Season 2012/13 will always be remembered fondly by Dalepak Winter League naps table champion Mick Tack as the year he completed the set.
For not only has the 62-year-old Parklands sporting enthusiast scooped the £1,000 first prize for his tipping prowess after winning a variety of other naps awards over the years, he also rounded off a lifelong tour of English League football clubs into the bargain.
Tack, whose team name NIBS is an abbreviation for Northampton Indoor Bowls, explained: “I have been very lucky as in the past I have also won the Sammy Parker Trophy for most individual winners, and the prize for the longest priced horse, as well as a monthly award.”
He added: “In March my wife Lesley and I saw the Cobblers lose 3-0 at Exeter which meant I had seen every one of the 92 current league clubs play at home, although not all at the most modern grounds. The 91st meant a visit to Newcastle against West Ham in November.”
The key to the winners and runners-up prizes of the 25-week long season was an old pals act with fellow Trueform Aurora work-mate Derek Wills... the pair have been playing bowls together for around 40 years for the team now called just Aurora, in the Abington Park League.
Neither was aware the other had napped 66/1 Grand National winner Auroras Encore on April 6, although a clue of course was in the name.
The fact they have always shared prize money means both will benefit to the tune of £750 – as runners-up spot wins £500.
Tack said: “We had a day out in Stamford on Grand National day and when we returned home I went straight to the recording of the race rather than the football results which I normally do.
“When Auroras Encore led over the last I couldn’t contain myself and fast forwarded the recording to the winning post!
“On Saturday we had a day out at Blenheim Palace as I just wanted to be away from it all.
“There is another Aurora link as Barry Frost, who won the Cheltenham tipsters competition, is also with the club.”
THE final Saturday of the 2012/13 Dalepak Winter Naps Challenge proved to be something of a damp squib after all previous excitement.
None of the prize money positions changed, so Mick Tack of NIBS will pick up the winner’s cheque for £1,000 with Derek Wills (Trueform Aurora Bowls) in second place as the £500 recipient.
Others winners cheques go to Manor Mayhem (£250), Kings Head United (£125), Growly Bears (£75) and Nag Nappers (£50).
The £50 free bet for the Snowy Wootton Poachers Pot goes to Darren Letts (Bugbrooke Badgers) for his early season 33/1 shot Tweedledrum while the £50 free bet and Sammy Parker Trophy was won by Peter Ward (Yeoman Boys) who had 17 winners during the season.
*A reminder that your chance to re-register for the summer season will take place at our Naps Presentation/Race Night at the Northampton WMC in Sheep Street on Thursday evening (April 25), when the doors open at 7pm, with the action getting underway at 8pm. The new summer flat season begins on Saturday May 4.
Naps table
*Denotes non runner switched to race favourite
NIBS Tap Night +54.64
Trueform Aurora Sametegal +50.00
Manor Mayhem Monsieur Cadou +40.50
King’s Head Utd Lively Baron +34.40
Growly Bears Big Occasion +20.38
Nag Nappers Shanroe Society +19.13
Bugbrooke Badgers Relax +18.50
Sons of Black Sam GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +18.25
PWB Racing COURT MINSTREL (4/1) +16.50
Queen’s Park Snooker GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +16.50
Miracle Workers Big Occasion +15.25
Dave’s Doublers Relax +14.70
Sticky Wicket Cool Operator +13.50
Admiral Rodney GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +13.38
Midland Band Pool RAJDHANI EXPRESS (3/1) +12.63
Wright Nag Grumeti +12.38
Mr Grumpy Nuts N Bolts +12.26
Go Getters Always Right +11.88
Trinity Old Boys Always Right +11.38
Manor Inn Brackley Rigadin De Beauchene +11.00
Warkton Fields Tap Night +10.01
CJ’s Pickles Lion Na Bearnai +10.00
Loco Saints Rebeccas Choice +9.88
Rothwell Cobbler Green Flag +9.00
Max Relax +8.63
T&J Club Sametegal +8.38
TP Racing Relax +7.80
Barley Hill Punters Pentiffic +7.57
Nu Vu Windows Relax +7.50
Got Potential Bradley +7.00
Spinaclean Nuts N Bolts +7.00
Tailor’s Dummies Pentiffic +6.50
Ajay Club Buddy Bolero +6.40
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +6.21
Simple Minds Tap Night +5.91
Yeoman Boys Peckhamecho +5.84
T&S Racing Relax +5.63
Snowy’s Daughter Lively Baron +4.39
Golfing Gourmets Mister Marker +4.35
Riches’ Floretunes Problema Tic +4.00
3 Ms Une Artiste +3.73
ACKO GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) +3.50
Duston Con Club Problema Tic +3.50
Evertonians Relax +2.75
Aardvark Racing Garleton +2.63
Alcon Rigadin de Beauchene +2.25
Shonkies Lad Relax +1.50
Abington LTC Bygones Of Brid +1.00
S&D Racing Rebeccas Choice +1.00
Cock At Roade Silk Hall +0.79
Aye Boy Relax +0.54
M & B Racing Monsieur Cadou +0.25
Crown And Anchor Captain Americo -0.17
OXO Captain Americo -0.25
Sons Of The Desert Fill The Power -0.50
B C Magpie Relax -0.75
Health Matters Problema Tic -1.00
NCT Racing Lion Na Bearnai -1.17
Postman Pat -1.17
Diamond Girl Cocoa Minnie -1.34
Exiled Geordies GODSMEJUDGE (12/1) -2.00
The Nap Hand Partnership Captain Americo -2.00
K9 Walkers Relax -2.50
Cassandra Oh Crick -3.25
Happy Dave Pentiffic -3.25
Racegoers Garleton -3.40
Mug Punters Silk Hall -3.50
The Wolf Whistler Honour A Promise -3.50
Towcester S&SC Stagecoach Pearl -3.50
Bulltree Boys Relax -3.75
Bajan Racing Bradley -4.00
Gayton Bill Tour Des Champs -4.00
The Uppers Problema Tic -4.12
Brinley’s Banker Lion Na Bernai -4.47
Rosebery Ramblers Captain Americo -4.50
Plough Inn Everdon Jukebox Melody -4.59
Blue Diamond Cool Operator -4.60
Moulton Mules Relax -4.75
Goody Goody -4.91
Overstone Caravaners -4.95
Not Too Sad Pentiffic -5.00
Phoenix Golf Garleton -5.00
White Hart Hackleton Big Occasion -5.62
Greens Norton Racers Bradley -6.25
Mayfield Park Knockara Beau -6.25
Zulu Warriors Presenting Junior -6.25
Roade Walkers Lively Baron -6.50
Red Van Man Rebel Rebellion -6.87
KAB Pentiffic -7.00
The Wife Can Do Better Nuts N Bolts -7.00
West Haddon Bowls Pentiffic -7.00
Old Hamish Amber Beat -7.03
Cobblers Youth Cool Operator -7.24
Margil Social Garleton -7.50
Nick Brown Racing Cocoa Minnie -7.50
Delboy’s Trotters The Fonz -7.67
Nene Valley Racing LEO LUNA (5/2) -7.95
Charlie’s Angels Neptune Equester -8.12
Blisworth Garden Services Rival d’Estruval* -8.17
Beatnik Beatles Pandy -8.20
Weekley Saints Rival d’Estruval* -8.33
Abfran Racing Our Mick -8.36
Towcester Racecourse Beyond The Wall -8.50
Transco OB Relax -8.75
Long Buckby Skittles Pentiffic -9.12
Culworth Red Lion Knight Valliant -9.25
M & N Racing Garleton -9.50
The 3 Js My Mate Paddy -9.75
Brixworth Wanderers Global Fella -9.89
Cogenhoe Star Fill The Power -10.00
Chelsea Pensioners Rival d’Estruval -10.50
Lonesome Dove Global Fella -11.00
Marron Racers Garleton -11.00
White Horse Silverstone -12.00
Juddies Giants Rigadin De Beauchene -12.49
Roade FC Presenting Junior -12.50
Earls Barton WMC Tour Des Champs -13.04
West Haddon FC Bradley -13.17
Royal Oak Walgrave Flash Harriet -13.67
Barnstaple Nomads Saphir River -13.99
Ashington Flyer Neptune Equester -14.00
Cripps Social Club Silk Hall -14.00
Kingsley Park Airgun Relax -14.00
SPA Garleton -14.17
Marmalaid Racing Our Mick -14.37
Maori Racing Rebeccas Choice -14.50
The Boys Cool Operator -14.62
Role On -15.00
Tomnjack Pentiffic -15.00
Fat Boy Captain Americo -15.12
Dawn’s Boys Fill The Power -16.25
St Mary’s FC COURT MINSTREL (4/1) -16.25
Trafford Bridge Fan Club Garleton -16.25
Black Symphony Relax -16.43
Sywell Flyers Problema Tic -16.43
OK Coral Captain Americo -16.50
The Likely Lads Cool Operator -16.58
Gusto’s Boys Pentiffic -17.00
Lady G My Mate Paddy -17.00
Jaycee Club Tour Des Champs -18.00
The Yarmouth Vagabonds Garleton -18.00
Wooldale FC Splash Of Ginge -18.00
Harborough Hamtunes Pentiffic -18.25
Old Sun Heyford Relax -18.25
Whistle Blowers Fill The Power -18.46
Magster Problema Tic -18.62
Rosey Poets Splash Of Ginge -19.00
Girls On Top Problema Tic -19.47
Rifle Drum Reaping The Reward -19.50
We Like Guinness Pentiffic -19.92
Nurses Know Better Captain Americo -20.00
Second Glance Silk Hall -20.00
Steeleye Ann Pentiffic -20.00
The Viking Sametegal -20.00
Dalepak Social Pentiffic -20.50
Kingfisher AC Neptune Equester -21.25
Clever Trevor Dr Dreamy -21.50
Betony Belle Ifandbutwhynot -21.75
Cobblers Le Magnifique Tradewinds -21.75
Forza Milan Tradewinds -21.75
Queen’s Park WMC Tap Night -21.75
Holdenby Heroes Cocoa Minnie -22.00
Pennies From Brisbane Sydney Paget -22.12
Northants Anglers Lion Na Bernai -23.09
Baltimore Bullet My Mate Paddy -25.00
Ex Equestrian Grumeti -25.00
Heathens RFC Knockara Beau -25.00
Kingsley FC Pepite Rose -25.00
Monday Ballroom Lion Na Bearnai -25.00
On The Edge Lucanor -25.00
Only Foals And Horses Neptune Equester -25.00
Steady Aim Captain Americo -25.00
The Byrne Syndicate -25.00
The N Club My Mate Paddy -25.00