Grand Final of the Namco Luton Business Bowling Championships 2011

Results of the 2011 Namco Luton Business Bowling Championships Grand Final

On Thursday 3rd November 2011 the EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team competed in the Grand Final of the Luton Business Bowling Tournament at Namco in Luton.

The winners of the tournament were Vauxhall, with G Casino runners-up. The EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team finished in third place.

Photo: The EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team from l-r Simon Hall (Captain), Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried

In May the EcoStyle-CEuk Team entered the second qualifying heat to attempt to qualify for the Ultimate Championship Final in November. In that event the team finished 4th. The EcoStyle Team were also runners-up to G Casino in the July qualifier.

Photo: Emily Gottfried with the certificate for being the "Worst Bowler Ever"! Her scores of 80 and 96 weren't that bad!

EcoStyle promotes awareness and understanding of renewable energy technologies. They design and manufacture demonstration models to teach renewable energy in schools and colleges, or for use as marketing tools within industry.

Previous Blog Posts:
- EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team Runners-up in Namco Luton Business Bowling Tournament
- EcoStyle-CEuk Tenpin Bowling Team 4th in Namco Luton Business Bowling Tournament

EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team Runners-up in Namco Luton Business Bowling Tournament

On Thursday 7th July 2011 the EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team entered the third heat of the Luton Business Bowling Tournament at Namco in Luton.

The team of five were up against two other teams and finished as runners-up to Luton's G Casino.

In May the EcoStyle-CEuk Team entered the second qualifying heat to attempt to qualify for the Ultimate Championship Final in November. In that event the team finished 4th. They will next be in action at the fourth heat in August.

The EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team

From l-r Emily ‘Slow Hand’ Gottfried, Simon ‘Bowling Ball’ Hall, Clémentine ‘Striker’ Facque, James ‘Blaster’ Cunliffe, Richard ‘High Swing’ Gottfried

EcoStyle promotes awareness and understanding of renewable energy technologies. They design and manufacture demonstration models to teach renewable energy in schools and colleges, or for use as marketing tools within industry.

EcoStyle-CEuk Tenpin Bowling Team 4th in Namco Luton Business Bowling Tournament

On Thursday 5th May 2011 the EcoStyle-CEuk Tenpin Bowling Team entered the second heat of the Luton Business Bowling Tournament at Namco in Luton.

The team of five were up against the likes of Vauxhall, Boots and Superdrug and finished in 4th place of 8 teams.

A great event with some fun bowling. The EcoStyle-CEuk Team may well be entering the third qualifying heat to attempt to qualify for the Ultimate Championship Final in November!

Photos from the event:

Team Co-Captains - Simon Hall (l) of EcoStyle and Christopher Gottfried of CEuk

Christopher Gottfried in action

Christopher Gottfried

Richard Gottfried NOT wearing Reebok Classics for a change!

Richard Gottfried with his winner's certificate for being the best bowler on the night

Lane 4

The EcoStyle-CEuk Tenpin Bowling Team

EcoStyle promotes awareness and understanding of renewable energy technologies. We design and manufacture demonstration models to teach renewable energy in schools and colleges, or for use as marketing tools within industry.

CEuk is one of the main specialists in outdoor professional equipment. They supply Trojan handsaws in a variety of popular blade lengths, Stallion telescopic polesaws in two sizes, Nokota saw and lopper pruners, Noble folding saws plus the original Phat Strop tool attachment and CEuk Cooltex Tees and Hoodies.

British Tourism - Closer to Home

With yesterday being the start of British Tourism Week Emily and I had fancied taking a trip to the brilliant British seaside and were going to make a visit to Southend-on-Sea and the Party on the Pier there (it's a seaside resort we really like, and is probably the nearest to us here in Luton). However, after having a much needed lie-in we decided to have a tour around the area closer to home.

We managed to fit in a fair bit just pootling around a 20ish mile radius of Luton, Bedfordshire, and visited Dunstable, Kensworth, Whipsnade, Stanbridge, Tilsworth and Milton Keynes.

We visited the Dunstable Downs, watched some Kite Flying and the Gliders taking off and landing. And went to 'another' Isle of Wight.


We then headed to Whipsnade and saw some Bison, visited Tilsworth Golf Club and then headed to Milton Keynes, where we found some great produce at the Centre MK's Food & Craft Fair, as well as discovering another Quasar Laser Tag at the Tenpin Bowling Centre at MK's Leisure Plaza.

There is a great amount of fun and interesting stuff to do in the UK, and we love our coastal travels and roadtrips, but it's also great to have a leisurely day out close to home too.

British Tourism Week runs from the 12th to the 20th March 2011.

Quasar in Milton Keynes

On our trundle around Beds and Bucks yesterday we headed to Milton Keynes as I was sure there was a Laser Tag there.

I thought there was one at the Xscape centre, but we found I was wrong, there is however a Quasar Laser Tag at the Tenpin Bowling Centre at the MK Leisure Plaza.


We were going to have a game, but with a battle having just begun and the next one exclusively for a kids birthday party we would have had to wait for a while to play. We have decided to head back in the near future.


Looking at the scoreboard at the centre, the war-raging at the MK Quasar was a classic struggle between the REDS and the GREENS.

With no new battle between us taking place in Milton Keynes the Laser Tag Rankings remain the same.

The sport of Knokkers!

Emily recently spotted a story in Metro about the new sport of Knokkers - it's a cross between Pool and Tenpin Bowling, played on a massive pitch!

It looks like it'd be great fun, and as a fan of obscure, wierd, wonderful and strange sports I put out a tweet about the game, and had responses from some of my fellow twitterers who also wanted to play the game.

We've now, kind of unofficially, formed a Hybrid UK/USA Team - and we're open to challenges from all-comers!

The first BIG CHALLENGE is finding a 'Pitch' to play it on in the UK!

You can find out more about Knokkers on the official website.

My Crazy/Odd/Obscure/Strange Sporting Week

Saturday

• Course visits 205 and 206 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
• Minigolf at the World of Golf in Sidcup - practice for the 2010 Kent Open tournament
• 2010 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships at the Durell Arms, Fulham - a second-round loss

Sunday

• Kent Open Minigolf Tournament - tied for 8th and a win in the team competition

Monday

• Dodgeball Training Session and a 6-1 victory in Luton

Tuesday

• Day off

Wednesday

• 2010 Macmillan Annual Tenpin Bowling Challenge Competition at Namco Station in Luton - 3rd place finish with The Ham & Eggers Team

Thursday

• Minigolf at the Green Indoor Mini Golf - tied for 7th place in the weekly Club Tournament

Friday

• Day off, bar a bit of Ping Pong practice for the World Series of Pong

Saturday

• A re-visit to the 12-hole Crazy Golf course in Verulamium Park in St Albans, and a look at the 9-hole Putting Green

Sunday

• Ping Pong training for the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final
• Dodgeball training at Wardown Park in Luton
• A re-visit to the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Wardown Park in Luton

Third Place Finish for The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team at the Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge

Third Place Finish for The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team at the Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge

The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team finished with the bronze medal after attempting to defend their Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge Title at Luton's Namco Station last night (17th November 2010).

The 2010 event saw a change in the format, with the teams now made up of six players, as opposed to four aside as in previous years. Ten teams competed for the prestigious Macmillan Tenpin Bowling Trophy and player medals.

The Ham & Eggers finished the tournament with a two round team score of 1303. The team consisted of Richard, Simon, Mike, Jim, Rob and Alan (Mark/Geoff).

Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge Honours Board:
2010 - Andy's Team
2009 - The Ham & Eggers
2008 - The Flecney Four
2007 - Plumbs DIY
2006 - Plumbs DIY

Previous Ham & Eggers Team Rankings:
2010 - 3rd
2009 - 1st
2008 - 3rd
2007 - 6th
2006 - DNP




Report from the Ham & Eggers win in the 2009 Macmillan Bowling Challenge.

Blog posts about Ten Pin Bowling.

Blog posts about Bowlingo.

The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team Defend Their Title Tonight!

The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team will be defending their Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge Title at Luton's Namco Station tonight.

The 2009 title was won by a team of four with a two game team score of 870.

The 2010 event had been scheduled to take place in April. The new date also sees a change in the format, with the teams now made up of six players.

Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge Honours Board:
2009 - The Ham & Eggers
2008 - The Flecney Four
2007 - Plumbs DIY
2006 - Plumbs DIY

Previous Ham & Eggers Team Rankings:
2009 - 1st
2008 - 3rd
2007 - 6th
2006 - DNP

Report from the Ham & Eggers win in the 2009 Macmillan Bowling Challenge.

Blog posts about Ten Pin Bowling.

Blog posts about Bowlingo.

Ten Pin Bowling and a Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-man

In November the Ham & Eggers tenpin bowling team are looking to once again win the prestigious Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge. Ahead of the tournament we went for a few games of Tenpin Bowling at Namco Station in Luton at the weekend, where I was captured doing an (unintentional) impression of a Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-man!


Tweet

Gluten Free and Coeliac/Celiac Friendly Places to Eat in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

While on holiday in Las Vegas last month we were able to eat out at a number of great Gluten Free restaurants.

Among them were The Cracked Egg - 7660 W Cheyenne Ave #125, Las Vegas, NV 89129 - which had an extensive gluten free menu. I opted for the Southside Scramble, which filled me up for the whole day!



Botero at Encore Las Vegas - 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109-1967 - I had Steak Tartare to start (for the first time ever) which was excellent, followed by Organic Roasted Chicken, frisee salad and a natural jus. The service and the specialist menus were brilliant.



The Yard House - Town Square, 6593 Las Vegas Blvd S. Las Vegas, NV 89119 - here we watched the England vs. USA World Cup Match eating Rib-Eye Steak for breakfast, washed down with some great Redbridge Beer.



PF Changs - Aladdin/Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard, South Las Vegas, NV 89109 - I had an excellent meal of Egg Drop Soup to start, followed by Gluten Free Chang's Spicy Chicken. Delicious.



Outback Steakhouses - On the first evening in town we went to the restaurant at the Coke Bottle - 3785 Las Vegas Blvd, 4th Fl, Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (where I had an excellent Rib-Eye Steak and Garlic Mash, plus a huge side-salad), we returned on the last night and I went for a huge full rack of ribs (that I couldn't finish), and on our last day we went to the branch at Casino Royale - 3411 S Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (where I had another Rib-Eye Steak - this time for brunch!).




Big Al's Oyster Bar at The Orleans Hotel & Casino - 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, NV - did some great Cajun seafood, and had great service. It's a little off the strip, but well worth a visit to The Orleans. The hotel also has a great tenpin bowling alley!


Penazzi Oyster Bar in Harrahs Hotel & Casino - 3475 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109-8922 - did some great Oysters, and cocktails too!


Whole Foods stores also offer a great range of Gluten Free foods (and beers!).

Redbridge Beer is great, and we also picked up a case of Bard's Beer, which was nice too.

Ahead of our holiday the Gluten Free Las Vegas Blog was a great source of information.

Unfortunately we couldn't visit every place that could cater for Coeliacs/Celiacs, but that is just one more reason for us to return again!

I also managed to drink plenty of my favourite soft drink while in the US - Mountain Dew!


The Wal-Mart Version - Mountain Lightning - is good too.

Results - Tennants (sic) Super League Minigolf Tournament

Following the first-ever BMGA Scottish Open in Aberdeen last Sunday, some of the tournament competitors stayed on at Codonas Aberdeen beach to enjoy the venue and its attractions including the Shooting Shack, Penny Falls, Pool, Rides and Tenpin Bowling.

Seven of those players also decided to play a a one-round shootout competition called the 'Tennants (sic) Super League Minigolf Tournament' on the 18-hole Congo Indoor Adventure Golf Course.

The competition featured players from England, Scotland, Finland and Gibraltar and was won by London's Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd with a score of 32(-4), setting a new Unofficial BMGA Player Course Record in the process. London's Alan 'Stormin' Norman was runner-up with 36(par), with Luton's 'Squire' Richard Gottfried finishing third with 37(+1).


Photo - The competitors line-up following the competition.


Photo - Brad Putting to victory.


Photo - 'Stormin' Norman lines up a shot.

2010 Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge

The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team will be defending their Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge Title at Luton's Namco Station in April.

Will anyone be able to beat the Ham & Eggers this year?

More information (and a photo of last year's victors) can be found at the Macmillan Cancer Support website.

Report from the Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team's win at the 2009 Macmillan Bowling Challenge.

Tenpin Bowling at 'The Lanes' in Bristol

While we were in Bristol for the Minigolf English Open last weekend we also hit 'The Lanes' tenpin bowling alley for some pre-Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge practice!

I beat the 'Coach' 102 to 75.

Preparing for the 2010 Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge Title Defence!

Ahead of the defence of the Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge Title that we won last April, we headed to the lanes at Namco Station in Luton yesterday for a bit of a warm-up. Videos of how three of the Ham & Eggers Bowling Squad got on are below.

Videos from our practice games.

Luton gets a seaside Shooting Shack!

On my travels playing in minigolf and crazy golf tournaments, and at the many seaside resorts we visit throughout the year, I am always on the look-out for that good old staple of the British Amusement Arcade Industry - the Shooting Shack.

So imagine my surprise while tenpin bowling at Namco Station in Luton yesterday when I spotted the games area now included a 'Doc's Interactive Shootout'!

While not my favourite type of Shooting Gallery Game, it wasn't too bad, and it did pay out 49 tickets for my efforts.

The links below have details of some of the other Shooting Shacks I have found on my travels:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/09/pirate-flyer-laser-game-monorail-at.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/08/hillbilly-shooting-shack-in-rhyl.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/07/shooting-shacks-at-thorpe-park.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/shooting-shacks-walton-on-naze-clacton.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/04/docs-interactive-shootout.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/07/shooting-shacks-hayling-island.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/05/another-seaside-shooting-shack.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/04/bugseys-shooting-shack.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/04/old-zeke-kicked-bucket.html

New Tenpin Bowling Personal Best

At Namco Station Luton yesterday (8th July) I hit my all-time personal best Tenpin Bowling score with a 179 (including 5 Strikes, a Turkey and 3 Spares).

My previous PB was in Denver Colorado in March, details here.

Ham & Eggers play in the F.U.N. Charity Tenpin Bowling Competition

On Wednesday 20th May the Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team played in the Families United Network F.U.N. Charity Tenpin Bowling Competition at Go Bowling in Dunstable.

Competing against 31 other teams, the Ham & Eggers were drawn against Carey's Team in the Matchplay rounds.

Over two games the team of Richard 'Bowlingo' Gottfried, Emily 'MVP' Gottfried, James 'The Great Sparedini' Cunliffe and Laura Woods scored 751, to beat Carey's Team by 33 points.

The overall tournament winners were the team from The Old Palace Lodge in Dunstable.

Pictured from l-r, Oxana 'Roxana' Nikandrova, Richard 'Bowlingo' Gottfried (Captain), Emily 'MVP' Gottfried, James 'The Great Sparedini' Cunliffe and Laura Woods.

For more information about Families United Network please visit - http://www.familiesunitednetwork.co.uk/home.html

Bowlplex Braehead

In preparation for our next outing in a tenpin bowling tournament we got some practice in at the lanes at the Bowlplex in Braehead, Glasgow.

Ham & Eggers win the Macmillan Bowling Challenge

At the third attempt the Ham & Eggers bowling team yesterday won the prestigious Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge, defeating eight other teams to lift the trophy.

The Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge took place at Luton's Namco Station and the Ham & Eggers improved on their Bronze medal position from 2008 to lift the trophy with a two game team score of 870.

Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge Honours Board:
2009 - The Ham & Eggers
2008 - The Flecney Four
2007 - Plumbs DIY
2006 - Plumbs DIY

Previous Ham & Eggers Team Rankings:
2009 - 1st
2008 - 3rd
2007 - 6th
2006 - DNP








The 2008 Report can be seen here.