Friday was an important day for Mark Thomas, writes John Barnard.

He won the Challenge Cup last September, and, on Friday evening, he hosted a dinner for the past winners before which, for those that could, there was an opportunity to play for the Geoff Shephard trophy.

Despite all the pressure of the evening’s events, Mark played really well, scoring 38 points and winning the trophy.

Club captain Ray Gunston, an honoured guest for the evening, did score one more point but as he had never won the Challenge Cup, could not qualify as winner.

In second place, was club manager Jonathan Lee with 36 points and third was Nick Gingell, returning to play on a regular basis hopefully, also with 36 points, but losing out on countback. There are many bets placed during the evening on who would win the 2016 trophy.

No bets were paid out from last year though as the betting manager had lost all record of who bet what (or so he says!)

The evening was a great success.

Stilton and broccoli soup, rare local roast beef, some excellent speeches (?) and a great time had by the select band of past winners who know how good they are (especially when they remind the rest of us!).