Nottingham Annual Tournament

[<<] [>>] by Peter Death at Nottingham
23rd August 2021 (AC - Mixed)

Another full house for this year's Nottingham Week, though somewhat smaller than previous years because we were restricted to 5 lawns, the newly-seeded lawns 6 to 9 having been held back by the poor spring weather. A total 0f 30 players were involved, but not everyone was in every event.

The big Handicap, the Robin Hood Cup, saw a range of handicaps from -1.5 to 14 in the quarter-finals, after 4 days of flexible Swiss competition to find the top 8. The final was between Debbie Watson (Nottingham) and Roger Staples (Middlesbrough), and was reduced to 18 points to allow Roger to travel. Debbie won +18 in just over an hour.

The A class had 11 competitors, played as a flexible Swiss until Friday lunchtime, followed by a knockout for the top four. In the semi-finals Omied Hallam beat Arthur Rowe and Phil Eardley beat Joel Taylor, then Omied beat Phil +3 in the final.

The B Level singles was an American block of 6 players followed by a play-off between the top two. John Filsak played Roger Staples, and had his revenge for the block stage loss to Roger, winning +10.

The C class (Ordinary level singles) had 4 entries, played as two American blocks, so that each player played the others twice. Mick Haytack won the first series and Mark Lansdale the second, after the Manager had scratched Debbie Watson from the second series because of her commitments in the Robin Hood and the doubles, otherwise there would have been a 3-way tie to sort out. In the play-off Mark beat Mick +3.

The D class (Full bisque base 10 handicap singles) had 4 entries, played as two American blocks, so that each player played the others twice. Cathy Turski was undefeated in both blocks to take the trophy.

13 pairs entered the Handicap Doubles knockout, and in the final Phil Eardley and Cathy Turski played Omied Hallam and Debbie Watson. Omied and Debbie were ahead for much of the game, but Phil made a break to the peg as time was called to level the scores. Omied missed the long shot he was left by the narrowest of margins, and Cathy duly ran the golden hoop to win +1t.

Event 1: The Robin Hood cup, handicap singles. 22 players. Played as a flexible Swiss until Thursday, then a knockout for the top 8 and ties.

Semi-finals: Roger Staples (3) beat Ian Draper (0.5) +24

Debbie Watson (14) beat Joel Taylor (-1.5) +26

Final Watson beat Staples +18

Event 2: Open Singles, Advanced Play. 11 players. Played as flexible Swiss, then a knockout for the top 4.

Semi-finals: Omied Hallam beat Arthur Rowe +24

Phil Eardley beat Joel Taylor opp ret'd

Final Hallam beat Eardley +3

Event 3: B Level Singles, Advanced Play, handicaps 3 and over. 6 players n an American block, then play-off for top two

Final John Filsak beat Roger Staples +10

Event 4: C Level Singles, Ordinary Level Singles, handicaps 8 and over.

4 players each played the others twice in two American blocks, followed by a play-off between the block winners

Final Mark Lansdale beat Mick Haytack +3

Event 5: D Handicap Singles, full bisque base 10. 4 competitors, each playing the other twice. Cathy Turski (16) unbeaten on 6/6.

Event 6: Handicap Doubles, 13 pairs, knockout.

Semi-finals: Phil Eardley and Cathy Turski beat Ian Vincent and Diana Plant +11t

Omied Hallam and Debbie Watson beat Bob Thompson and Patricia Duke-Cox +19

Final Eardley and Turski beat Hallam and Watson +1t