Nottingham August Week

[<<] [>>] by Peter Death at Nottingham
22nd August 2022 (AC)

Another full house for this year's Nottingham Week, where all 9 lawns were in use for the first time. A total of 44 players were involved, but not everyone was in every event.

The big Handicap, the Robin Hood Cup, saw a range of handicaps from -2 to 18 in the quarter-finals, after 4 days of flexible Swiss competition to find the top 8. The final was between Dave Gunn (Nottingham) and Neal Bacon (Edgbaston). Dave won +2 in a tight game, where he had been well ahead, but then Neal fought back.

The A class had 18 competitors, played as a flexible Swiss until Friday lunchtime, followed by a knockout for the top eight. In the semi-finals Dave Kibble (Bristol) beat Beatrice McGlen (Nottingham) and John Davis (Nottingham) beat Joel Taylor (Roehampton), then Dave beat John +19 +26tp in the final.

The B Level singles had 10 competitors, played as a flexible Swiss until Friday lunchtime, followed by a knockout for the top four and ties, which produced a 5 person draw. Trevor Longman (Ramsgate) played David Brydon (Nottingham) in the final, and won +4 in the last game to finish on Saurday evening.

The C class (Ordinary level singles) had 5 entries, played as an American block, followed by a play-off for the top 2 and ties. In the final Viv Staley beat the previously unbeaten Mark Landale (both Nottingham) +11 on time

The D class (Full bisque base 10 handicap singles) had 6 entries, played as an American block, followed by a play-off between the top two. Mick Owens (Nottingham), in his first tournament, played Diana Plant (Nottingham) in the final and won +21, earning both the trophy and a substantial handicap reduction.

16 pairs entered the Handicap Doubles knockout, and in the final Neal Bacon and Andrew Beaumont (Edgbaston and Nottingham) played Omied Hallam and Mark Lansdale. Omied and Mark were well ahead as time approached, and the game ended in spectacular fashion as first Mark, then Omied pegged out from the boundary to win +10.

The prizes were presented by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Wendy Smith, who was visiting the club to see the improvement works carried out over recent years, and to hear about the club's work with juniors and with community outreach.

Event 1: The Robin Hood cup, handicap singles. 39 players. Played as a flexible Swiss until Thursday, then a knockout for the top 8 and ties.

Semi-finals: Dave Gunn (½) beat Joel Taylor (-2) +26

Neal Bacon (-1) beat Mick Owens (18) +7

Final Gunn beat Bacon +2

Event 2: Open Singles, Advanced Play. 18 players. Played as flexible Swiss, then a knockout for the top 8.

Semi-finals: Dave Kibble beat Beatrice McGlen +24

John Davis beat Joel Taylor +6otp

Final Kibble beat Davis +19 +26tp

Event 3: B Level Singles, Advanced Play, handicaps 3 and over. 10 players. Played as flexible Swiss, then a knockout for the top 4 and ties.

Final Trevor Longman beat David Brydon +4

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

5 players in an American block, followed by a play-off between the top 2 and ties

Final Viv Staley beat Mark Lansdale +11t

Event 5: D Handicap Singles, full bisque base 10. 6 competitors in an American block, followed by a play-off between the top 2

Final Mick Owens (18) beat Diana Plant (14) +21

Event 6: Handicap Doubles, 16 pairs, knockout.

Semi-finals: Neal Bacon and Andrew Beaumont beat Ian Vincent and Diana Plant +6

Omied Hallam and Mark Lansdale beat Dave Gunn and Celia Billau +4t

Final Hallam and Lansdale beat Bacon and Beaumont +10