Author Archive | Paul Stone

Last Weekend to Get Your Team Together!

It’s Friday Night and it’s an ideal time to check your team registration for Monday’s REGISTRATION NIGHT!

If you’ve not done it yet get online to abingdonauntsally.com and download and print the forms and why not take a punt at some of the competitions!

Don’t forget the 8s knockout is handicapped to even up the matches so everyone had a chance.

You know it’s good when you hear the wood! 

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ONE WEEK TO REGISTRATION and we go International!

We have 1 week to go until Registration Night so get your Team and Competition forms together.

Meanwhile in Australia…. Carl Sanders, son of ex-pat and ex-AASL player Frank Sanders is starting a league in Oz as well as an international Istagram account @AuntSallyInt so get following.

He’ll be over in the summer to start an international match between Oz and the UK. We’ve already sent him two dolls to get him going over there.

 

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Aunt Sally Venues Map

I’ve put together a map of all the venues that welcome Aunt Sally teams – click below for the full version.

As you know we had 52 teams last year and we’d rather have a few more at the top end of a block of 10 (i.e. nearer 60) so that we don’t have to put as many byes in the sections.

SO if you know of a venue that used to have a team OR your venue can support a 2nd team (or a 2nd pitch) do try and get people interested in the game.

Don’t forget Registration Night is on 11th March – forms are on the homepage! 

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A Doll or Not A Doll? That is the question

At our recent AGM one of the teams made a, lets call it an ‘observation’, that certain calls which were obviously dolls were not called. Now calling is, like any other refereeing, the most controversial part of any game. In Aunt Sally, ignoring foot faults, or extra tape on sticks, or handicaps or… well one of them.. anyone could do better than the person doing the job. Obviously, that goes without saying. IKR! Funny how there are always a lack of volunteers to do the job when the Captain asks though!

If you get your team in that situation of really dubious calling ideally the Captains should discuss it and if necessary change the caller. Keep it sporting. If all else fails walk away from the match and report it to the Committee. We don’t want to lose teams in the league but neither can we tolerate deliberate cheating and bringing the game into disrepute – that’s not good for any of us.

So back to dolls.

I was taught that if the doll goes up and backwards that it’s a doll. If it goes straight up it can’t be, I mean that’s just physics! – unless the stick lands on the top of the doll which would be a bit obvious. If a doll falls forward, again it can’t be a doll unless the stick has obviously hit it from behind – and I’ve seen quite a few of those where you think the stick has missed and then knock! – You know it’s good when you hear the wood.

For the avoidance of doubt it’s worth mentioning any stick that hits the ground first then the doll is not a doll. Any doll that is struck and lies down on the swivel is not a doll – similarly a doll that upends and stands upside down for a split second (yes I’ve seen that!). Any doll that falls off with a stick nowhere near is not a doll. Technically, any stick that hits something else (like an overhanging tree) and hits the doll is not a doll – but I think most would count that as a lucky shot!

 

The swivel pad SHOULD be smaller than the base of the doll – the doll should overhang all round by a small amount. This placement allows the doll to be hit without hitting the swivel if it’s a low shot but it had to be a solid direct movement of the doll. Again in my view if the doll has fallen and the swivel hasn’t moved then it must likely have been a good hit. There are of course some players (generally with heavier sticks thrown hard, usually round arm) that can smack the doll right on the end by the swivel pad and the doll will fly and the swivel will spin – this is a doll because it’s propelled with force off the swivel hitting that overhang – just mind your ankles for the stick rebound! 

I find it best to focus on the bottom front of the doll right on the swivel where most of the controversy might happen. It also helps if there’s a darker background than the doll so I tend to adjust my position as caller to suit. Let’s face it – obvious dolls are easy to count – other ones come with practice and experience. This is why sticking up is also a call learning opportunity and the caller can ask the sticker up for an opinion if unsure.

Very early on in my AuntSallyTV ‘career’ I recorded a couple of doll strikes so people could see the difference.  Check them out

On the actually calling again it needs to be repeated that it helps everyone (especially those filling in the scorecard/board) that the number of dolls is called out loud and the total repeated at the end of the players throw (assuming they missed with the last stick!). This leaves no room for error or controversy and the caller’s decision is final.

Don’t forget Registration Night is on the 11th March so get your Team and Competition forms off the homepage and sign on!

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Radio5 Live – Aunt Sally!

Last summer I spoke to one of the Didcot Women’s Institute (WI) groups about Aunt Sally explaining a bit of history and how to play the game. This inspired the AuntSallyTV video on the history which you can find here.

This week we were emailed from BBC Radio5 live to see if we can come on Gordon Smart’s late show to talk about the same thing after they were told about the game by a listener called ‘Jaqueline’.  They feature unique items local to an area each week. 

The Chairman duly obliged (after being volunteered by the committee, I tried to share the fame but there we are).

If you want to ‘listen again’ catch it on BBC Sounds at around 47 minutes into the recording.

Don’t forget Registration Night on 11th March and forms are online. If you can encourage another team at your venue or a new venue to join us please do!

 

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Twixmas – a good time to think about the AGM!

As it’s now Twixmas (between Christmas and New Year apparently!) and that means it’s fast approaching AGM time on the 15th January AND rule 26 says any items for the AGM need to be in writing to the Chairman 14 days before, you might like to get a glass (or mug) of something, sit down for a bit and think of how we can improve our marvelous game. 

Please get your suggestions, comments or observations in to the Chairman either by email chairman@abingdonauntsally…. or comment on this post as it appears on our Facebook @AbingdonAuntSallyLeague or facebook.com/OfficialAbingdonAuntSally and if you’re not following why not? 🙂

Of course, if you’d like to help run the league, even in a small way, we will always welcome new (or old, or young) faces onto the committee – so have a think about what you could help with even if you don’t want to be officially a committee member. 

At the moment we really could do with a website revamp so if you know, or know someone who knows WordPress/MySQL/PHP come and help – otherwise we’ll have to pay someone – more at the AGM.  If you don’t have technical skills we still need people to help organise and administer the league – most of the effort happens from Registration Night (11th March) to league start (May) then competition organising and then run up to Presentation Night so it’s not an all year effort for everyone. 

Oh and if any teams have trophies from 2019 or 2022 please let us know – we didn’t get all the trophies back in for Presentation Night this year which means we are losing track partly due to the disruption of non-playing previous years. It’ll be a shame if we have to charge the previous winners/runners up for replacements.

In the meantime I hope you’ve all had a great break and enjoy the New Year,

Looking forward to 2024, hearing from you and seeing you at the AGM,

Paul Stone
Chairman

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FRIDAY- Finals & Presentation Night 2023

1960 – 2023  Abingdon & District Aunt Sally League

Presentation Evening 2023 

Will be held at Abingdon United FC at 8pm on 

Friday November 3rd 

Entry & Competitor Practice 7.00pm

The Captains Final Will Be Played at 7.15pm

Draw for the Pairs and Singles Semi Finals and Finals will take place at 7.40pm

and the  Semi Finals will start at 7.45pm

League Section Winners/Runners-up, Top Dolls should be there to receive their plaques/trophies.

 

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The History Section – Have you got any?

Trophies believed to be from the 2000 season. Note the wooden spoons and the plate which is probably the Sam New Memorial Plate*. (click to enlarge)

As you know, if you don’t please explore the menus, the website has quite a few historic photos, news clippings etc and having just got some of the old programmes (thanks to our President John Simmons and Brian ‘1988’ Clapton* -the covers are available for browsing) plus a couple of handfuls of new clippings (from Graham Brown). One clip includes a photo of the young Mr Martin Sheridan who was top dolls that year (year unknown!). 

Roger Nichols and I are also compiling our Roll of Honour which will list all the winners/runners up over the years – see Roll of Honour but bear with us as it’s a labour of love and currently incomplete.

Also with Graham’s items were some balance sheets from decades past.

I’m sure our older members like to relive memories and past victories even if playing is out of the question. Plus there are always those who are now overseas who can’t play or watch, until we get our Sky Sports channel of course. 🙂 

If you have any programmes before 1984 do get in touch (we are also missing 1998).

If you have old clippings, photos or other info you’d like to get rid of pass onto the League for scanning please get in touch.

 

*Brian Clapton, singles winner 1988.  Sam New Memorial Plate

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2023 Founders and Legends Trophy Results

Founders and Legends Trophy

Thankfully we were able to get the Founders & Legends trophy played on a dry but chilly October evening. Many thanks to the 27 entrants and to Abingdon Conservative Club and particularly Micky Neal for organising at such short notice after the original postponement. Special thanks to the 27 entrants which was exactly the same number as in 2022!

There were a few surprises on the night with early exits for 2 of the likely favourites, Phil Adams losing out to Tony Barrett and Barry Parker losing out to Colin Brind in their first round matches. There could have been another big surprise when Dave Dix met Stuart Wilson. Stuart won the first leg 4-3 and then Dave edged home 3-2 in the second leg before setting 3 dolls in the final leg. Stuart responded by hitting his first 3 dolls, but then failed with his next 3 so to 3 sticks a piece which saw Dave emerge victorious and Stuart rueing the missed opportunity. The second round saw the first 5 of the night when Brian Clapton defeated Tony Barrett in 2 straight although the first leg was only decided with a 1 stick shoot out.

The quarter finals brought together 2 interesting ties with a clash of the Clapton’s and Dad Brian earned bragging rights beating son Leigh in 2 straight legs and with a very impressive 5 with hi s second leg throw.

it was also a battle of the Stevie Sports pair when Colin Brind just edged out last year’s title winner and teammate Derek Fletcher.

The semi finals brought together Dave Dix and Colin Brind and Dave secured his place in the final winning 3-2 and 4-3.

The second semi final saw surprise packet and league sponsor John Pownceby winning in 3 legs against Brian Clapton who had played so well on the night and makes you wonder how well he would score over the season if he played a little more often!

The final was a little predictable despite John’s fine form on the night there was no stopping Dixie and he won in two legs although both legs went to 3 sticks before John succumbed and Dave clinched the Founders & Legends Trophy for 2023.

A really enjoyable and well supported and competitive night played in a really good spirit and despite the cold a fitting conclusion to our outdoor Summer season.

Thanks to everyone for making it happen.

 

Looking at the ol’ scoreboards…..

1st Round (byes for C.Smith, M.Neal, L.Clapton, J.Miles,P.Barrett)

2nd Round

Quarter Final

SEMI FINAL & FINAL

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