EACF AC Champions Day tournament
17 April

Report by manager George Collin

A dry but chilly day greeted the sixteen players. The greatest thanks must go to John Bevington, who mowed the lawns on the Saturday in the rain and sleet. The event was created (and is normally organised and managed) by Terrey Sparks. He is recovering from a heart valve operation, so I found myself in charge and making up the numbers

The trophies for the Handicap, Advanced and B level advanced events.

The Handicap event (eight players, a knock-out plus a plate event) started as 18 points 2 ½ hours for round one but all four games finished in good time, allowing rounds two and three to be full points 3 hours. Still none of the games went to time, finishing by 5 pm. Peter Brown (Hunstanton) won the trophy (having won the plate event last year) and a recommendation for a handicap reduction. The runner-up was David Frost (Enfield), who gained an automatic reduction. The “plate” went to Robin Barry (Watford). Geoff Strutt was running-in his new mallet, which shows promise.



PB

DF

RB

GC

GS

AB

SC

PW

Wins

Points

Peter Brown (18)

Hunstanton


+8



+19



+17

3

+44

David Frost (7)

Enfield

-8


+6


+26




2

+24

Robin Barry (9)

Watford


-6




+17

+12


2

+23

George Collin (0)

player/manager


-26



+12

+6



2

+8

Geoff Strutt (9)

Wrest Park

-19



-12



+17


1

-14

Ann Brookes (8)

Colchester



-17

-6




+6

1

-17

Simon Conran (5)

Bury St Edmunds



-12


-17



+10

1

-19

Peter Whiting (8)

Bygrave

-17





-6

-10


0

-33

The B Class (four players, all play all, level advanced play, 2 ½ hours) had more trouble with the short time limits. Only one game finished within time (the relatively relaxed play-off for third place), well done Tim. Much defensive play, with mainly close finishes. Winners playing losers in round two allowed the possibility of a decisive final on lawn one, between two players with two wins. This turned out to be Arthur Reed (Watford) against Jonathan Toye (Downham). Arthur chalked up his third win at 6 pm.



AR

JT

TB

BS

Wins

Arthur Reed (2½)

Watford


+5T

+7T

+3T

3

Jonathan Toye (5)

Downham Market

-5T


+11T

+4T

2

Tim Brewer (2½)

Wrest Park

-7T

-11T


+8

1

Bryan Saddington (4)

Hunstanton

-3T

-4T

-8


0

Arthur Reed and Rod Ashwell, winners of the B level and Advanced events.

The four players in the A Class started off well. Both first round games finished in good time with wins by large margins but the games in rounds two and three all went to time, with closer finishes. Winners playing losers in round two seems to produce a decisive final round, as long as at least one player has two wins after two rounds (because of the “who beat who” rule). Thus Rod Ashwell (Wrest Park) “triumphed” +4T over Simon Hathrell (Watford) at 5:30. Duncan Hector (Bygrave) sneaked into second place by winning his third round game +1T.


RA

DH

SH

JR

Wins

Rod Ashwell (-½)

Wrest Park


+24

+4T

+4T

3

Duncan Hector (-1)

Bygrave

-24


+9T

+1T

2

Simon Hathrell (-1)

Watford

-4T

-9T


+17T

1

Jeff Race (0)

Hunstanton

-4T

-1T

-17T


0

In theory the event manages itself. In reality it requires close attention. Making me, as stand-in, grateful to Terrey Sparks for his management in the past (and hopefully in the future). As at 2 May, he is doing fine.


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Wrest Park