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The calendar may have said May but the
thermometer showed temperatures more suitable to February or March as 48 players
from across the country gathered for the Annual
Spring Tournament. A number were club members or locals from
Sidmouth
but all needed plenty of warm clothing to help them survive
up to nine hours in competitive play. The lawns were fast after a dry few weeks provided some tricky conditions for even the best players. The Doubles competition started on Monday
with first round winners in a knockout struggle for the Daldry
Cups leading to a final match on Friday between
Budleigh Club members, Rosemary Bradshaw with partner Martin Granger-Brown defeating
David Nicholson and Jeannette Pollock after a tough game. The first round
losers had a second chance and a final is being played between the four Sidmouth players involved. The main handicap event played as a
knockout began on Tuesday and
reached its conclusion with Pat Lewis of Southport winning the final on Saturday over Ian Friedlander of Sidmouth. In the
class events players were playing in blocks that gave them seven or eight
games against players of similar handicaps. The A
Class saw David Nicholson, last year’s winner meeting Richard Griffiths of Cornwall in the final after each of them
had gained five victories out of six games
played. Richard took the first of the best –of-three final games +16. David
responded brilliantly in the second game pulling off a triple peel finish
that delighted the spectators and retained his trophy in the final game with
another triple, even more accomplished than the first. The B
level competition was arranged with two blocks so that the top scorers had to contest the final.
Two players in Block B had four wins each out of six games, Richard Mills and Adam Wimshurst, with Richard having a better tally of points scored.
The C block saw David Richards of Nailsea and Terry Foster of Southport tied
on six wins out of seven and in their best-of-three final Richard gained an early advantage
after a thrilling finish in game 1. The other two games
went to David who played brisk and decisive croquet to claim his
trophy. C
level blocks produced a final between Mike Taylor and David Temple, both of Sidmouth, and Mike
was the clear winner. The D Class event produced a clash between Barbara Thompson a Budleigh
stalwart, and Nancy Temple of Sidmouth and Barbara gained the cup. The management of the week was in the hands of Julie Horsley who
brought us skilfully to its conclusion on Saturday afternoon. David Nicholson
thanked the club members warmly for their friendly welcome and for all the work
done to prepare the lawns and provide refreshments through each day. Marie
Lester, the Club Chairman, presented the trophies and another year’s May Week
came to a successful end. Charles Townshend |
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