William Gee won the Nottingham Autumn handicap weekend
[<<] [>>] by Rob Edlin-White
18th September 2006
(AC - Handicap)
William Gee won the Eclipse Goblet at the Nottingham Autumn Handicap Weekend in a close play-off with Michael Finnigan. William, now playing off 3.5, had in 2 days' play given away 43 bisques and 5 half bisques and received just 2!
The handicap Flexible Swiss event, now shortened to 2 days, attracted a small field of just 14 very appreciative participants. Weather was dry and warm throughout, conditions fairly easy, and most players completed 5 or 6 games without time limits.
By lunchtime on Sunday, Michael (handicap 11) was winning outright on 5/5 ahead of Gee on 4/5, and could have won the event (and a 10 handicap) by turning down the offer of further games. Instead he sportingly agreed to play William and entertained the small crowd in what turned out to be a thrilling "final", characterised by Gee's hard hitting shots, including one shot which jumped over 3 stop boards on 2 lawns to land on the far bank of the stream. Eventually Michael missed a peg-out from behind rover but pegged the other out to leave 2 and peg versus peg and box. William immediately centre-balled the 15 yarder and finished on a 3-ball break, to win +1 and leave both players on 5/6. William then went on to win the playoff.
Derek Buxton crept up the field to 3rd position, and Laurie Kay achieved a creditable 75% in his first ever CA tournament.
Patricia Duke Cox presented the Eclipse Goblet to the winner and a pen to Michael as runner-up..
Results
Winner: 83% William Gee
Runner-up: 83% Michael Finnigan
80% Derek Buxton
75% Laurie Kay
60% Derek Blow
50% Martin Beacon, Janet Booker, Richard Smith
<50% Jeane Ackermann, Patricia Duke-Cox, John Handy, Ian Hill,
Tony Thomas, Peter Thompson
Handicap Changes
Patricia Duke-Cox 9 to 10