Herald Express; Torquay (UK)

Nick Is Hotels and Business Champ

The Paignton Hotels and Business Golf Society's Championship Day took place at Exeter Golf and Country Club and was sponsored by Francis Clark. The day went very well and the winner of the Ansell & Killick Trophy was Nick Robinson (17) 39 points from Keith Brown (13) 36 points on the Society's local rule from Gary Hutchings (13) 36 points. In 4th place was Dave Robinson (24) 35 points with Phil Stead (15) 34 and Paul Newman (10) 33 filling the minor places.

Newton Pair Vault Into the National Limelight

Two girls from the Newton Abbot Gymnastic Club have been strutting their stuff in the National Club Grades Competition at Birmingham. Laura Smeaton was a member of the South West team taking part in their Grade 2 competition and her clubmate Eden Lowry was a reserve.

Gulls Glad of 'Miracle Men'

Torquay United take a narrow one-goal lead over local rivals Exeter City into Monday's second leg of the Blue Square Premier Play- Off Semi-Finals at Plainmoor (12.30pm) after pulling off a series of minor medical miracles behind the scenes. Only the Gulls' new backroom professionalism, led by physio Damien Davey, allowed manager Paul Buckle to pull off the tactical 'victory' which saw new-look United beat City 2-1 at St. James' Park on Thursday night.

John Ploughing Usa Experience Into His New Oldway Operation

Keith Johnson has travelled the world in pursuit of excellence as a tennis coach but the man who recently attended the a National PTR coaches symposium on glorious Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, USA, is perfectly at home at Oldway Mansion. Educated just a lob away at Sacred Heart School, Keith runs Oldway Tennis Centre and has six hard courts and four grass courts available for play and instruction and all are situated within the grounds of the former home of the Singer Family.

Tony and Iris Crowned King and Queen of the Totnes Skittle Alleys

Tony Lofthouse and Iris Balsdon were crowned individual champions of the Totnes and District Skittles League after three nights of action in the final stages of the competition. Tony took the men's title with a convincing win over Mike Day who lost his form in the final having scored very well in the earlier stages.

Totnes B Complete Broadmeadow Double

Robin Hammond and Totnes B found Broadmeadow a happy hunting ground for the second time in a month as the season draws to a close in Division 3 of the Torbay and District Medley League. With an 18-0 whitewash of Broadmeadow B under their belt, the divisional leaders returned to Teignmouth to beat the A-team 13-5 with Hammond orchestrating the victory alongside respective partners Marina Smethurst, Jeff Lee and Norman Newman.

Two New Trophies for Tsl

Torquay Skittles League's annual presentation, dinner and dance was held at the Riviera International Centre, marking the culmination of a successful season for a number of teams and players. The league trophies were presented to winners and runners-up by local sponsors Sharon Shenton of Fabulous Flowers and Chris Bastow of Riviera Labels, with the Tippers taking the Division One honours.

Junior Aces

Who needs a putter? Not Alex Kassis from Churston or Hayden Priscott from Dainton, who both holed in one in the recent Junior South Devon League fixtures at Warren and Churston. Alex aced the par-three 16th at Warren and Hayden the par-three eighth at Churston.

Gulls Boss Wins Battle of Minds

It's not JUST 2-1 to Torquay United against Exeter City in the all-Devon Play-Off Semi-Final. It's also 1-0 to Gulls boss Paul Buckle! For Buckle won the tactical battle of minds against Grecians manager Paul Tisdale at St. James' Park on Thursday night.

Hudson Left Hanging On Start Spot for Devon

Paignton's James Hudson is fighting it out with Sidmouth's Scott Barlow for the last place in Devon's side for the Minor Counties KO Cup opener against Wiltshire at Exmouth tomorrow (11am). Off-spinner Hudson, a useful middle-order batsman as well, put himself in the frame for a place with consistent performances in last month's trial games.

Tickets Selling Fast

Buoyed by Thursday night's win at St. James' Park, Gulls fans have been snapping up the remaining tickets for Monday's Play-Off Second Leg against local rivals Exeter City at Plainmoor (12.30pm). Torquay United are hoping for a 6,000 sell-out, although the club still had a few hundred tickets left last night.

Training Culture Pays Dividends

Gulls boss Paul Buckle praised the never-say-die attitude of Chris Zebroski after the young forward snatched a stoppage-time winner for Torquay United at Exeter City on Thursday night. Zebroski, 21, on a season-long loan from Millwall, chased down a backpass, blocked City goalkeeper Paul Jones' mishit clearance and coolly rolled the ball into the empty net to give United a 2-1 first- leg victory.

Torquay Turn to Ellie As 2nd Xi Skipper

Schoolgirl cricketer Ellie Fielding is taking on the men at their own game as captain of her local team. Ellie, who is 18 and lives in Livermead, has been appointed skipper Torquay CC's 2nd XI.

Carlilse: We Can Win It

Exeter City goalscorer Wayne Carlisle believes that his team can overturn a 2-1 deficit and take their revenge on Torquay United in Monday's second leg of the BSP Play-Offs at Plainmoor. Carlisle scored the Grecians' 76th minute equaliser on Thursday night, as well as having an earlier goal (wrongly) disallowed for offside.

Tisdale Dreams On

Grecians manager Paul Tisdale insists that the Play-Off Semi- Final against local rivals Torquay United is far from over. "It can be a different affair on Monday, I can assure you of that," said the Exeter City manager, whose team must pull back a 2- 1 deficit at Plainmoor.

Sports Quiz

1 Who did Celtic lose to in the final of the 2003 UEFA Cup? 2 Which city is hosting the BBL play-offs this weekend?

On This Day

1921: Boxer 'Sugar' Ray Robinson - real name Walter Smith - was born in Detroit. He won the welterweight title in 1946 and in 1951 took the middleweight crown. Only exhaustion prevented him winning a third title, light-heavyweight, when he retired in the 14th round against Joey Maxim in 1952. Robinson died in 1989. 1952: Newcastle beat Arsenal to become the first team in the 20th Century to win the FA Cup in successive seasons.

Birthdays

Steve McClaren (soccer) - former England and Middlesbrough manager, born 1961. Henry Cooper (boxing) - the only man to win three Lonsdale belts outright. His only attempt to win a world title ended in a sixth- round stoppage by Muhammad Ali in 1966, born 1934.

Tv Sport

Today SOCCER: Barclays Premier League, Manchester United v West Ham - Sky Sports 1 1200; Bolton v Sunderland - Setanta Sports 1 1715; Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Motherwell v Celtic - Setanta Sports 1

Plainmoor Ticket Prices Poised to Rise

Torquay United are raising their match-day prices by pounds1 a game, whether they're in the Football League or the Blue Square Premier next season. The Promotion-and-FA Trophy chasing Gulls, who pegged their prices this season, will charge adults pounds15 to stand and pounds16 to sit at Plainmoor.