Success in North Yorkshire as the VX 365 changes hands

The 365 Invitational Challenge Trophy, one of VX’s most prestigious tournaments, has changed hands at last!

It was held at Stillington VX Club

The competition was inaugurated two years ago in honour of the odyssey being undertaken by former international cricketer Kieren ‘Beefy’ Blake and his radio co-star Rob who were attempting to try 365 different sports in 365 days.

One of the sports they tried was VX and the 365 Invitational Challenge was set up in their honour.

Top players are invited to compete in the tournament meaning the standard is exceptionally high and an invitation to compete is highly-prized.

In the first year World Champion Scott Snowdon took a catch right at the end to nick the trophy by a single point leaving World Number 2 Tom Hildreth in second place.

The second year saw Scott and Tom again in the final with Scott winning by 2 points.

Picture -  Scott with Cornerstones Award winner, Chris Town.

This year the tournament was again hosted by Stillington VX Club and Scott started the defence of his trophy as he face old adversary Carl Alsop in the tournament’s first match. From the start Carl tore into Scott, not letting him settle to his game, putting him under non-stop pressure and building up a lead from the start.

Scott fought back hard, taking catches but Carl was also taking catches and by half time had built up an 18-point lead. The spectators were being treated to a VX-feast by two of the world’s top players in a match that had everything.

The pace didn’t slacken at all in the second half. Carl was keeping the pressure on, Scott was fighting back and gradually catching up, but Carl would then pull away again.

When the whistle went Scott had taken the half by three points leaving Carl with an overall victory of 88-73.

In the second match last year’s runner-up, Tom Hildreth, opened his campaign with a match against the high-energy all-action style of Youth World Champion Matthew Leyshon.

Matthew is perfectly at home in the senior category but Tom used all his experience to control the game and not allow Matthew to play his normal game.

Playing a tight game Tom went into half time with a 34-19 lead and then upped the pace in the second half to finish 81-47.

As the group matches progressed the standard of VX and sportsmanship remained high as befits players of this calibre.

Scott summarily disposed of his next two opponents as he warmed but Carl was in no mood to drop any points elsewhere and comfortably navigated his way to the final.

In the other group Tom came through tough matches against the elegant Chris Town and the winner of the Tri-Services Championship, the Royal Navy’s Dan Raper.

In the ranking matches Chris Town beat Dan Shuker to claim 7th place. Matthew Leyshon and Tom Burgess fought out an intensely exciting match with the lead changing hands several times but it was Matthew who prevailed 99-86 to take 5th place.

Then it was the 3rd place play-off with Dan Raper coming up against Scott. Having warmed up as the competition went on Scott was in no mood to take any chances and was making his opponents suffer a backlash from the first match defeat against Carl.

Scott tore into the attack but at this level there are no easy games and Dan fought back hard but Scott gradually managed to pull ahead and led 34:23 at half time.

11 points is nothing in VX and Dan came out fighting in the second half, determined to claw back the deficit but Scott was not inclined to let anything slip. All the same, Dan kept piling on the pressure but wasn’t able to reduce the deficit at all as Scott took the second half by a single point to win overall 71:59 and grab 3rd place.

Then it was the final.

Tom and Carl train together often and know each other’s game, but this wasn’t a cagey match at all as both players really went for it. The pace was breathtaking, the catches jaw-dropping and the skill level mind-blowing.

With both players really going for it, it took Tom to make a catch to draw ahead and by half-time he was leading 38:44. In the second half Carl ripped into Tom, but Tom managed to match him and maintain his lead but then Carl took two quick catches which rocked Tom back on his heels and Carl used the momentum to take the lead.

Now it was Tom who was fighting back from behind and Carl who was managing to stay ahead. Then with 20 seconds to go,

Tom took a catch and two quick points. From there it was tit-for-tat rapid fire all the way to the end and as the whistle blew the score counter showed that Tom had won by one single point right at the death.

Picture - Scott with tournament winner Tom Hildreth and Runner-up Carl Alsop. Scott presented the trophy as last year's winner

Tournament referee Paul Hildreth said:

“That was one of the most intense tournaments I have ever had honour to officiate at. It really was a privilege to referee those matches.

The skill levels in this sport are now unbelievable – just imagine the impact if some of those matches had been televised. Such drama, excitement and skill. Fantastic.”

Beefy himself was delighted that the 365 tournament continues to run. In his message to the players beforehand he said:

“We are so honoured that you guys keep the spirit of 365 Days of Sport alive. We are very proud that you call one of your major trophies the 365 Invitational Challenge Trophy.

As a final note there was also the winner of the coveted Cornerstones Award. This is named for the four cornerstones of the sport – Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Respect. With the level of sportsmanship so incredibly high in the tournament the choice was very difficult but in the end it was awarded to Chris Town.

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