Pipe Club of Norfolk

A fine day greeted the contestants as they arrived at the Lansdowne Hotel for the 14th. Norfolk Open. The five trade stands, each packed with quality pipes, were very busy as people arrived from as far afield as the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Birmingham and Thorpe Hamlet. A very good three course Sunday lunch was enjoyed before toastmaster Dave Bullock introduced the guest speaker Ian Walker. This was followed by a few words from Chairman Len Ellis.

A giant raffle then took place with three of the first ten prizes going to the Secretary (Surprised? You could have knocked me down with John Elvin's feather duster. Anyway, he needed a couple of new pipes) The winner of the most prizes must have been Tim Knight, as he appeared to leave with two suitcases.

Then to the contest itself: straight billiard pipes with saddle mouthpieces had been supplied by Murray, Frame and Love, and the contest tobacco was Robert McConnell's Scottish Cake. For the second year running George Kristlik was the first out. John Elvin kept up his remarkable form of late and soon followed suit. In an exciting climax, Len Ellis overtook Balraj Singh by 3 minutes and 10 seconds with last years winner, Reg Stevens in third place. (full list of times below).

Guest speaker Ian presented George with the dreaded wooden spoon, the team trophy to the John Hollingsworth team, and prizes to the top five finishers. With 41 competitors this was yet again a very successful day.

The organisers would like to thank all those who made the effort to attend and the following for kindly donating prizes, Clive Humm, George Krislik (Jan Pipes), Bill Taylor (Ashton Briars), Cadogan, Alfred Dunhill Ltd., Merton and Falcon Ltd., Northern Briars, Anglia Direct Ltd., The Rosary Tavern and Churchills, plus all those individuals who brought along prizes on the day.

The Lansdowne Hotel

Sunday 9 October 2005

McConnell's Scottish Cake

Murray, Frame and Love

1	Len Ellis	1:24:10
2	Balraj Singh	1:21:00
3	Reg Stevens	1:11:03
4	John Walker	53:47
5	Dave Bullock	53:35
6	John Green	53:16
7	Michael Taylor	48:24
8	Mark Dyer	45:54
9	Richard Adamek	45:52
10	Peter Hatten	44:16
11	Tim Knight	43:51
12	Martin Oliver	41:37
13	Reg Walker	41:21
14	Peter Wiseman	40:03
15	Richard Neville	39:10
16	Gerard Radegonde	39:09
17	Keith Garrard	37:46
18	George Doubleday	37:45
19	Chris McCann	37:19
20	Tony Larner	37:03
21	Chris Gregory	36:09
22	Tony Kelly	35:40
23	Leon Pickering	35:28
24	Gary Weston	34:56
25	Frank Gurney-Smith	32:41
26	Alex Burn	32:16
27	Keith Coleman	31:33
28	John Betts	30:00
29	Michael Thompson	28:09
30	Peter Blackman	27:33
31	John Eason	24:51
32	John Whitlock	23:48
33	Tony Bullen	23:38
34	Mark Heel	22:34
35	Richard Ravenscroft	22:08
36	Dave Polhill	21:34
37	Frank King	20:39
38	Ian Walker	14:24
39	Phil Leach	12:51
40	John Elvin	8:26
41	George Kristlik	1:42