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A FEW REMINISCENCES

Below we give a few reminiscences of the Sport in Wales : -

The Grand Old Man of Quoiting, Dice Davies, represented Wales on 25 occasions, winning 17 games and losing eight.  He was reserve on three occasions.  He was, prior to 1921, Champion of Wales on five occasions, and since 1921, he has been runner-up in the Welsh Championship more than any player, having been there on five occasions, six times in all.

The feat of Harry Lyon of Waunlwyd in defeating George Graham the English king of quoiters at Merthyr in 1901 by 21 points to 19 stands out as one of the greatest efforts of quoiting in early days.

Ben Lyon of Ebbw Vale was the only player to defeat James Hood of England.  He did so at Aberaman in 1922, the score being 21 points to 13.

Jack Price of Argoed is the only player who has defeated J. Kilpatrick of Scotland in an International match.  He did so at Glyn Neath in 1939, the score being 21 points to 20.

Sam Tovey of Cwm, Ebbw Vale, was the only Welsh player to defeat George Steadman (senior) of England.  He did so at Cwm, Ebbw Vale in 1932, 21 points to 11.

Griff James of Cwmaman, Aberdare, is the only Welsh player to win the Welsh Open Championship and the Welsh Junior Championship in the same year.  This performance was made in 1935.

Phill Adams who represented Wales from 1919 to 1925, migrated from his native land owing to depression, and his quoiting capabilities earned him a place in the English team opposing Wales each year from 1933 to 1939.

The Welsh team first defeated England in the second International played at Brigend in 1897.  The players names and scores can be found in The History of Quoits in Wales.

After a very keen contest, Wales lost for the first time on native soil, at Llwynypia in 1912, the score being England 223 and Wales 212.

Wales first defeated England on English soil in 1919 at Custom House, London, the score being Wales 219 and England 203.  This team was under the captaincy of Fred Evans of Waunlwyd Club.  The club had four players in the Welsh team of 12; three of them winning their games.

The Evening Express Cup was instituted in 1922 as a Challenge Cup for the Individual Championship of Wales, and was first won by Ben Lyon.

The Webbs Challenge Cup was instituted in 1929 and was to be competed for by non-Internationals, the winner to be the Junior Champion of Wales.  The winner also would be given a place in the Welsh team to oppose England at an International match.  The first winner of this trophy being George Stead of Ebbw Vale.  William Davies of Ystrad Rhondda won this trophy in 1940, but owing to War, International games were suspended with the result he was robbed of the honour of representing his country, but nevertheless, in the same season, he won further honour by winning the Open Championship of the Rhondda Valley.

The International Contest at the Globe Ground, Cwmaman, Aberdare, has to be regarded as the most memorable of Internationals.  Previous to the game taking place, a touch of Welsh Rugby International was introduced, and the crowd was conducted in the community singing accompanied by the Cwmaman Silver Band.  The huge crowd made the Valley resound with Welsh Hwyl in the singing of the Welsh Hymns and Welsh Airs.  The English team and their friends were so enthralled with the reception, that they asked for the contest to be delayed so that they could have some more of the music of the Welsh miners.  We still have reminders of this singing from England.

Fred Evans played in 20 International contests, winning 12 games and lost eight.

Previous to the late war, there were strong Quoiting Leagues in the Rhondda Valley, Aberdare Valley, and the Monmouth Valleys, and all were affiliate to the Welsh Quoiting Board.  it is hoped to again have their presence in the post-war period.

Up to the present, England and Wales have met on 30 occasions, Wales having won 20 games, England won nine games and one drawn game.

Scotland and Wales have met on seven occasions, Scotland having won six games and Wales one game.


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