Ham & Eggers - New 'Star' Signings

The Ham & Eggers All-Star Tenpin Bowling Team have signed two new players to their squad in an effort to wrestle the MacMillan Shield from the hands of two-time champs Plumbs DIY.

In the line-up for the upcoming MacMillan/Namco Annual Bowling Challenge are Richard Gottfried (Captain), Emily Gottfried (EBA Star), Mike 'Five-Star' Wright and new-signing the Mystery Player.

Already signed up for a place in the squad for the 2009 tournament is Oxana Nikandrova.

Tenpin Bowling - Macmillan Shield

The countdown is on to the Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge!

15 top teams, including the Ham & Eggers, will be heading into two rounds of Tenpin Bowling action at Namco Luton to compete for the prestigious 'Macmillan Shield'.

World Crazy Golf Championships Video

Another video about the 2007 Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings.

Scooby Doo Crazy Golf Course

Beware playing at the old 'haunted' Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend on Sea!

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Essex

WHAT

3rd February 2008 - Richard Gottfried wins the Irregular Mini Golf Tour West Hertfordshire Amateur Tournament at the TopGolf Watford Game Centre.

Finishing a clear 10 shots ahead of his nearest rival, Richard also lifted the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Wenlock Cup as 'Aces' Champion.

Extra Curricular - Visit the seaside this weekend for some crazy golf

Richard Gottfried was featured in a piece about his Crazy Golf career in the 4th February 2008 edition of The Guardian (Office Hours, Page 3).

The link to the 'Visit the seaside this weekend for some crazy golf' story is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/04/7

Groundhog Day 2008

Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter!
Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/08 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Here Ye!

On Gobbler's Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2008 Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a weather eye toward thousands of his faithful followers, Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:

"As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it will be!"

Live draw of the BMGA British Matchplay Championships

Here is the video of the live draw of the BMGA British Matchplay Championships 2008.

http://ustream.tv/channel/british-matchplay-championships-round-1-draw

The confirmed draw for the first round is below:

Steve Gow v Rocky Bullin
Richard Penfound v Trevor Robertson
Ted McIver v Kevin Botto
Tim Davies v Brad Shepherd
Andy Exall v Richard Gottfried
Martin Robertson v Peter Emmerson
Andy Booth v Jas Kukielka
Chris Harding v Jam Trubridge
Den Exall v Marion Homer
Seve Kukielka v Phil Exall
Matthew Harding v Ruth Bullin
Sean Homer v Jane Booth
Keith Kellard v John Moore

Anthony Pope, Bill Bullin and Trevor Exall all get byes and progress straight through to the quarter finals.

All first round matches to be played before the 31st May 2008.

Macmillan Cancer Support 'Annual Bowling Challenge'

For the third year running Macmillan Cancer Support are holding their 'Annual Bowling Challenge' at the Namco Station in Luton and the Ham & Eggers team will be taking part for the second time.

This year the team of four are looking to better their 6th place finish in 2007 by beating the current champions Plumbs DIY and taking the title.

More news on the tournament as we get it!


The Ham & Eggers pose for a team photo at the 2007 tournament.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2008 to Ham & Eggers everywhere!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

...to Ham & Eggers everywhere!

Gottfried Wins, Gottfried Wins, Gottfried Wins

(Luton, 21.12.07) In the battle of the UK's Top Finger Jousters Richard Gottfried held onto his one-year undefeated streak by beating his arch-rival Emily Gottfried 6-2 in Point Play Rules.

The match started well for Richard who scored two quick points by hitting both of Emily's legs, followed by a twisting neck shot for a further two. However, Emily fought back and hit a two-pointer with a questionable 'low chest' shot on Richard to bring her back into the game. But a win for Emily was not on the cards and by planting two well placed shots onto Emily's right leg Richard extended his undefeated streak to 48 wins since 21st December 2006.

Commenting on his well-earned victory Richard said "Emily has proven time and again to be a tough opponent and excellent proponent of the art of Finger Jousting, but I'm on a hot streak at the moment and it won't be long until I am crowned as the Undisputed Worlds Finger Jousting Champion."

Richard Gottfried's 'Pro' Finger Jousting Record (31.10.06 - 21.12.07)
Played 85
Won 80
Lost 4
Tied 1
% Won 94.12%


Photo - Hands locked and ready for battle.

Happy Birthday Ham & Egger Files!

Today is the first Birthday of the Ham & Egger Files website!

Over the past year the progress of the UK's top Obscure Sportsmen and Women have been charted on this site, with tales of heroic triumph and mediocrity in sports including Minigolf, Finger Jousting and Ten Pin Bowling.

Here's to the next year of sporting fun!

Finger Jousting - Match of the Year

In a match-up bigger than Ali vs Foreman, Andre vs Hogan, Ace Man vs Big Top or Hatton vs Mayweather, tomorrow (21/12/07) sees Gottfried vs Gottfried in a face-off between the UK's top two Finger Jousters.

Heading into the match Richard Gottfried is on a one-year, 47-bout undefeated streak that began on 21/12/06 when he beat tomorrow's opponent Emily Gottfried. The streak began on the same day he suffered only his 9th loss (4th of his 'Pro' Career), which ironically came at the hands (index finger?) of Emily herself.

Tale of the tape:
vs. Win-Loss Record - Emily 2 & 16, Richard 16 & 2
Richard Gottfried Career Win-Loss Record Stats
Played 98
Won 88
Lost 9
Tied 1
% Won 89.80%

Note:
Tomorrow's Match will be played to official World Finger Jousting Federation (WFJF)
'Point Play Rules' see below.

"In point play, different parts of the body count for different amounts of points. The legs and latent arm count as one point. The chest, back, and neck count as two points. The head counts as three points. Point play matches are played to six for tournaments, but when playing leisurely any number above two is allowed." http://www.fingerjoust.com/

Kalkalash

Homer Simpson: Now what do you have to wash that awful taste out of my mouth?
Vendor at the World Trade Center: Mountain Dew or crab juice.
Homer Simpson: Blecch! Ew! Sheesh! I'll take a crab juice.



Mmmm Crab juice, I mean Mountain Dew.

80p a can overseas import, great stuff!

Sir Cliff Richard...On Crazy Golf!

“The most bizarre tournament of the universe” Sir Cliff Richard commenting on the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championship 2007, on The One Show, BBC1, 7th December 2007.

“Richard’s Crazy Ambition” Beds Life

“Richard’s Crazy Ambition” Beds Life, The Newspaper for the University of Bedfordshire, December 2007 Issue.

Back Page Sports story in the Staff and Student Newspaper of my 'Alma mater' about my debut season, including a photo of me Putting on the 16th at Margate.

Virgin Media Crazy Golf Photos and Video

http://www.virginmedia.com/sport/galleries/crazy-golf.php

Transworld Sport Coverage, Channel 4, 10th November 07

Coverage of the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships on Transworld Sport.

The One Show, BBC 1, 7th December 07

Coverage of the battle between the 76th and 77th best Crazy Golfers in the World, Colin Jackson and Phil Tufnell.



The link to The One Show Games is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/theoneshow/article/2007/10/cj_highlandgames.shtml

The link to the BBC player is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/theoneshow/ram/071207_golf?size=16x9&bgc=6699CC&nbram=1&bbram=1