Pipe Club of Norfolk

British Pipesmoking Championship 2004

British Championship Sunday 6 June 2004

Keith Garrard and Reg Walker left for Birmingham on the Saturday morning, and after a four and a half hour journey enjoyed a few pints sitting outside The Wilson's Arms in Knowle. A Chinese meal that night was washed down with another few pints in The Vaults. After a hearty Sunday breakfast Keith and Reg headed to the Old Silhillans Club to meet the rest of the gang- Len Ellis, Tony Larner, John Betts, John Walker and Colin Wylie.

Unfortunately there was a lack of trade stands this year. Clive Humm was there with his top grade pipes, Ian Walker of Northern Briar Repairs had made 30 pipes for the occasion, and Hollingsworths Tobacconists were offering a good range of tobaccos at a reasonable price. 41 contestants from as far away as Aberdeen, Northern Ireland and Cornwall were placed in team groups and issued with 3 grammes of Samuel Gawith's Firedance Flake and a Nording pipe. Norfolk fielded two teams with John Barnes making up the number in PCN2.

Len Ellis (PCN1) was the first Norfolk victim when after 14'56 he was deemed to have tampered with the pipe not in his mouth. John Barnes PCN2 went out at 32'55, Tony Larner PCN1 at 39'49, John Betts PCN2 41'37, Keith Garrard PCN1 42'30, John Walker PCN1 46'58, Colin Wylie PCN2 47'11 and Reg Walker PCN1 finished in overall fourth place with 70'17. The winner was Reg Stevens (JHPC1) with a time of 81'18 The team event was won by JHPC1 with PCN1 finishing third, so we will have to wait another year to get the Darren Jenner Shield back. Reg Walker won a splendid Peterson for his fourth place, and he is saving it for a Christmas present for the Secretary. Or it may have turned into a box of matches by then.

Several spot prizes were awarded, with both Colin and Keith winning. The very pleasant weather, and a cricket match in progress outside the clubhouse for our entertainment made for a good day out, and thanks are due to Tim Knight and his band of helpers for a very well organised event. Sunday evening arrived and while the others headed for home Keith, Reg and Tony found themselves in a Thai Restaurant and a local pub, where it was quiz night. The 'Tree Muskateers' pitted their wits against the young intelligentsia (just who is Beyonce Knowles?). Unfortunately they finished last and won a bag of crisps each.

Reg Walker and John Betts
	Len Ellis and Colin Wylie
Keith the Obscured
	Keith Garrard
Before the start I
	Before the start II
John Walker, Reg Walker and Tony Larner
	John Walker, Reg Walker and Tony Larner
Reg and Tony
	Tony and Keith
Colin
	Len (John Betts at left)
Colin and John next to some people from south-west England
	Reg at the end (Background: Reg Stevens, winner)
Well done! The winning team!
	Keith Garrard
Reg Walker gets his prize for fourth. Clive Humm in red shirt. Tony Larner displays his best view!!!

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