Nottingham Annual Tournament 12-17 August 2019
[<<] [>>] by Peter Death
at Nottingham
19 Aug
2019 (AC - Mixed)
Another full house for this year's Nottingham Week, with 35 players, though 1 of them was only in the Doubles. Conditions were generally easy, if somewhat soggy. Wednesday afternoon was washed out, and Friday afternoon played in continuous rain.
The big Handicap, the Robin Hood Cup, saw a range of handicaps from 0 to 12 in the quarter-finals, after 4 days of flexible Swiss competition to find the top 8. The final was between Alex McIntyre (Nottingham) and Heather Bennett (Letchworth). Alex won +26to take the trophy for the second successive year.
The A class had 17 competitors, played as a flexible Swiss until Friday lunchtime, followed by a knockout for the top four. Dennis Bulloch of New Zealand made a welcome return after 44 years, but was unable to stay for the end of the week, so did not feature in the knockout. In the semi-finals Ian Vincent beat Phil Eardley and Joel Taylor beat John Davis, then Ian beat Joel +20 -26tp +7 in the final, to record his first win in the event since 1979.
The B Level singles was similarly played as a flexible Swiss of 11 players followed by a knockout. The semi-finalists were Sophie McGlen, Heather Bennett, Mike Hedge and Alex McIntyre. In the final Sophie beat Alex +7.
The C class (Ordinary level singles) had 5 entries. The top 2 after playing an American block were Betty Bates and Andrew Beaumont. In the play-off Andrew beat Betty +19.
The D class (Full bisque base 10 handicap singles) had only 1 entry, so there was no competition for the trophy held by Diana Plant.
15 pairs entered the Handicap Doubles knockout, and in the final Omied Hallam and Ferzana Shan beat David Warhurst and Andrew Carpenter +21tp.
Event 1: The Robin Hood Cup, Handicap singles.36 Players. Played as a Flexible Swiss until Thursday, Then a Knockout for the Top 8
Semi-finals:
Heather Bennett (3.5) beat Patricia Duke-Cox (12) +13
Alex McIntyre (5) beat Sanaa Hallam (0) +14
Final:
McIntyre beat Bennett +26
Event 2: Open Singles, Advanced Play. 17 Players. Played as Flexible Swiss, Then a Knockout for the Top 4
Semi-finals:
Ian Vincent beat Phil Eardley +6
Joel Taylor beat John Davis +5tp
Final:
Vincent beat Taylor +20 -26tp +7
Event 3: B-Level Singles, Advanced Play, Handicaps 3 and Over. 11 Players Played as Flexible Swiss, Then a Knockout for the Top 4
Semi-finals:
Sophie McGlen beat Heather Bennett +16
Alex McIntyre beat Mike Hedge +9
Final:
McGlen beat McIntyre +7
Event 4: C-Level Singles, Ordinary Level Singles, Handicaps 8 and Over
Played as a block of 5 followed by a play-off for the top 2
Final:
Andrew Beaumont beat Betty Bates +19
Event 5: D Handicap Singles, full bisque base 10. No competition as only 1 entry
Event 6: Handicap Doubles, 15 Pairs, Knockout
Semi-finals:
David Warhurst & Andrew Carpenter beat Sanaa Hallam & Mark Lansdale +2
Omied Hallam & Ferzana Shan beat Lee Hartley & Betty Bates +5
Final:
Hallam & Shan beat Warhurst & Carpenter +21tp
By Peter Death