This year again, the "Nottingham Week" was fully subscribed, with 36 players, though one of them was only in the doubles. Beatrice McGlen and her team put in a tremendous effort to ensure that competitors could be fed and watered in a suitably socially-distanced way, and responsible behaviour by the players meant that the tournament went ahead in reasonably relaxed, though unusual, conditions. The event was again managed by the always unflappable Peter Death, who this year chose not to play and instead ran a tea and coffee service. There was a wonderful level of assistance from volunteers from the club for the extra work needed to provide catering and bar with the necessary extra hygiene precautions. To prevent crowding in pavilions for dining or in case of rain, a marquee and a number of gazebos had been loaned and there was tremendous support from visitors as well as members in erecting and dismantling. Access to the western (former bowls) pavilion and the former public conveniences also reduced any tendency to crowd into confined spaces. On Friday evening, after fish and chips, lawn 1 was illuminated by portable floodlights, enabling well-lubricated informal games of Pirates to carry on into the small hours.
In the more formal play, the Big Handicap event, for the Robin Hood Cup, saw a range of handicaps from -1 to 5 in the quarter-finals, after 4 days of flexible Swiss competition to find the top 8 (though some interruption from weather earlier in the week meant that the top 8 plus ties brought 14 players into the knockout!). The final was between Alex McIntyre (Nottingham) and Omied Hallam (Nottingham). Alex won +3 to take the trophy for the third successive year (his handicaps for those wins were 12, 5, and 3.5) while Omied won the Taylor salver for runner-up.
The A class had 12 competitors, played as a flexible Swiss until Friday teatime, followed by a knockout for the top four. In the semi-finals Omied Hallam beat Phil Eardley and Phil Cordingley beat Neal Bacon, then Omied beat Phil +14 +17 in the final.
The B Level singles was similarly played as a flexible Swiss of 11 players followed by a knockout. The semi-finalists were Mike Hedge, Arthur Rowe, Ken Jones and Alex McIntyre. In the final Arthur beat Alex +8.
The C class (Ordinary level singles) had 7 entries. The top 2 after playing an American block were Andrew Beaumont and Patricia Duke-Cox. In the play-off Andrew beat Patricia +9.
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. Alison McIntyre was undefeated on both blocks to take the trophy.
16 pairs entered the Handicap Doubles knockout, and in the final Bob Thompson and Patricia Duke-Cox beat Phil Eardley and Sue Wileman +1 on time.
Trophies were presented by club president Ian Vincent, as well as bottles of wine for the manager and caterers.
(Photo credits: 1st and 5th – Charles Martin; remainder- Rob Edlin-White)
Results:
Event 1: The Robin Hood cup, handicap singles. 36 players. Played as a flexible Swiss until Thursday, then a knockout for the top 8 and ties.
Semi-finals: Alex McIntyre (3.5) beat Rob Edlin-White (4) +14
Omied Hallam (-1) beat Charlie Martin (5) +19
Final McIntyre beat Hallam +3
Event 2: Open Singles, Advanced Play. 12 players. Played as flexible Swiss, then a knockout for the top 4.
Semi-finals: Omied Hallam beat Phil Eardley +3
Phil Cordingley beat Neal Bacon +15
Final Hallam beat Cordingley +14 +17
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: Arthur Rowe beat Mike Hedge +16
Alex McIntyre beat Ken Jones +12
Final Rowe beat McIntyre +8
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 Patricia Duke-Cox +9
Event 5: D Handicap Singles, full bisque base 10. 4 competitors, each playing the other twice. Alison McIntyre (22) unbeaten on 6/6.
Event 6: Handicap Doubles, 16 pairs, knockout.
Semi-finals: Bob Thompson and Patricia Duke-Cox beat Alex and Alison McIntyre +3t
Phil Eardley and Sue Wileman beat Ken Jones and Barbara Young +12t
Final Thompson and Duke-Cox beat Eardley and Wileman +1t