2016 Southport Olympic Fun Day 29 August 2016
Eileen Gallagher leads the community singing of the National Anthem
Brilliant weather, over 48 people, very strangely decorated Croquet lawns capped with players carrying Egg and Spoons or wearing Pirate Hats or firing croquet balls from ramp into a water container – nothing unusual at all – just another Fun Day at Southport. This was team GB on the croquet lawns with a range of croquet challenges from the mundane to the wacky.
Competitors ranged from teenage to nineties as teams battled it out through 14 events, there was blood (one of the managers tripped over a hoop), sweat (as competitors nervously awaited their moments of glory) and tears (of laughter) as the afternoon unfolded to an exciting finish. Organisers, Eileen Gallagher and Tony Thomas laid out a circuit of entertaining games on the club lawns calculated to puzzle even the top players who were there enjoying the day.
A croquet egg and spoon race proved challenging with only one hand free to run the hoops, but not as wet as firing balls over a ramp into a bucket of water to demonstrate ball control, whilst a lively game of pirates where players wearing pirate hats stole each other’s hoop points, brought out the buccaneering qualities in everyone. Challenging teams battled it out through 14 hilarious events. It was an afternoon of sport, friendly competition and tears of laughter.
The winning teams were presented with medals to a backdrop of the Union Jack whilst the spectators gave a rendition of the National Anthem.
Gold medalists – Andy Sweeney; Brian Lewis; Maureen Jeffrey; Alice Dawson.
Silver Medallists – Ray Lowe; Lesley Winsland; Barbara Nodwell; Tracy Moors.
Bronze medallists – Anne Mitchell; Chris Sweeney; Malcolm Lunn; Terry Dunbar.