Grandstand - Sports News in Brief

GRANDSTAND –SPORTING NEWS IN BRIEF

Although Martins Bank Magazine covers most sporting events in detail, there are a number of stories that are either extremely short, or just an image with a short caption. Keen to show the wide range of activities taken on by our fearless sportsmen and women, we felt that a “News in Brief” page might just go some way to doing them justice…
Bowling… Finishing one and a half points ahead of their nearest rivals Barclays Bank, Martins Bank won the Hull Banks Bowling league 1968-69 championship. Winning thirty-four games and losing eleven, they have been undefeated since last November. Our photograph shows “Miss Anglia TV” presenting prizes to the team: Barry Dimaline – Captain (Hull Story Street), John Anderson (Hull Market Place), John Parkinson (Hull Market Place) and Graham Harvey (Hull Story Street).

Badminton… Some members of the newly-formed Grasshoppers Badminton Club: STANDING: From left to right – David Rigby, Peter Webster, Peter Smith, Ian Bruce, Howard Pilley, Bryan Lawrence, Douglas McKie. SEATED: Sandra Hoffham, Edna Weaver, Sheila Iddon, Jean Pilley, Hilary Lawrence.

Football – North and South… After 191 years, Heywoods branch fielded their first football team in a match against Victoria Street branch at Formby on April 27th. Encouraged by a vociferous band of supporters Heywoods won 5-4 and preserved their unbeaten record after a most enjoyable match, marred only by the injury of Victoria Street's Wilson who broke his arm during the second half. Although essentially a team victory, Burnham, Westby and Harrison were outstanding for Heywoods, while centre-half Keates and goalkeeper Parker shone for the losers. Goal-scorers were: Heywoods -Westby (2), Burnham, Inglis and Lightfoot; Victoria Street-Clarke, Lithgow, Ross and Keates (penalty). Victoria Street had already been beaten the previous week when they met a Liverpool Overseas team at Speke. They started well with an early goal from Lithgow but soon wilted in the face of the Overseas attack which brought the equaliser from Towler before half-time.	Liverpool City Office Football Team Back row (left to right): D. Morrell, E. Nicholson, P. Webster, J. Costain, A. Vaughan, O. Watson Front row: D, Moore, T. Jones, M. C. Pugh, J. Oliphant, R. Greenland
Nor did Overseas relax the pressure after the interval: apart from spasmodic bursts, Victoria Street were penned in their own half and the deciding goal came from Overseas' right-winger, Fobister, after a great run by Wright on the opposite wing. On May 6th Heywoods' proud record was lost when they met the Liverpool City Office team at Formby. It was unfortunate that they were hampered by injury early in the game but they could rarely match City Office's superior teamwork. The result was a win for City Office by 4 goals to nil, Oliphant and Webster each scoring two goals. Liverpool City Office played four other matches this year, winning two and losing two. They were beaten 3-1 by the Messengers and Maintenance Staff, P. Webster scoring the solitary City Office goal and 2-0 by Liverpool Overseas, K. Daniels and J. Dixon proving an impassable barrier to the City Office forwards. Their first success was achieved against Victoria Street branch, 5-0, P. Webster (2), D. Morrell, T. Vaughan and J. Oliphant scoring the goals. The other victory was against a Wallasey and District team formed from our Wirral branches. J. Oliphant scored a first half hat-trick and P. Webster followed suit in the second half to give the Liverpool team a 6-0 win. The team looks forward confidently to next season during which they intend to avenge the defeat by the old enemies, Liverpool Overseas, a defeat which caused consternation in the Liverpool City Office camp.
Spring saw the Bristol and District Football Team recommence their 1963-64 fixtures. Their opening match was against Bristol University 3rd team whom they beat convincingly 5-1. They then played their first fixture in the second half of the Bristol Banks' Football League, soundly thrashing Lloyds Bank 6-2. Pleased with their form, the Bristol branches were optimistic about their next match when on Good Friday they entertained the London District team. However, the visitors fielded a strong, workmanlike side and proved worthy winners by 4 goals to 1 in an entertaining game. This defeat made Bristol more determined than ever to show their mettle in the League, and in their next two matches they took a clear lead at the top of the table by beating Midland Bank 4-0, and National Provincial Bank 3-0. On April 14th the Bristol and District XI were hosts to colleagues once again, this time to the Midland District team. Much was promised of this game but unfortunately it was not nearly so entertaining as previous fixtures between the two sides.	Liverpool City Office football team Standing (Left to Right): D G Williams B R Bramley K H F Healy, A B Middleton, V C Oliver, and P J Hollister. Seated: J E Slowley, F J Lyons, R E Jefferies, A J Davies, and M B Gallagher

The forwards of both sides were unable to penetrate tight defences and the match resulted in a very disappointing goal-less draw. The Bristol branches then returned to the task of becoming the first winners of the local Banks' League. They approached their last fixture against Westminster Bank knowing that only a very heavy defeat would deprive them of the championship and both sides showed by the high standard of play that they regarded this match as one of extreme importance. The Martins team had a lively forward line, not easily contained, supported by a strong, resolute defence and mid-way through the first half Middleton put them ahead with two good goals. Westminster Bank replied with a goal in the first half, but in a hard fought second half had no answer to the teamwork of Martins, who went further ahead with two goals by Oliver. This 4-1 victory meant that the Martins team had won the League by four clear points from Westminster Bank, and after the match the captain, R. Jefferies, was presented with a handsome shield, a fitting reward for a team of spirit, cohesion and talent. The season ended with the annual game against Philblack Limited, Bristol City Office customers. The Bank won an entertaining, carefree match 4-0, and there then followed a social evening at our customers' premises which both teams and their numerous supporters thoroughly enjoyed. Swimming {The Manchester Banks' Amateur Swimming Association held its seventh annual gala on September 18th at the Victoria Baths, Manchester, and for the fifth year in succession the 'Sir Eric Carpenter' cup was won by the Bank's team which was drawn from the Liverpool and Manchester Districts. Up to the last two races, Barclays Bank were leading Martins by five points but our team, by winning both the ladies' and the men's squadron races in fine style, won the trophy with 22 points and provided a very exciting finish to the gala. In the Inter-Banks Events the following members of the team were successful: Butterfly Third Miss H. Holroyd Free Style Third: Miss H. Holroyd In the Martins Bank Championships Miss H. Holroyd won the Ladies' Free Style Event.} { In the winter issue of the Magazine last year we drew attention to the activities of Miss Hazel Holroyd (Elland) who distinguished herself at the annual gala of the Manchester Banks' Amateur Swimming Association. We mentioned her performances in some of the long distance swimming events, including the Morecambe Cross Bay Swim and the swim across Lake Bala. Now it is our pleasant duty to congratulate her on winning the Morecambe Cross Bay ten-mile women's championship on June 17th. She was only six yards in front, thirteen seconds in terms of time, when she waded out to win the title and trophy from last year's winner and 25-mile bay champion, Miss Ruth Oldham, a 20-year-old London University student. Number three was ten minutes behind. Hazel's time for the crossing was 3 hours, 34 minutes, 47 seconds. On July 7th she was one of the four women entrants for the Torbay swim, from Torquay to Brixham and back, a distance of about seven miles. There were also sixteen male entrants. The water was unusually cold for the time of the year and eight of the men and two women had to be taken out because of cold or exhaustion. Miss Holroyd completed the swim and was the winner in the Women's Section in the time of 5 hours 16 minutes.} Golf
Golf is a sport enjoyed by large numbers of Martins Bank’s male AND female staff – in 1968 a Champion for whom the future should surely be bright, is made on the Bank’s home turf… Amongst the many sports competing for a place in our Grandstand section, we do know that golf is currently a poor relation. We shall try to rectify this at some point with a separate feature. Just when is, of course, the £64,000 question….		Neil Moir, (Liverpool district Relief) became Cheshire County Golf Champion at Sandiway at the end of May. A round of 71, the best of the Championship, kept him ahead from the start.
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