David Boxell won the Wrest Park AC Handicap Tournament

[<<] [>>] by John Bevington at Wrest Park
19th September (AC - Handicap)

The tournament was won by David Boxell from Hunstanton with four wins from his five games, his only loss coming in his first game against manager Eric Audsley, who pegged out David's first ball and then hung on to win +1 on time (3 hour time limits). David's final game was a narrow win against Wrest Park's Tim Nurse who also had four wins. More on this later.

There were ten entries which was a considerable improvement when compared to the equivalent tournament in May. Handicaps ranged from -½ to 20. Saturday began with sunshine, but afternoon showers had waterproofs donned, discarded and donned again, and we were treated to a fine double rainbow.

When it came to the final round Tim Nurse had already picked up four wins including two by +26, and was conceding 11 bisques to David on three wins. David made good progress with his first ball (red) using four bisques but failed penult and decided not to take another one. Tim hit in and took black to rover leaving his balls on or near boundaries. Some cat and mouse play ensued, and David used his remaining bisques to get yellow to 3-back. The situation with time fast approaching was David with red for rover and yellow for penult and Tim with black for rover and blue for 5. Tim made rover and left a rush for blue and David made a wide join on the east boundary. Tim then got a break going with blue, during which time was called.

After making penult off yellow Tim sent it down to rover as a reception ball but it ended up between the hoop and red, his pioneer. The approach shot on red was underhit by an inch or two which left yellow partially blocking blue's hoop shot. An attempt at a jump shot failed leaving David with three balls at rover and black near the peg, needing to make penult and rover with yellow to level the score. He made penult and tried to rush red in front of rover for a peel attempt, but it ended up to one side. Having made rover he was then able to nudge red in front of rover and after much careful positioning peeled it through to win +1 on time.

The expected rain then came down in earnest, leaving Rod Ashwell and Derek Code to play out their 18 point game, which Rod eventually won in the last turn after time had been called. Our thanks to Tim and Gill Brewer for the food, George Collin and others for lawn preparation and Eric for management.

David Boxell (16) 4/5

Tim Nurse (5) 4/5

Peter Aspinall (12) 3/5

Andre Machell (4½) 3/5

Jonathan Toye (6) 2/5

Eric Audsley (1½) 2/5

Rod Ashwell (-½) 2/5

Derek Code (20) 1/5

George Collin (1) 0/4

David Woolley (12) 1/1

John Bevington (0) 1/3