Sport

Doddler duo recognised for help in running a run club

There hasn’t been too much for the Dorset Doddlers to celebrate this year, with the majority of races being cancelled due to the ongoing covid-19 situation. That all changed at the club’s virtual annual general meeting when two of the longest serving members were awarded lifetime membership. First to receive the award was John Cowley, who has been a member for more than 24 years. John has taken on many of the club roles over the years, spending more than 15 years as treasurer and three years as chairman, as well as standing in as a session leader. John is always first to help out at any of the Dorset Doddlers’ events, especially organising water stations at the Stur Half and marshalling at other races. Ian Pollard also received lifetime membership in recognition of his commitment as the club coach. Ian has been a On the first Saturday following Lockdown II, Ian McVeigh of Yetminster hit his first shot down the fairway of the 287-yard, 9th hole of The Old Course at Yeovil Golf Club. His second shot disappeared down the hole on the green. The eagle on the par-four hole was not Ian’s first. Playing off a handicap of two, he has had a number of on par five holes but very few on the par fours. Achieving one on his return to competitive golf on a tricky dog-leg par four certainly added to his pleasure of being allowed

DODDLERS Ian Pollard (left) and John Cowley member of the Doddlers since 2003 and has been club coach for more than eight years. Ian can always be seen leading the Thursday training sessions come rain or shine. With a wideranging knowledge of all aspects of running he has inspired many of the Dorset Doddlers to achieve their running goals. out on the course once again. Ian was one of 55 competitors in a stableford competition, which saw four players return scores in Ian has also been the chief marshal at both the Stur Half and the Stickler for many years. The committee would like to thank them both for their tireless dedication, and offer thanks and appreciation for everything they do for the club. If you would like more information on the Dorset Doddlers please visit:

Eagle eye Ian in the spotlight at Yeovil GC

dorsetdoddlers.co.uk. excess of 36 points. The First Division winner was Steve Gibbons (41) followed by Marc Harris (38), while Richard Poulson (40) won Division Two and Duane Rendell (37) took Division Three. On the following Monday, 83 seniors took part in their own stableford competition. Terry Higley returned the best score of the day and won the Division Three category with 42 points. Phil Osmond won Division One (36) and Martin Thomas Division Two (40).

Sport scrapped across the Vale until February

The latest lockdown has effectively put all sport on hold until February 15 at the earliest. Outdoor team sports is not permitted including grassroots football, hockey and rugby while leisure centres and gyms have also closed. So too have other indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, archery and shooting galleries, bowling alleys, riding arenas at riding centres, climbing walls and climbing centres. Organised outdoor sport for disabled people such as walking football is allowed to continue. Most people’s activity will be restricted to cycling, running or walking outdoors, which is allowed with one other person. You can also exercise with one other person outside of your household. The Government also says outdoor exercise ‘should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your area’.

WINCANTON GOLF CLUB RESULTS

Seniors Monthly stableford October 27 1 Kevin George 34 2 Pete Anyan 32 ocb Seniors 9-hole qualifier October 30 1 Phil Francis 20 2 Phillip Welch 19 ocb Monthly medal November 1 Chris Chapman nett 71 2 Ed Gale nett 72 ocb Seniors Monthly stableford December 8 1 Jon Reed 36 2 Ray Phillips 35 Monthly medal December 1 John Atkins nett 70 2 Pete Anyan nett 77 3 Ed Gale nett 78 73

NO GO GILLS: Gillingham haven’t played a match since December 5

Dorset Premier League pulls plug before forced lockdown

DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE

On Monday, Dorset Premier Football League suspended all games until further notice. Later that day, the government banned all nonelite outdoor team sport until mid-February. The move followed the cancellation of all games over the holiday period when the 16 league clubs voted 9-7 on Christmas Eve in favour of suspending games. At the time, there was some dissent with Tom Robins, manager of Poole Rovers arguing that Dorset was in a lower tier. “I get that a couple of the teams are in higher tier areas, but they can catch up. Dorset have vowed to finish this season, so why delay it any longer?” The move affected 16 games over Christmas including those involving Blandford, Sturminster Newton, Gillingham and Shaftesbury Reserves. However, with the DPL only suspending league games, Blandford United chairman Steve Powell had hoped on Monday that his club could 74 play Sturminster Marshall in the quarter final of the Dorset County FA Senior Trophy this Saturday –although he (correctly) expected the goverment to ban all non-elite football by then. Gillingham’s quarter final at home to Hamworthy Recreation is also off.

Portland United Reserves 0 Sherborne Town Reserves 3 Dorset Premier League December 19

The Zebras leapt four places in the table to third with goals from Nick Jacobs, Dec Cornish and Steve Burton. The team has played all nine league games away from home this season. “It’s just the luck of the draw we guess,” said the club’s Twitter feed. “The DPL has to fit reserve games in with the first team home games.” To which one fan pointed out that when all gets back to normal, it will mean a series of Reserves’ home games in lovely spring weather with a cider. Ironically, the team were due to play the next two games at home but all has now been suspended.

Merley Cobham Sports 5 Sturminster Newton 1 Dorset Premier League December 19

The Cherries soon found out why Merley were top of the league when they were on the wrong end of a rout. Stur were 1-1 at the break but Merley pulled away in the second half. Last season’s Dorset League and County Senior cup champions have won every game in the league this season. Leading scorer Matt Groves added two more to make it 16 in nine games.

Fixture pile-up threatens another football season

Non-league football across the region is in real danger of being unable to complete fixtures this season after the latest lockdown, set to last until February 15 at the earliest. The government has banned all non-elite and grassroots football. With games also likely to be lost to the weather, abandoning the leagues or deciding to award points based on fixtures completed are the only two options. Both Sherborne and Wincanton play in the Toolstation Western League Division One. The League has previously said that points per game (PPG) will come into play if 75 per cent of fixtures had managed to be completed. But only 27 per cent of games have been played and we’re halfway through the season. Wincanton currently lie fifth in the table and are pushing for promotion – but on PPG are seventh with 1.57 points. Another issue is that if one league doesn’t manage to finish, it will affect promotion and relegation across all lower leagues. One comment on Twitter read: “It’s not just about one League finishing. Whatever percentage the FA come up with, it will need to apply across the whole football pyramid. The key is to look at the teams who have played the least and how many games can they realistically achieve.” Dorset Premier Football League’s lockdown and waterlogged pitches meant 16 games involving local sides were scrapped up to and during the Christmas period. It too will struggle to finish its season, as will the Wessex League featuring Shaftesbury.

Sport Shaftesbury goalfest before lockdown

THE WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Shaftesbury have not played since thrashing Portland in mid-December. All league and cup games were put on hold three days before Christmas and Town will now not play until midFebruary at least following the government’s decision. Earlier, Wessex League officials said: “With three clubs, a number of players and match officials in Tier 4, there are concerns with the welfare of everyone involved. The majority of clubs were in favour of postponing with six wishing to continue.” Shaftesbury chairman Steve Coffen said: “Why was any competitive football even started?” Shaftesbury have missed games against Bournemouth Poppies and Lymington Town and were due to play Baffin Rovers and Fleet over the next two weekends. TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Even before the government’s decision, matches for Sherborne and Wincanton had been cancelled until January 22. “The League Board had worked with clubs that wanted to continue playing. However, with Somerset put into Tier 4 on December 30, the board felt it not appropriate to continue playing until the coronavirus situation across the leagues area improved.” The league has told clubs

RED ALERT: Shaftesbury attack the Portland goal Shaftesbury 5 Portland United 1 December 15

Shaftesbury found their scoring boots to thrash relegation rivals Portland in a vital basement battle. The win lifted Town above Portland and up four places and was a triumph for manager Danny Holmes, whatever happens in future, they will have a reasonable notice period in which to resume games, if indeed that is possible and practical. Wincanton manager Chris Wise said: “It will obviously mean Saturday/Tuesday games for the foreseeable, but we’re all here to play games, as long as it’s safe to do so.” Wincanton Town P Sherborne Town P December 26 The much-anticipated Boxing Day derby clash was called off when Sherborne took a who has drafted in seven new players. One is his nephew, Luke Holmes, who scored in the first minute and later rounded off the scoring. The new boy scored all five goals with Luke Burbridge netting two and Kameron Andrews heading home. It was a busy night for Portland manager Franklyn Clarke, who only took charge two

Sherborne takes a unilateral stance and halts all football

Pic: @DorsetDom months ago. He started the game, then went in goal with 15 minutes left when keeper Josh Lucas suffered a broken hand. The score was 4-1 and Clarke conceded a second goal for Holmes. He later admitted he had never played in goal before. In a Twitter post from Shaftesbury, the club wished Lucas a speedy

recovery.

BLANK DIARY: No fixtures planned unilateral decision on “Very disappointed. We were December 23 to postpone all prepared and happy to play. games. A statement read: “It Unfortunately our opponents is with regret that Sherborne decided to stop playing Town FC has taken the football.” Sherborne chair unhappy decision to suspend John Bowers responded: “As all football at the club until disappointing as it is, the the pandemic situation safety and wellbeing of our improves.” A spokesman for players and management Wincanton said on Twitter: must always come first.” 75