Latest Tat Challenges in Hastings

Results of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenges.

Tat Challenge veteran in action at the first 60 pence Tat Challenge in Hastings

Last month saw Kate Kelly crowned the Worlds £2 Tat Challenge Champion at the Old Town Amusements in Hastings and this month saw two more Tat Challenge contests take place in the East Sussex seaside resort.

The variation on the classic format of the sport saw competitors use 60 pence worth of two penny pence pieces to win as much tat from the buttons at the amusement arcade next door and a few from the Old Town Amusements.

The loot won by the winner of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge

The first shootout took place on the evening of Saturday 22 November and five of the finest exponents of the endurance game took on the challenge to see how much they could win with just thirty bronzes.

The gold medal went to Will Donnelly who scored an amazing four pieces of Tat with his stake.

Will 'The Winner' Donnelly and his haul at the amusement arcade in Hastings

Results from 60p Tat Challenge Player's Championship #2 - Hastings, 23 November 2014
1st - Will Donnelly - 4 pieces of tat
2nd - John Moore - 3 pieces of tat
3rd - Seth Thomas - 2 pieces of tat
4th - Richard Gottfried - 1 piece of tat
5th - Dave Donnelly - 0 piece of tat whatsoever

A happy/surprise John 'Big Al' Moore with three minions in his winnings

Seth 'Two Bits' Thomas and his winnings

Richard Gottfried and a 'lego' man from the tupenny falls

The biggest hands in the sport of Tat Challenging, but Dave Donnelly drew a blank in the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge

Shootout two in the short form of the game saw Seth, Richard and Big Al return and were joined by Huntingdonshire's newest son and avid tatter Steve Lovell. Local competitor John 'Big Top Ted' McIver was unfortunate as he missed the start of the contest, as well as the end, as he was waylaid en route to the arena by his need to buy some chips.

With a bit apiece Steve and Seth picked up the win. The other competitors blanked. But at least Ted got some chips.

Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas are happy with their 'haul'. Each winner got to keep the one piece they'd won

Results from 60p Tat Challenge Player's Championship #2 - Hastings, 23 November 2014
1st (tied) - Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas - 1 piece of tat each
3rd (tied) - John Moore and Richard Gottfried - 0 pieces of tat each
DNS/DNF - John McIver

Following both contests the players continued to amass quite a haul of prize goodies, including an awful lot of minions and 'lego'.

Lots of Minions in the Buttons

A Lego logo above some not Lego bricks and figures in the two pence falls

60p Tat Challenge Hall of Fame
#1 - Will Donnelly
#2 - Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas

Related blog posts:
- Report from the 2014 Worlds Tat Challenge in Hastings
- Tat Challenges

Gluten free chicken and beer

Chicken and beer - a great combination.

Emily's a great cook and makes some delicious gluten free treats - both sweet and savoury. We've blogged about some of them here on The Ham & Egger Files and also posted photos and details on her Twitter feed.

The latest creation Emily has perfected is oven baked cornflake chicken (think kind of southern fried, but healthier if you will).

Southern-style baked chicken coated with crushed Nestle Gluten Free Corn Flakes, served with paprika potato wedges, BBQ beans and an avocado. Washed down with a chilled Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer. Delicious food, gluten free or otherwise

Since my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried a fair few of the gluten free beers available and Estrella Damm Daura is one of my favourites.

While recently shopping for a gluten free Chocolate Yule Log in Tesco's Free From section I noticed that Estrella Damm Daura were included in a 3 for 2 offer and so twelve bottles of the great gluten free beer were £12 - a great buy for a savvy coeliac like me.

Links:
- Estrella Damm Daura website
- Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer on Twitter
- Tesco Free From website
- Nestlé Cereals website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- New Nestlé Gluten Free Corn Flakes and Honey Corn Flakes

- Coeliac

- Gluten Free

Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

A visit to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey.

On Sunday 16 November 2014 Emily and I headed to Surrey to compete in the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament against our friends and fellow competition players Matt 'The Don' Dodd, Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd and Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in a two-round, two-course contest.

The second course we played was the 18-hole Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom.

The course was the 353rd played and 587th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

A round of minigolf at the course costs £9.25 for adults and £7.25 for children. The course is open seven days a week and is open from 9am.

There's currently a limited offer to buy an annual pass to play the Jungle Island Adventure Golf that looks like a good deal.

The limited edition annual pass at Jungle Island Adventure Golf

More information can be found on the Horton Park Golf Club website, Twitter and Facebook.

Links:
- Jungle Island Adventure Golf
- Horton Park Golf Club

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking
- Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Report
- Fake Crocodiles (or are they Alligators?) at Minigolf courses!

Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking

A visit to the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey.

On Sunday 16 November 2014 Emily and I headed to Surrey to compete in the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament against our friends and fellow competition players Matt 'The Don' Dodd, Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd and Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in a two-round, two-course contest.

We began the day at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking - home to the 18-hole Pirate Island Adventure Golf course.

The course was the 352nd played and 586th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Playing a shot on a big green

Matt holes out on the very long par-5 third-hole

In the drink

As is Matt

Oliver in great form at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course

Helen plays a shot on the BIG minigolf loop-di-loop

Emily inspects the cannon as Oliver prepares to putt

The first hole at the stern of the pirate ship

The pirate ship has two holes and three tee-off points

Inside the pirate ship is a blacklit hole!

Emily plays a shot inside the pirate ship

A round of minigolf at the course costs £8.25 for adults and £5.25 for children (4-16 year olds). The course is open seven days a week and is open from 9am til late. There are deals for families and groups too and you can also find out more by signing-up to the Pirate Island Golf enewsletter.

More information can be found on the Hoebridge Golf Centre website, the Pirate Island Adventure Golf website and Facebook.

There are also Pirate Island Adventure Golf courses in Milton Keynes, Castleford and Nottingham. We've played the MK course at Abbey Hill Golf Centre on our Tour and are looking forward to visiting the Castleford and Nottingham courses in the future.

The course was built by City Golf, check out their website too.

Links:

- Pirate Island Adventure Golf Woking

- Pirate Island Adventure Golf

- Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre

- Hoebridge Golf Centre
- City Golf

Related blog posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Report
- Woking
- Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Fake Crocodiles (or are they Alligators?) at Minigolf courses!

Minigolf Report from the Surrey Invitational Tournament

Woking’s Matt Dodd wins the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament.

Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd with the S.I.T. trophy in Epsom

On Sunday 16 November 2014 five semi-pro minigolfers competed in the first-ever Surrey Invitational Tournament in a two-round, two-course, 36-hole contest.

The Surrey Invitational Tournament competitors at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking, from l-r Richard Gottfried, Emily Gottfried, Oliver Florence, Matt Dodd, Helen Dodd

The competition was played at two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses, with Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking first up to test the players, followed by a visit to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom.

Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on one of the two Pirate Ship holes at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking 

The champion after 36-holes of play was Matt ‘The Don’ Dodd, the current British number 30, who triumphed with a score of 94(+22), having shot rounds of 48 and 46.

Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried holing-out a long second putt at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

Speaking after his maiden victory, new Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Dodd said “Thanks to everyone who took part. The competition was strong and it went to the final hole. I look forward to defending my title next year.”

Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd easily handling a water hazard hole at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom

The first stage of the S.I.T. was won by Burpham’s Oliver ‘The Machine’ Florence with a score of 45. However, the British International and veteran of tournaments including the 2010 AMF Asian Open Championships, was unable to compete in the second round due to prior commitments.

S.I.T. first round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in action on the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking

The scores and first-round rankings from the Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre were:
1. Oliver Florence – 45 (+9)
2. Matt Dodd – 48 (+12)
3. Richard Gottfried – 50 (+14)
4. Emily Gottfried – 52 (+16)
5. Helen Dodd – 58 (+22)

Each round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament gets to lift the trophy, but only the overall winner gets to keep it for the year. First-round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence holds the S.I.T. cup at Hoebridge Golf Centre

Play moved to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course where Luton’s ‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried collected the round victory with a score of 45.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried putts through the remnants of a dinosaur at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom

The scores and second-round rankings from Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club were:
1. Richard Gottfried – 45 (+9)
2. Matt Dodd – 46 (+10)
3. Emily Gottfried – 47 (+11)
4. Helen Dodd – 50 (+14)
5. Oliver Florence – DNS / DNQ

Second-round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament 'Squire' Richard Gottfried holds the S.I.T. cup at Horton Park Golf Club

However, this wasn’t enough to take the overall title as Matt Dodd’s score of 46 saw him take a one-shot victory and claim the Surrey Invitational Tournament title and trophy for 2014.

Overall S.I.T. champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

The final rankings and two-round totals from the Surrey Invitational Tournament (S.I.T.) 2014 were:
1. Matt Dodd – 94 (+22)
2. Richard Gottfried – 95 (+23)
3. Emily Gottfried – 99 (+27)
4. Helen Dodd – 108 (+36)
5. Oliver Florence – DNF

The Surrey Invitational Tournament 2015 will be played in Guildford.

GFree Radio - gluten free drinks special

A discussion of gluten free drinks on GFree Radio.

Listen to the latest episode of GFree Radio, with an appearance from me discussing gluten free drinks, suitability for coeliacs, pub snacks, and dreaded cross-contamination.



GFree Radio is the world's only weekly free podcast for people with coeliac (celiac) disease and the gluten free community. Hosted and produced by Peter Stewart each episode offers content ranging from news items and comment, food updates, reviews and interviews with coeliacs and food & drink producers. It's well worth a listen and if you've got a coeliac / gluten free topic you'd like to discuss then check out the GFree Radio Show website and get in touch with Peter.

Richard Gottfried - coeliac, gluten free blogger and fan of alcoholic beverages

One of my most popular blog posts is on Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager and I've been lucky to find a fair few on my travels.

GFree Radio Links:
- GFree Radio website
- GFree Radio on Spreaker
- GFree Radio on Twitter
- GFree Radio on Facebook
- GFree Radio episode 80 - GF Drinks Special

Other gluten free links:
- Coeliac UK
- Gluten Free For Men
- Gluten Free Survival Guide
- Gluten Free Guerrillas
- Free-From.com

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free

BMGA minigolf rankings update after the Kent Open

National Strokeplay Order of Merit and Season Only ranking updates from the British Minigolf Association.

The official British minigolf rankings have been updated following the KMGC Kent Open tournament held at the Lost Island Encounter Adventure Golf Course in Chislehurst.

Neither Emily or I could play in this year's Kent Open, so here's a photo from the 2010 Kent Open minigolf competition at the Lost Island Encounter Adventure Golf course in Chiselhurst

Richard Gottfried's rankings in the Strokeplay Order of Merit for the 2013/14 season:
- Following the BMGA Star City Open - 12th of 74 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 11th of 79 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA British Masters - 7th of 84 places (137 players)
- Following the BMGA British Championships - 10th of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Splash Point Open - 11th of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Midlands Open - 10th of 86 places (140 players)
- Following the BMGA Players Championship and BMGA British Open - 8th of 88 places (142 players)
- Following the BMGA English Open - 8th of 91 places (147 players)
- Following the World Crazy Golf Championships - 11th of 101 places (157 players)
- Following the Kent Open - 12th of 104 places (160 players)

Emily Gottfried's rankings in the Strokeplay Order of Merit for the 2013/14 season:
- Following the BMGA Star City Open - 42nd of 74 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 34th of 79 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA British Masters - 26th of 84 places (137 players)
- Following the BMGA British Championships - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Splash Point Open - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Midlands Open - 21st of 86 places (140 players)
- Following the BMGA Players Championship and BMGA British Open - 26th of 88 places (142 players)
- Following the BMGA English Open - 26th of 91 places (147 players)
- Following the World Crazy Golf Championships - 28th of 101 places (157 players)
- Following the Kent Open - 29th of 104 places (160 players)

In the BMGA Season Only Rankings for 2014 Emily is 19th of 89 players, I am in 27th position.

In the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings Emily is tied in 20th place of 55 players, I am 38th.

We are both ranked in the World Minigolf Sport Federation's General Class ranking lists. In the women's rankings Emily is in tied 120th position of 128 places (132 players). In the men's rankings I am ranked in tied 397th place of 413 places (419 players).

Related blog posts:
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- World Minigolf Rankings for 2014
- Rankings

Links:
- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)
- BMGA on Facebook
- BMGA on Twitter

'Free From' Festive Chocolate Yule Log from Tesco

New festive free from products at Tesco.

While on Facebook this morning a photo from the coeliac blogger Little Missed Gluten was in my feed showing the new Festive Chocolate Yule Log from Tesco's Free From range!

The Tesco Free From Festive Chocolate Yule Log is gluten, wheat, dairy and milk free

I had to go and get one!

The new Festive Chocolate Yule Log added to the Free From range at Tesco

I had a slice of the yule log for dessert tonight and it was delicious - you'd never know it was a free from product!

Little Missed Gluten had been tipped-off about the new product by another gluten free blogger - Coeliac Delight. Check out their sites for more gluten free news, reviews and recipes.

Luckily Tesco currently has a 3 for 2 promotion running so I was able to pick up one of the gluten and wheat free Yule Logs, as well as some Christmas Cakes. The Festive Chocolate Yule Log isn't cheap - it costs £4.75, but I thought it was worth a try, Christmas comes but once a year after all.

A Red Christmas! Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer is also in the 3 for 2 offer at Tesco - twelve bottles for £12 is far more reasonable than the £7.50 for four that it usually sells for!

This year my gluten free purchases for Christmas started earlier than ever before as I found some gluten free mince pies on sale in Hastings on 20 September! I bought my advent calendar (my first in years) a week later.

Links:
- Tesco Free From
- Little Missed Gluten
- Little Missed Gluten on Facebook
- Coeliac Delight
- Coeliac Delight on Facebook
- Estrella Damm Daura

Related blog posts:
- Christmas
- Gluten free and ready for Christmas
- The first gluten free Mince Pie of the season
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free

Derelict tennis courts

On our travels around the UK searching for Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses to play we've visited almost 600. Some however have been in a right old state.

These derelict, abandoned and unplayable courses are always a sad sight indeed. But on a recent trip to Ipswich we noticed it's not just facilities in 'minor' sports like Minigolf that suffer from neglect.

At Murray Park recreation ground in the Suffolk county town we found a row of tennis courts in a terrible post-apocalyptic condition.

Derick may be 'sexy', but the tennis courts definitely aren't

It's unfathomable that sports facilities can be left to go to ruin

Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour