The 2018 Taunton Boules Tournament saw 40 teams from local businesses compete enthusiastically for glory whilst enjoying an afternoon of networking and at the same time raising money for charity.

The sell-out event, the eighth organised by Summerfield, was held at Taunton Vale Sports Club.

Summerfield staff vote each year for their chosen charities, and this year the beneficiary of the boules tournament was Somerset Prostate Support Association (SPSA), who also entered a team. Prostate cancer is a subject no-one wants to talk about but its occurrence is rising and one of SPSA’s aims is to raise awareness of the disease. SPSA’s Peter Gooch did just that when he addressed the assembled gathering.

The monies raised at the event, topped up by Summerfield to £3,000, will be used to fund a PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing session to be held in Taunton on 20 October, which will be free and open to all men in the area. This simple blood test can indicate signs of prostate cancer and may be a life-saver, so we encourage all men over 45 to take advantage. Click below for more details.

The Fancy Dress prize went to the onion-seller cyclists from Gibbins Richards, the company that narrowly missed out last year on the fancy dress and Plate prizes, with Croft Surveyors earning an honourable mention for their berets, stripey T-shirts, baguettes and French military jacket.

The Blackdown Financial ‘Irritable Boule Syndrome’ team were Wooden Spoon winners after seeing off Office Reality’s first team, and Evosite’s ‘Barely Capaboules’, taking part for the first time, were thrilled to take the Plate after beating Lloyds Bank by a narrow 7-6.

Moore Scarrott (main picture), having supported the event over several years, took the Cup after a wipe-out 7-0 victory over Ashfords’ second team and looked understandably pleased!

Why not have a go next year? No experience necessary!

To register your interest for 2019 just e-mail Gill Ellis.

For more information on SPSA click here.

For the news release click here.