THE Malvern & District Motor Cycle & Light Car Club are very pleased that the number 13 was lucky for them in the promotion of their very popular annual charity skittles events held at their Beacon Clubroom in Link Way.

This is the 13th year since these tournaments have taken place and once again they have been a great success both in the support for the competitions and in raising a significant amount of money for the Cancer Research Campaign.

This year 35 teams entered the men's competition competing for the Beacon Charity Trophy and 42 ladies teams competed for the Margaret Fildes Memorial Trophy.

All matches weree played at the Beacon Club, which has excellent facilities and a top class alley. This year organisers were hoping to raise £1,400 so that the total amount presented to the charity since the competitions began would pass £20,000 mark.

It was only through the generosity of the players and their supporters that the target was reached and surpassed raising £1,902.50.

The Malvern Men's County Cup team use the club for their home matches and very generously donated £150 towards the fund raising. The total amount donated to The Cancer Research Campaign now stands at £20,517.48.

As is traditional the tournament provided a great deal of interest both socially and sportingly. Raffles were held on match nights and were very well supported by both players and spectators. The finals and presentations of the two competitions were held on separate evenings with the donation to The Cancer Research Campaign being made on ladies night. Both evenings ended with a grand raffle and a splendid buffet provided by supporters of the events.

The men had been playing on Thursdays. Hotshots narrowly won their semi-final beating The Wombles by only two pins. The other semi-final was also a very close high scoring match, Colwall Bullets just beating Rejects A 150 to 149 pins. The final was another very high scoring match and with an impressive 154 pins Hotshots became the 2001 champions. This was the second time Ken Dean had led his team to victory, they were the winners of the first competition in 1990.

Nick Taylor, men's organiser, thanked everyone concerned. Tom Davy, Chairman of the Malvern Branch of the Cancer Research Campaign presented the trophies.

The champions, Hotshots, were Ken Dean, Roger Turner, Dave Parker, Tony Parker, Dave Jackson and Kevin Ingram, each received Edinburgh Crystal clocks as well as the Beacon Charity Trophy.

The runners up, Colwall Bullets were R Wright, C Davies, G Williams, R Webb, N Davies and P Bayliss, they each received Royal Doulton plates. The losing semi-finalists Rejects A and The Wombles each received Edinburgh Crystal rummers. Highest scorer of the competition was Kevin Monk of Taffy's Sweepers with 51 pins, he received a Nachtmann Crystal shark.

In the ladies semi-finals Five Pints & AHalf beat the 1998 champions Me & My Girls. In the other semi-final Pigs Trotters beat The Scrums. The final was very exciting with only two pins separating the teams all the way through, Pigs Trotters the home team leaving Five Pints & a Half 32 pins to win. They took 26 pins and Pigs Trotters became the2001 champions.

Lorna Rodway, ladies organiser, thanked all those who had contributed to a successful event. The trophies were presented by past Chairman of the Malvern Motor Cycle Club.

The champions, Pigs Trotters were Allie Hughes, Caroline Hawker, Becci Spencer and Fiona Howells, they each received Aynsley vases as well as the Margaret Fildes Memorial Trophy. The runners-up, Five Pints & a Half, were Jo Darling, Dawn Mansell, Heather Collins, Pauline Reynolds, Lyn Thompson and Di Bird each receiving Royal Doulton plates. The losing semi-finalists, Me & My Girl and The Scrums, each received miniature Aynsley vases. Highest scorer of the competition was Sylvia Harding of The Chicks with 47 pins and she received a Nachtmann Crystal Dachshund.

Diane Phillips, competition treasurer, announced that the fund raising had passed the target and presented the cheque for £1,902.50 to Tom Davy, Chairman of the Malvern Branch of the Cancer Research Campaign.

He praised everyone for their efforts and said the competition was enabling much needed funds to be raised to help finance the fight against this disease.

The Malvern & District Motor Cycle & Light Car Club is very grateful for the support given to these competitions and it hopes to continue promoting them.