Hunstanton Over 50s Weekend: Letchworth Bandit wins
[<<] [>>] by Nick Harris
10th July 2003
(AC - Handicap)
With handicaps ranging from -.5 up to 20 with plenty in between the Over 50's "Irwin" Egyptian provided plenty of opportunities for real handicap play and with the lawns, being well set and fast, provided plenty of opportunities for players to err. However on the Friday only 4 games went to time and 5 players went undefeated including local player Jenny Waterhouse 18, last year's winner David Tutt, 1 (Letchworth) and Giselle Wareham 20 from Woodhall Spa.
Sadly last year's reporter Bryan Saddington was unable to play on the Friday (allowing the Manager to rest) but made up for lost time with a quick +19 against George Woolhouse 5 (Letchworth) and a + 24 win over John Williams 9 (Colchester) by Tea on Saturday. In his third game of the day Bryan lost to Duncan Hector -.5 (Letchworth) by 10. Chris Donovan 14 (High Wycombe) who had lost to Duncan on the Friday won 4 straight games to bring himself back into contention despite the fact that Duncan had 6 wins from 6 by Saturday evening.
On the Sunday Chris was unable to sustain his winning streak losing to Bryan -4 and Paul Hill 7 (Hunstanton) -8 to finish with 111 points, meanwhile Duncan forged ahead with a +5 win over Leslie Carrick 8 (Northampton) and a +7 over Harry Bruford 10 (Bodham) to take the Trophy with 129 points with 8/8 wins. Technically the runner up was your reporter (and Manager), Nick Harris -.5 (Norwich) with 4/4 wins and 116 points as only the winner had to play at least 6 games. However, if there had been a prize I would have awarded it to Paul Hill with 5/6wins and 115 points.
Many thanks John Christmas (hoop setter); Jeff Race, for the Lawns; to all our Tea Ladies and the generally very good weather.