All England Handicap Area Final - 2-3 September
[<<] [>>] by Roger Schofield
at Pendle
12th September 2000
(AC - Handicap)
Ten assorted bandits and others (6 Bowdon, 2 Pendle, one each Bury and Fylde) assembled in fine late summer weather for this tournament. Handicaps ranged from 5 to 20, and degrees of banditry possibly wider.
In the opening round most games were tight, and the eventual winner showed unsuspected Swiss tactics by losing by three, thereby securing a game against another loser in round two. After two rounds the three players with two wins all hailed from Bowdon. Two were playing what might well have been a premature final in the next round, and overnight Andrew Elliott was the only unbeaten player with five people on two wins.
Thus on the Sunday at least eight of the ten could think themselves still in the hunt. The leader won his fourth game, with two other Andrews from Bowdon on three and the rest trailing. In the final round Andrew Winn beat Andrew Elliott to become the heat winner on hoop score, while Andrew Keeble also notched up a fourth win to join them in qualifying for the National final.
Manager and ROT Peter Wilson did a splendid job, as did the catering crew. A special bouquet from the manager went to Liz Fraser, whose handicap had been chopped from 8 to 5 the previous weekend, and who cheerfully accepted five defeats which put her back to 6.