Page 30 - May 2023

IIBA McHugh_Layout 1 28/04/2023 10:25 Page 1

100+ Caps and counting?

IIBA President Flo McNally
making a presentation to Colum McHugh
in recognition of his outstanding

achievment
Colum McHugh is clearly the top international in terms of caps gained. Colum's achievement is all
the more outstanding when you consider that most of his caps were won when only 3 internationals
were played each year in the British Isles Championships unlike the 6 which have been a feature in
more recent years. In the next 4/5 years it is possible that others may surpass his 103 caps but that
will not take anything away from his outstanding achievement. His reaching 100 caps was recognised
with a presentation by IIBA President Mrs Flo McNally.

ED - A few years ago I was contacted by someone who was compiling a list of players for England
and I was able to send copies (if I remember right) of past British Isles and World programmes. He
was doing something most important for the history of the ESMBA. I think he was from the West
Midlands and I hope he is a current reader. If not, does anybody know who he is and can they put
me in touch please? I was lucky enough to be in the very first England team in both the British Isles
and the World Championships. A distinction also shared by Gaynor Buchanan a very good player.

Where do I live?

I have been asked by a couple of people as I have sometimes referred to
Spain. Some years ago my late wife and I tried to buy in Spain but ended
up losing a lot of money through planning issues. Sadly, very many others
have suffered the same fate and even had their homes demolished with no
compensation whatsoever.
Towards the end of 2019 we ended up selling our house and buying a place in Spain, also
gaining our Residencia before Brexit kicked in. It was important for Yvonne but I have an Irish Pass-
port as well as a British one. Covid struck and all flights in early 2020 and more were cancelled and
we were forced to come back to the UK in one of the very last flights in December 2019.
All we owned in the UK was a static Holiday caravan and we returned to it. Very sadly, Yvonne
died just 3 months later in March 2020 but not through Covid and all she got was about 6 weeks in
Spain. For me, selling up and moving back to the UK was not really the best option owing to the dif-
ference in property prices, so I live in Spain one day under 6 months to avoid Spanish taxation on
my state pension. Yes, they have lower allowances. I return to the UK for 6 months, so I am still a
UK Tax resident and I organise Short Mat holidays. So, if I make a reference to Spain, you will now
know why.