Weekend Sports Update - 24th & 25th May

A busy Bank Holiday weekend of sports for local teams and sports people with cricket, tour car racing, football and golf.

Golf

On Monday the annual Campaign Care 94 Charity Golf Day took place at Heacham Manor Golf Club. The event attracted over 40 players and raised over £1,400 for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and the Norfolk Hospice Tapping House. 

The winning team were Dave Curtis, Warren Mitchell, Fred Kellythorn and Michael Minns. Bob, said, “without these donations a lot of people wouldn’t be here. Every family has been affected by cancer in some way or form and I thank everyone for their donations”. 

Organiser, Jim Race, thanked everyone for participating and contributing.

Heacham Manor Golf Club professional, Warren Bates, is in action this week on the Clutch Pro Tour as he takes part in a four day event at Belton Woods Golf Club near Grantham looking to build on a solid start this year in what is a pivotal season for him.

Motor Sports

Local King’s Lynn racer, Ryan Bensley, made his debut at the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championships (BTCC) at Snetterton at the weekend. 

Racing for Team VERTU, the 40 year old said it was the realisation of a dream with the three races on Sunday the highest profile of his career to date. Team VERTU owner, Justina Williams, said: “We were delighted to welcome Ryan into the team, especially as it is his home circuit, and are looking forward to supporting him to achieve his goals on the track. 

"He has shown what he can do in other championships and, whilst we are fully aware that joining the BTCC grid is a big step up, there is no pressure in terms of results”. 

Ryan said: “Given it was my debut I was really pleased with my pace time to be in the mix so quickly, it is just a matter of getting more seat time now”. Ryan will be back racing at Snetterton throughout the Summer.

Cricket

In Division One of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, there was a tasty local derby as Bircham hosted newly promoted Sandringham & Dersingham to their Church Lane base. A low scoring match looked to be heading the visitors way with Pete Brassett’s valiant run chase, but it proved in vain as the home side prevailed to re-rail their promotion challenge in a 15 run victory. 

Bircham 2nds won by 56 runs to the impressively named Norwich Association of Malayalees 2nds, whilst Sandringham 2nds lost by 42 runs to New Buckingham.

In Division Four, Snettisham overcame Hethersett & Tas-Valley 2nds in an early promotion tussle with a 55 run win. Jonny Forbes’s 74 run and 3 wicket haul along with Danny Arnold’s 4 wickets easing them home. 

Snettisham 2nds were agonisingly beaten by 6 runs at Felthorpe despite captain Matthew Herbert’s unbeaten 78.

In Division Five, Thornham returned to winning ways at home to Mellis CC with a convincing 7 wicket win to move back up to 3rd. Chris Burgess’s 91 not out the stand out performance. Thornham 2nds lost a tight game at Grimston by two wickets.

Thornham CC also hosted a junior T10 tournament on Monday as four teams battled it out for the Cordner Wealth Management Shield. 

Although Great Witchingham won the event, organiser Harry Bland, said, “Cricket was the real winner with over 500 runs scored and 25 wickets taken. We hope to hold more events like this in the near future”.

Football

Heacham Walking Football Club hosted Norwich City CSF in a National Cup regional quarter final match on Sunday. However, the Norwich outfit, who have over 150 players on their books, proved to be too strong in the end running out 3-0 winners. Heacham travel to Beccles next week for a tournament.

Local referee, James Durham (28), has been promoted to Level Four meaning he will be refereeing at steps 5/6 in the English Football pyramid system (the equivalent of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division) and assistant refereeing at steps 3/4 (the equivalent of the Isthmian League) next season.

As announced by T&A last week, ex AFC Fylde manager, James Roe, has now been confirmed as the new King’s Lynn Town FC manager for the forthcoming season. The 41 year old told fans ‘to expect a hell of a ride’ as he strives to get the Linnets back into the National League Premier Division.