With a field of thirty nine triples there was a good turn out for the inaugural Sammy Lambert open charity triples tournament held at Falcon IBC, Chelmsford. Only one Norfolk triple entered the competition who were Neil Davidson, Keith Cooke and Chris Mann. The competition had seven groups of five and one group of four with the Norfolk trio in the group of four. Their first two match's saw them win 13-2 and then a huge 26-1 against Canvey Island. Their final group match was against Essex county team players Del Coates, Matt Dillon and Chris Coates where the Norfolk triple eased to a 13-2 win to top the group. The last sixteen saw them up against Ian Arthur, Alun Thomas and Craig Burgess where they won 9-2 to set up a quarter final encounter against Dorset's Emily Thomas, Devon's Tom Perris and Dorset's Sam Harvey. Davidson, Cooke and Mann were still in good form and starved their opposition of chances as they confidently beat them 8-3. The semi finals saw them up against Kent's Richard Stagg, Nicky Bartlett and Gary Allard. Again the Norfolk triple made a great start to lead 6-0 but a good last wood by Allard produced five shots and for the first time during the day saw the triple concede more than two shots in an end. Not to be denied Mann played a superb bowl to take out the holding Kent Wood the very next end to reply with a three and this turned the match in Norfolk's favour as they went on to win 12-6. The final saw two in form triples meet with regular Essex county team players Dave Chittock, Mark Chaittock and Tony Ealham up against Norfolk's Neil Davidson, Keith Cooke and Chris Mann. From the start of the match Essex played positively and all three players were in good form as they lead 3-4 after five ends. All of the Norfolk players by this time had just dropped a level where as the Essex triple were brimming with confidence and their play was fully deserving of their win as they got a stanglehold of the match picking up a single and brace to lead 3-7 with an end remaining. Mann had taken the jack off the mat to replay the final end but this did nothing to the Essex triple who still produced good shots and eventually won 4-7. The event on the day was very well organised by Anthony Faultley and the ECSMBA with programme's which included all the triples names competing, playing orders and knockout charts. A huge raffle, football cards, fines and other money raising events on the day meant over £1,000 was rasied to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Sammy's wife Linda Lambert presented the trophy and prize money to the winners with the runners up also receiving money. The plate winners won a bottle a wine and are pictured with some of Sammy's family. I'm sure Sammy himself would of been very proud of how the whole day went as the ECSMBA did him proud. 
Sammy Lambers Charity Triple Winners - Dave, Tony and Mark pictured with Anthony and Linda
Runner's up Keith, Neil and Chris
Plate winners - Steve, Peter and Dave
