2000 Sportsman of the Year
 | Jerry Limb receives his trophy
and £100 prize from Dod Davies |
As a sign of hero worship, Jerry recently died his hair blonde. His hero? Dod Davies. Well, that's what WE all say but Jerry denies it; and Dod remains silent on the matter!
Jerry was born 38 years ago. Unfortunately it was just after the time that thalidomide was prescribed as a sedative during pregnancy and as a consequence he was born without any arms. Thanks to his "wonderful" parents he not only learned to cope but he also developed a positive and likeable personality coupled with a self-deprecating sense of humour that has endeared him to all that meet him.
My first tournament encounter with him could have been so embarrassing for me, but, Jerry diffused the situation and ever since I've looked upon him as a friend. I was at the Registration Desk, my head buried in the laptop when someone asked me if they could become a member. Without looking up I handed them a pen and asked that they fill in the form on the table and bring it back to me. When they failed to take the pen I looked up to see Jerry standing there head bent forward, grinning as he stood to take the pen in his teeth! I felt myself going red but knew everything was OK when his face split in two with a mischievous grin. When I asked him his name he said, "You won't believe it, Mike. It's Limb. Isn't that ironic?" He laughed, we all laughed; Jerry Limb had arrived.
He only learned to play backgammon 18 months ago, prior to that he'd played chess. His best friend, Paul Watts taught him how to play backgammon one evening and he's been hooked ever since. He became a member of the Bristol BG Club where Ian Tarr and the other members made him welcome and he soon became a regular attender and quickly honed his new skills. Unfortunately there is a rift between Jerry and Paul at the moment. Jerry wouldn't say why they've fallen out but I got the impression that he'd like it to be mended as he misses his old mate.
He attributes a lot of his recent success to JellyFish Analyser. He spends many hours playing and learning backgammon on his laptop. But he gains most enjoyment playing against his many friends during tournaments.
As well as being a very good backgammon player Jerry is also an artist. He is a 'street' artist specialising in cartoons and bills himself as 'The Original Foot & Mouth Artist' which I for one am not going to challenge! In his "caravan of lurve" he motors all over the country pitching his stall in the High Streets and engaging the public with that mischievous smile.
Oh, and by the way, Jerry, blondes do have more fun; I should know. Mind you, I am a NATURAL blonde!
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