Sports in Axminster

By Kyle Phillpots

Sports stories do not always translate well into films. The main problem seems to be finding actors who have the prowess to play an elite sports performer and it is even more difficult to find sports stars who can act. It seems particularly difficult in team action sequences and even with footballing greats such as Pele, Bobby Moore and Ossie Ardiles featuring in Escape to Victory, their movements still looked stilted and for me the rugby scenes in Invictus, just didn't work.

Somerset County Cricket Club have announced a new partnership with Mansfield Sports Group.

The initial two-year agreement will see MSG become the Club's Official Equipment Partner.

Axe Cliff Golf Club by Dave Bruce

Of course, in Lockdown, most of us are just waiting for Boris to fire the "Shotgun" and let us get back on our beautiful Course again.

It looks increasingly likely that Axminster Town's league programme is over for this season due to clubs not being able to fulfil their fixtures when they eventually come out of lockdown.

The FA issued a statement last week to say that the survey of local clubs had been completed and they are now looking at recommendations before communicating with the league.

Former Millwey Rise players were saddened by the death this week of Cedric Vernon, 85, one of their most respected goalkeepers.

Known affectionately as "Ceddy", Mr Vernon joined the Axminster estate side in their second year of operation and went on to win a number of trophies with The Slopers, including the Perry Street Division Three trophy in 1968.

The wait is over for Somerset County Cricket Club members and supporters as today has seen the publication of the Vitality Blast and Royal London Cup fixtures.

Following last summer's shortened Vitality Blast, the competition returns to a 14-match group stage competition this summer with the counties split into North and South groups.

It's been an on-off sort of year for Colyton Football Club.

In March, COVID-19 forced the FA to abandon the 2019-20 amateur season. When the new season got underway in September, the first team was riding high in the Premier East division of the Joma Devon & Exeter League when the most recent lockdown brought a new temporary halt.

East Devon cricketers will be competing this summer in the very first local T20 tournament, commencing in June.

With recreational sport still in lockdown, it is not yet known whether the Devon Cricket League will be operating a full programme or tiered mini-leagues as with last season.

LYME Regis sailor Jim Turner's bid to win the America's Cup has come to an end, after his team American Magic suffered losses in the qualifying Prada Cup semi-finals.

American Magic was was eliminated from the Prada Cup in New Zealand this weekend, following a loss in the fourth race of the series against the Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli of Italy.

"At 5 o'clock on Friday, October 14th 2011 after all pre-departure checks were completed and clearance granted P&O's Azura let go all her lines, thrust off the ocean terminal berth at Southampton and manoeuvred into the Solent.

"An easterly course was set north of the Isle of White where shortly after the pilot disembarked the ship. We cleared the Nab Tower and steered south westerly into the English Channel towards Cape Ushant off the north western tip of France and onward to the Med." So the Captain's log read.