Catholic Clubbing

In the short time I've been skittling around the clubs and pubs of our little corner of Northants and Leics, I've been pleasantly surprised at how many of the social clubs are now offering a real ale or two. Perhaps it's a misconception on my part, but clubs have certainly had a reputation amongst beer drinkers for being the last bastions of fizzy, tasteless keg beer. In fact I can only think of two occasions where just keg beers was available, and real ale is now widespread in this part of clubland.

The Catholic Club in Market Harborough is a case in point, with Everards Tiger and a Guest Beer available at all times. On this weeks visit the guest was Charles Wells Bombadier, but a cursory look at the bar, festooned as it is with hundreds of pump clips, reveals the wide range of beers which have previously been available. It's a cosy little club too, and one that's fast becoming a favourite of mine.

The skittles table is a favorite of mine too, not least because I've conspired to win a bit on it whenever I've played at the Catholic Club. It's a low-slung Leicestershire table, with a reputation for high scores, though sadly not when I'm throwing. Kev's 7-1 win was the highlight, with Fiona 'The Taxi' Barby taking the endurance crown for a hard-fought game that seemed to go on forever.................

So it's played two, won two, with things quite literally 'hotting up' for a Summer of skittling fun and games. Fun is of course, optional...

I leave you with a some hot video action of a clinical Nine on the venerable Red Lion table.


Next Week (Home): Spread Eagle, Cottingham

Summer League - A New Beginning

The Desborough Winter League finished with success for the mighty Red Lion 'A' skittles team, and what can only be described as relief all round for the fledgling 'B' team.

Red Lion 'A' showed grit and determination to finish top of their league, earning themselves a nice bit of silverware in the process. Promotion to the lofty heights of the Desborough premier league follows. Well done boys and girls, don't forget to collect your winners tube of Brasso from the bar. A trophy-polishing rota is being drawn up, and will be posted on the Red Lion notice board just as soon as Kev gets round screwing it back on the wall...

Red Lion 'B' narrowly avoided the wooden spoon, managing to scrape off the bottom of the league by dint of superior points difference, and occasional flashes of brilliance from the Ladies and Kev..... and Jim. When asked to explain the 'B' team's somewhat poor performance, skittling guru Vince replied, '...too many doubles were missed'. For my part, I can only say that fear of chipping the newly painted Red Lion skirting boards may have had an affect on my throw, both home and away... Now the paint has dried it's hoped that normal carnage can resume. In an exclusive interview, team captain Fiona 'The-Tip' Barby described the Beer-Leg fund as '...in deep recession', and is therefore being held back until such a time as it can stretch to more than a pint of Wot's.

Which brings me nicely to the Tuesday Summer League, which got underway earlier this week with a morale-boosting victory for the Red Lion against Great Bowdens Shoulder of Mutton team. Sensational dig-deep victories for Alec, Kev and Fiona helped bring home the cheese-shaped bacon, with a 3-2 Beer-Leg win easing fears of another funding rollover. It's early days, but confidence is running moderately high-ish for a few more wins this season.

Beer Report - Red Lion, Middleton

Great Oakley Wot's Occuring refreshed the thirsty skittlers, with St Georges Day special Fly the Flag available for traditional copper-coloured ale fans. Rockingham Forest Cider was also available, but at 7.2% was considered incompatible with the throwing of weighty bits of wood around the bar.

Next match: 27th April - Catholic Club, Market Harborough