Grassroots Sport: Golf, Snooker and Running

TUESDAY October 13 was a hectic day at Newquay Golf Club with three competitions being played.

The Flint Powell Plate (a competition for ladies who have won a Medal over the previous 12 months) was won by Michelle Burgess with a nett 75, one shot clear of second-placed Debbie Cain.

The 18-Hole Stableford was won by Janet Cox with 33 points, on count-back from Lesley Pocklington. Skye Robinson was third with 32 points.

Joyce Cain took the honours in the nine-hole Stableford with 19 points; five points clear of Meg Platton.

Also, the Summer Eclectic Trophy was presented to winner Michelle Burgess with Lesley Pocklington taking second place.

On Thursday October 15 the senior ladies teed up to play for their Autumn Trophy. Jan Barker’s 32 points was enough for the title as she ended three points clear of Pat Greenwood.

DIVISION ONE: 1 Dave Fenton – 38pts; 2 Matthew Heap – 37; 3 Christian Sears – 36; DIVISION TWO: 1 Adrian Dumpleton – 38pts (c/b); 2 Phillip Hormbrey – 38 (c/b); 3 Robert Walker; DIVISION THREE: 1 Russell Whitchurch – 36pts; 2 Craig Stevenson – 34; 3 Darren Ingham – 33.

There was also a superb moment during the Tangye Cup competition as Sean Millward managed a hole-in-one for the first time on the 16th.

A club spokesperson said: “Well done, Sean, on a brilliant shot and a moment to remember!”

Results: 1 Peter Lightfoot and Peter Shanley (China Fleet) – 46; 2 David Drewett and Harry Drewett (Falmouth) – 43; 3 David Hasty and Martin Middlewood (Newquay) – 43 (c/b); 4 Archie Fox (Mullion) and Alex Minter (Falmouth) – 43; 5 Ian Soady and Andy Rowe (Looe) – 42.

Results: 1 Lindsay Brooke – 26pts; 2 Josianne Cachia – 22; 3 Caroline Cudmore – 20.

Results: 1 Mark Rawle, Ed Gard, Andrew Baigent and Martin Rolls – 82pts; 2 Cyril Poad, Colin Marshall, Steve Myford and Pete Brown – 81; 3 Duncan Connabeer, Ian Collier, Ian Bramley and Peter Haughton – 80 (c/b).

Results: 1 Susie Langley – 68; 2 Annie Lund – 74 (c/b); 3 Karen Hawkey – 74.

Results: 1 Dan Allen and Chris Allen – 44pts; 2 Stuart Lobb and Dan Olver – 43 (c/b); 3 Russ Withers and Owen Withers – 43.

Results: 1 Chris and Alison Granger – 41pts; 2 Kevin and Trudy Metherell – 39; 3 Mike Rogers and Wendy Kingdon – 38.

THE first round of this year’s Team Handicap on Wednesday night brought the best out of Rich Tamblin as he helped Mevagissey see off in a decider.

He thrashed Bugle’s Jake Moore to put his team into the pot for the next round.

Elsewhere, Mark Haworth got Bethel B off to a good start at home to Luxulyan A by beating Simon Taylor, but big wins for Harrison Burdon, Paul Sturtridge and Gary Spencer saw the away side progress.

St Neot beat Mevagissey B 3-0, but it doesn’t tell the real story as all the frames went down to the wire. Chris Brown's black ball win over Kyle Bennetts put St Blazey A ahead against Luxulyan B, while further wins for Darren Roberts and Martin Richards saw them through.

Gorran Haven came away from Lerryn with a 3-1 victory as Steve Williams, Lee McKinstry and Rob Bunney’s black ball win over Les Shakespeare got the job done. James Stephens was the home side’s only success.

Ryan Orchard got two snookers on the colours and cleared up beautifully to beat Geoff Merriman in the first frame to put St Blazey B ahead against Tregonissey A.

Ian Millward added a second, and although Andrew Gooch pulled one back, Clive Stuthridge narrowly beat Jason Cocks to put the Blazey boys through.

Bethel A and Pelynt received walkovers to the next round.

St Blazey and District Snooker League players all did a minute’s applause before their matches started in memory of Richard Opie who recently passed away

Widely regarded as one of the best five players ever to have played in the league, Rich was a modest, humble and well-respected man who played all of his years for Tregonissey despite having many offers to play elsewhere.

His cue was lent to him by his uncle Bill, who told Rich he could keep it as soon as he hit a century break, which he went on to do, and he still used it despite it being over 100 years old.

He won countless trophies over the years and will always be remembered as one of the greats. Our thoughts go out to his family at this sad time.

THE 2026 Eden Project Marathon and Half Marathon took place on Sunday, October 18 with hundreds taking part across the two distances.

Both events take in countless hills around the Clay country and site itself, but for the fourth straight year it was Steve Reynolds who took the marathon crown, this time in a time of two hours, 54 minutes and 31 seconds, more than 22 minutes clear of nearest challenger Ross Portrass. Phil Howard was third in 3:17:33.

Annie Wisely was the fastest lady over the line in 3:24:10 for fifth overall, while second and third were Charlie Ramsdale (3:42:20) and Dulcie Gatehouse (3:43:59) respectively.

While just over 164 runners completed the marathon, a superb 729 entrants were at the start line for the half marathon that was won by just over four minutes by Jordan Andrews.

His time of 1:19:05 edged out David Tregonning (1:23:30) and Matthew Battley (1:24:13), the latter who saw off Sarah Hoskin for third.

The Mile High star was fourth in 1:26:31, 81 seconds clear of Storm Plymouth’s Lauren Knox, while Hayle Runners’ Emma Paull was third and eighth overall in 1:29:15.

In the end, a superb 716 runners finished the distance on another memorable day at the venue just outside of St Austell.