishing rods for the short trip to Congresbury CC. Sadly the torrential rain had spread inland with the square looking like the shallow end at Beechdale Baths.

Fortunately Mike and Pam Rendu had been tuning into the shipping forecast all week and had prepared a contingency plan of indoor olympics to entertain the troops.

First up was the pie and pastie eating competition in which most of the KCC fatties excelled. Then followed the skittles competition, the first proper fielding practice of the season, though the chances of our tourists hitting a single stump on return looked bleak, given most couldn't hit a single skittle from ten yards. Darts then pool wrapped up the athletics events.

Boss Hogg had wisely saved his joker for the doughnut eating event and was relentless in his pursuit of a KCC all-comers record. There simply weren't enough cakes in the packet as Leggy polished off eight doughnuts, licking his lips only once, though after mixing with several pints of local scrumpy it was a case of eight down, but two up.

After such a busy day, all the tourists were tucked up in bed by 8 o'clock (the following morning).

Thursday afternoon saw the annual KCC golf challenge at Weston Super Mare links. With hopes of just catching a shower, three groups set off in search of the fairways. Sadly wave after wave of rain kept rolling in up the Bristol Channel and after 10 holes most of the tourists would have been drier standing in a car wash for two hours. Stumps were drawn and the soggy scorecards were added up with Bobby and Davey G sharing the spoils.

Evening reinforcements arrived in the shape of KCC legends Palmer, Daft and Harris. The walk to the Tour Dinner started in Somerset and ended in Cornwall with the Captain's Table proving hard to find.

The weather had eased on Friday to allow cricket on Friday, but sadly only on the beach. Dessy's comeback innings mirrored his first class cricket career, out first ball to an Australian. Stalwarts Palmer and Baker showed the current squad how it should be done, while it was difficult to distinguish between the KCC fielders and the donkeys on the sandy outfield.

A further rain shower saw a quick exit up the M5 to Bristol for an afternoon watching test match cricket and laughing at Graeme Smith. The tour was rounded off with a magic evening on the Bristol waterfront.

Hopes were high of a 20 point haul at Long Eaton, with the tourists in great shape on Saturday morning.........

Rocket won a great toss and we bowled well on a pitch not out of place on an allotment. Andy Hiller-Sister took 3 wickets and Benji a splendid diving catch as we kept the home side down to 125 from their 35 overs.

In reply Grant made a fine 33, but the rest of the tourists struggled with the seaming ball as we fell well short.

A big thanks to Rocket for organising a great tour.