Derek Buxton won the Nottingham Autumn Handicap Weekend
[<<] [>>] by Rob Edlin-White
at Nottingham
20th September 2007
(AC - Handicap)
The 21 players at Nottingham's Autumn Handicap flexible Swiss tournament enjoyed the sunniest weekend for months, the lawns at their fastest this year, firmly set hoops, plentiful nutritious food, and on Sunday a potential audience of thousands as the Robin Hood Marathon passed by the lakeside. 21 was a slight surprise to the manager with 5 lawns, so last year's winner William Gee spent the first two hours doing German homework and then going on to earn the "Gee Wizz" epithet by completing 4 games by 18:30. He did find playing off scratch in a handicap tournament somewhat tougher, and could only watch as Mick Haytack completed a silver award against him. Some of the other players were much more sedately paced, and with minimal use of time limits and few players wanting to play on until dusk, the manager found himself at the end of the day with 5 players on 100%, 4 of whom had completed only 2 games and not started a game for pegging down. Martin Beacon led the field on 3/3.
Most of Sunday's games started at 9:00 in an attempt to beat marathon related road closures. Shortened games were used to resolve the four 2/2 players, leading to a semi between the two Dereks (Buxton and Blow) for the privilege of playing Martin. Derek Buxton prevailed, then he and Martin provided the crowd with a final which ebbed to and fro, Derek eventually using his last bisque to complete from 1-back to peg and win +14.
Results
100%
Derek Buxton (10)
80%
Martin Beacon (4)
Cliff Daniel (12)
75%
David Woodhouse (22)
Michael Finnigan (9)
Ian Dovey (18)
Derek Blow (12)
67%
William Gee (0)
Sue Wileman (18)
50% Or Less (Alphabetically)
Jeane Ackermann
Edward Barry
John Bee
Janet Booker
Neil Chalmers
Mick Haytack
Ian Hill
Laurie Kay
Ken Knowles
Don Martin
Terrey Sparks
Bob Thompson
Sue Wileman
Award Scheme
Mick Haytack - Silver
Handicap Changes
Michael Finnigan 9 to 8
Derek Buxton 10 to 9
Ian Hill 7 to 8
(Nottingham's handicap committee will also be scrutinising certain players shortly!)