Meanwhile, Nick Bertsos, running a close second, was giving his all to achieve the six-point advantage which he needed over Pete to secure cup victory. 

Nick, ably supported by his sometimes-cleric partner, Andy Paul, managed to comfortably demolish his opponents and give Nick the high score of the night. However, Pete rallied, as champions do, and got enough points to take the cup.

Pete’s acceptance speech was gracious. Standing before the red-faced, sweat-sodden crowd in his bone dry shirt, and sipping his customary salty cordial, Pete mentioned, but refused to boast about, his five previous cups. 

“I am humbled by this experience,” he said.

“To play with a group which has such an incredibly high standard, and win, for the sixth time, makes me acutely aware of the responsibility that the cup brings.”

TIM SUTTON