David Hinton Skittles Champion 2023

Champion Colin

The result came down to the very last ball in the 2023 David Hinton Skittles Trophy.

14 players started in the contest at the Hatch Inn, Hatch Beauchamp.  Even at the end of the first round there was a one ball shoot out to determine places in the final six so excitement was never in doubt.   

Then Bill, Paul, Keith, Martin, Roderick and Colin had two hands each to decide the winner. After the first, Roderick was in the lead, despite several close V.A.R. decisions as to whether his ball was over the line before hitting the plate. 

Colin’s 2nd ball in the playoffs was a flopper which means he knocked down all the pins with one ball.  Keith was consistent with two eights but Roddy’s second round yielded just six pins down.  Come the final throw, Colin was in equal first place with just one pin standing and the betting was against him!

But he came through and was able to lift the trophy which is named after David Hinton, long time captain of Taunton Vale Rotary skittles team who sadly died of a brain tumour.  Proceeds from the annual competition, together with a further donation from club funds are made annually to the Brain Tumour Research Fund in his memory.

Colin Barrell receives his trophy from this year's Rotary President Richard Austin