Andrew Wise won the Bristol B-Level Weekend

[<<] [>>] by Hamish Hall at Bristol Croquet Club
19 Jun 2011 (AC)

Andrew Wise won the Barbara Evans cup, beating Rosemary Gugan +6.

Entry was restricted to 12. Three seeded blocks of four proved popular with players, although the inevitable outcome of three players each with 2 wins was less satisfactory to the manager who had decreed that that eventuality would be resolved with a 1 ball game, or shoot out at the peg, depending on time. Excitement on Sunday morning was short lived as Marian Hilton excelled with 3 strikes, setting a challenging target for Chris Donovan and Richard Williamson, who had to console himself with qualifying as the best runner up.

So Rosemary Gugan, holding the cup, with three wins played Marian, whilst the much improved Andrew Wise, also with 3 wins faced Richard - all Bristol players - in semi finals. Both games ended 1 on time, with Rosemary and Andrew scraping through. The remainder entered an Egyptian / Swiss, which allowed as many games as players wished. I am sure that Nigel Amos, with 4 wins will enjoy the claret!

The untimed final proved a dour match with neither player able to take command. Andrew seemed more intent not to lose, rather than win, giving Rosemary many chances to take the initiative, only to make uncharacteristic errors - grist to the mill for the armchair spectators! After 4 hours Barbara Evans presented her trophy to Andrew +6.

Rain, heavy at times, with gusting wind in the afternoon and evening abated overnight, with Sunday generally sunny, and quite hot at times. Slow paced courts gradually dried out, but with firm hoops set at 1/16th, competitors found conditions quite testing.