The Cambridge charity six-a-side tournament, now in its third year, was once again held on the bank holiday Monday at Fitzwilliam College's Oxford Road playing fields and, once again, it was a roaring success. This year all the monies raised went to the Cardiac Unit at the Papworth Hospital, and whilst the final total is not yet known, it seems certain to be a sizeable amount, with entrance fees, raffle tickets, food and drink revenues all going into the pot. And this despite the mixed weather -- there were periods of perfect early-summer glory mixed in with vicious thunderstorms; and yet somehow the full tournament was completed long before the sun touched the horizon.
As before the tournament began with two four-team groups. In the first section perennial finalists The Beehive and Cambridge Granta out-lasted The NCI All-Stars and the Dave Norman VI; in the The St Radegund made it to the semi-finals for the first time, being joined by Remnants, at the expense of Romsey Town and Rob Harvey's hastily-assembled Windsor Road Irregulars. From there things took a decidedly familiar turn, The Beehive and Granta both winning easily to set up the now traditional final. The Beehive won in 2004 and Granta got their revenge last year; and today Granta took a 2-1 lead, running out comfortable winners.
Meanwhile everyone else had got on with the serious business of filling themselves with delicious hamburgers and a variety of refreshments (i.e., beer). The other major extra-curricular activity was, of course, the now-famous mega-raffle, with an endless array of prizes donated by local businesses. Thanks to them of course, but the real heroes of the day were Andy and Denise Owen, who organised the whole day and supplied the energy and drive to make the whole event happen and ensure that it was another memorable success.
