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.

One & Other - an hour on the plinth in Trafalgar Square

One & Other is the brainchild of the artist Antony Gormley, best known for iconic statues such as The Angel of the North and the figures on the beach at Crosby, Merseyside. He is asking people from all over the UK to help create an incredible living monument by standing on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, for an hour each, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break.

And I have applied for a place!

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Manchester Mini Masters tournament

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Manchester Mini Masters tournament

Luton’s Richard Gottfried won the inaugural Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament at the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course @ Playgolf Manchester on Saturday 11th April. The competition was played over 27-holes and in a field of twelve players Richard won with a three round total of 81(-24) after scoring 26, 27, and 28.

In second place with a score of 86(-19) was current BMGA British Number One Chris Harding. Paul Johnson was third with 87(-18).

Richard Gottfried said “It feels great to be the Manchester Mini Masters champion and to win by five clear shots is brilliant. The course is incredibly tough with some tricky water hazards but is great fun to play, the practice I put in on the Friday paid off. I am looking forward to defending my title next year and wearing the Championship MiniatureGolf winner’s shirt with pride.”

Emily Gottfried was also competing in the tournament and finished in 6th spot after rounds of 33, 29, and 33 for a total of 95(-10).

The Manchester Mini Masters is Richard’s fourth tournament win since his British Minigolf Association (BMGA) debut in April 2007; he is also the Adventure Island/Heart FM Open Champion, Weymouth Open Champion, and one-quarter of the reigning BMGA British Club Champions. Richard is currently ranked 16th of 66 in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings, while Emily is in 42nd place.

Ends

Manchester Mini Masters - Gottfried Wins

On Saturday 11th April I won the Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament at the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course @ Playgolf Manchester.

In a field of twelve I won with a three round total of 81, five shots clear of British Number One Chris Harding. Third was Paul Johnson with 87.

A full report is to follow.

Doc's Interactive Shootout

It's been a while since I've seen and played an arcade shooting gallery but I managed to find one in the Namco Station at the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

It was an update on the traditional seaside arcade version, with a mix of video game action and 'real life' targets.



In my opinion it wasn't a patch on Ol' Zeke's Shooting Shack!

Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Manchester

Visits to the Tiki Hut and Temple Ruins courses.


While in Manchester in April 2009 we visited and played the two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses at the Trafford Centre's Paradise Island Adventure Golf.

The first round was on the Tiki Hut Trail, followed by a round on the Temple Ruins Adventure, where I scored a 33(-3) which included a run of four Aces in a row!






Links:
- Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Manchester
- Paradise Island Adventure Golf

Minigolf Course Visit No. 84 - Championship MiniatureGolf @ Playgolf Manchester

Friday 10th April saw us visit and play at our 84th minigolf course - the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course @ Playgolf Manchester.

The course was to be the location for the next day's Manchester Mini Masters tournament.

Tenpin Bowling - the '$1million' Challenge

On Tuesday 7th April three members of the Ham & Eggers Bowling Team competed for the '$1million' Bowling Challenge prize at Namco Luton.

Playing six games (and a play-off) it was Mike 'Five Star' Wright who walked away with the '$1million' winnings after defeating Richard 'Bowlingo' Gottfried in the 7th game decider after both players had won three games apiece.

In the 7th game 'Five Star' scored a 111 while 'Bowlingo' was one-pin away on 110.



Earlier in the evening Richard had scored a new personal best on UK-soil, with a solid 158.

Emily 'EBA/MVP' Gottfried meanwhile had a bad night picking up no wins and a best score of 101 in the first game.

Next up for the Ham & Eggers Bowling Team is the Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge 2009 later this month.

A great Ham & Eggs sign...

...spotted at Sam's Diner No. 3 in Denver.

Denver Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-man

Spotted, and poorly photographed, on the way to Denver airport - a Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-man.


See also - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/09/wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing.html

Colorado Avalanche NHL Team

My new favourite Ice Hockey team are the Colorado Avalanche who are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment and recently lost 7-2 to the Anaheim Ducks.




Check out the Avs official website at http://avalanche.nhl.com

Video highlights of the game - http://avalanche.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlg=20082009,2,1101&fr=false

Match report - http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?gameNumber=1101&gameType=2&page=Recap&season=20082009&service=page

During one of the match breaks the Powerball Lotto mascots squared off with each other on the ice in a last mascot standing fight!

Squirrel in Denver - Adult Learners' Week 2009 Photo Competition Entry

Entered into the 'Animal Magic' Category of the Adult Learners' Week 2009 Photography Competition.

Tenpin Bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes, Denver, CO, USA

Playing two games of Tenpin Blowing at the Lucky Strike Lanes in Denver I managed to hit very decent scores of 143 and 174.

In the first game I hit a Turkey (three strikes in a row) and in the second game I had two missed Turkey chances.

Bowling at altitude was great fun!

Minigolf Course Visit No. 82 & 83 - Boondocks, Colorado

A visit to Boondocks Fun Center in Northglenn, USA.

While in Denver I travelled 12 miles north of the city to visit and play Minigolf courses number 82 & 83 on my world tour of Minigolf courses.

Located at Boondocks Fun Center in the town of Northglenn, Colorado are two 18-hole courses - the Caverns Mill and Hillbilly Hallow - that sit next to Interstate-25.

As it was $12 Tuesday I had unlimited Miniature Golf and managed to fit in three rounds on the very busy courses.

My scores were:
- Hillbilly Hallow Course - 50(+14)
- Caverns Mill Course - 48(+12)
- Hillbilly Hallow Course - 44(+8)

As they were very over-par scores it proves that (mini)golf balls do go farther at high altitude!






Distance from Luton, UK to Northglenn, Colorado, USA:
- 4664.9 miles
- 7507.4 kilometres
- 4053.7 nautical miles
- Holes played = 54
- Holes in One = 3 in 54 holes
- 86.3 miles travelled per hole
- 1554.9 miles travelled per hole in one

Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:
- Boondocks Fun Center
- Boondocks Colorado on Facebook

Denver - the Mile High City

Denver, Colorado is nicknamed the Mile High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile, or 5,280 feet (1,609 metres) above sea level.

It is a fact that because of the high altitude sporting feats are improved e.g. when hitting a golf ball it will travel 10-20% further than at sea level.

On a recent visit to Denver I had the opportunity to test out this theory with two of my favourite sports - Minigolf & Tenpin Bowling. Check out the blog posts for the results.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 82 & 83 - Boondocks, Colorado

Tenpin Bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes, Denver, CO, USA

Minigolf Report – New Malden Invitational & Motspur Park Classic

On Saturday 21st March Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried accepted invitations from the London Minigolf Club (LMC) to compete in the New Malden Invitational and the Motspur Park Classic Minigolf competitions in South London.

Held at the Jurassic Encounter Adventure Golf Course in London, the New Malden Invitational took place over 18-holes with seven players competing. The LMC’s Brad Shepherd won with a score of 37 (+1). Lionel Bender beat Gareth Holmes in a play-off for second place after both players scored 38 (+2). Emily Gottfried took 5th place with a score of 40 (+4) which included two holes-in-one, while Richard Gottfried had to settle for 6th place with a disappointing 44 (+8) after taking a seven on the 16th hole.

The Motspur Park Classic took place at the 18-hole Minigolf Course at Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Park, Motspur Park with eight players competing. And again it was the LMC’s Brad Shepherd who took the victory with a round of 39 (+3). Lionel Bender was second with 43 (+7) and Marc Chapman was 3rd with 45 (+9). Richard finished in fifth spot with a 48 (+12) and Emily was 6th with 53 (+17).

Emily said “I felt I played better than my scores reflected but it is good to get some practice in these invitationals ahead of some of the big tournaments.”

Richard said “I had some good rounds that were ruined by some poor play on one or two holes. The 16th at New Malden is a difficult hole and getting a seven was disappointing, but at least I know what I need to improve on for the next time I compete there.”

Richard Gottfried is currently ranked 14th of 68 in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings while Emily Gottfried is in 46th place.

Minigolf Doubles – Career Stats

Richard Gottfried's Career Minigolf Doubles Matchplay Stats:
Played – 11*
Won – 5
Drawn – 1
Lost – 5
* Seven matches at the 2008 BMGA British Doubles Championship, Warwick (with Emily Gottfried) and four matches at Star City, Birmingham (with Andy Gonsalves x 2, Matt Smith & Owen Johnson).

Richard Gottfried's Career Minigolf Doubles Strokeplay Stats:
Played – 3*
Won – 1
Lost – 2
Drawn – 0
* Includes matches with playing partners Owen Johnson (Star City), Paul Johnson (Star City) and Emily Gottfried (New Malden).