Andrew Hobbs won the Southwick Salver

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Stephen Wright congratulates Andrew Hobbs

The 2025 running of the Southwick Salver was blessed with warmer temperatures than is sometimes the case, and with a healthy smattering of sunshine. SCCC was delighted to welcome a field of 29, the largest for some time, including visitors from Portugal, Switzerland and many parts of the UK.

The Salver has been won by its fair share of world champions, but also has a friendly, fun atmosphere, offering a chance for a range of handicaps to try their luck against, in some cases, significantly stronger opponents on paper. The consolation Egyptian format allows the flexibility for players to play the sort of games and opponents they want to, whilst anyone who plays above their handicap level has a chance to win a bottle of wine along with the main event winner.

Adding to the atmosphere over the weekend were local members coming and going, notably for 'croquet and cakes' (name check for the great Fran Box), more international visitors, colourful bunting, some particularly nosy seagulls, and a dusk visit from a bushy-tailed fox as the last Saturday night drinks were downed.

Some of the weekend's most enterprising play came from Ian Burridge, the only player to make two triple peels. He was unlucky to run into the generally rock-solid break play of eventual winner Andrew Hobbs in the quarters. Credit should also go to Ged Smolskas who defeated No.1 seed Dom Nunns in their quarter, earning a handicap reduction to -0.5, in a game featuring an end-to-end hit-in by Ged as a key moment. Stephen Wright had bested No.2 seed Nigel Polhill in their semi-final to earn the right to play Andrew.

In the final itself, Andrew had looked in full control at game up and on a potentially winning break, for 2b and peg when disaster struck in the form of a wrong ball error. Stephen gave him no further opportunity and equalised. However, Andrew gathered himself calmly and saw the match out.

There was some interest in manager Dom Nunns's spreadsheet handling of the Egyptian format arithmetic. The software may shortly make its Swiss debut, if that isn't too confusing a sentence. In its wisdom, it duly declared Alan Chance the winner. Intriguingly, had the semi-finalists been eligible, Ged would have just pipped Alan on the Egyptian points system, and so was duly awarded the Easter egg for 3^rd place. Happily, Nigel declared he didn't care because he didn't like chocolate anyway.

Andrew wrapped up the weekend with a gracious speech thanking groundsman Ben Harwood and his CTC team for such excellent lawns for the time of year, Clive Hayton of SCCC and the catering team led by Rachel Pointon.