Preston is always one of our popular venues with the VETTS taking over the Legacy hotel, 20 yards away from the venue at Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and five minutes walk from the town centre. Thanks to the staff, cleaners and caterers (Pete and Mia) at the University venue who always go out of their way to ensure out event is a success. We are always asked by VETTS members if we will be returning next year. The short answer is 'we hope so' and will try to secure an early booking with the Uni and the hotel, but this is outside our control, as they may chose to prioritise internal events.
Congratulations to our winners and runners up - a roll of honour is attached. Photos to follow.
These events would not happen without a lot of work from our volunteer team.
Thanks to...…
Cliff Bell, our Tournament Referee, who does so much work behind the scenes in advance of these events, as well as during the weekend;
The top table team of Michael Stewart, who schedules the 23 events; Richard 'The Voice' Abrahams, who gets you to the table on time; Viv Barry and Janette Hutchings, our data inputters and checkers; and Cheryl and Mick McKeown - a new and very welcome addition to the VETTS team who check you in and keep everything ticking over.
Our Promotion Stand is manned by Sandra Rider, who's helped by Joan Franks; Kinga Oryl (who would refuse to buy a raffle ticket from our lovely Kinga?); Teresa Devaney and Sandy Nash who stepped up to do the presentations and photographs. And Helen Shields who runs our 200 Club - all providing valuable resources for the VETTS.
We are fortunate to have several talented photographers who snap us at our best (and worst) and then share their evidence with us. Thanks Mike Loveder (hope you are feeling better); Mike Rhodes and Steve Joel.
Our event sponsors were TeesSport who had a trade stand at the venue - thanks Dave and Tom.
A big job is the set-up on Friday evening and the break-down on Sunday - we rely on our players to help do this so thanks to everyone who stepped up and helped with this.
And finally, thanks to Andy Eagles who does such a great job - always with a smile on his face - and is very much the man behind making Preston happen.
That's a wrap for Preston - next stop Thornbury for the Western Masters.