David Maugham won the East Midlands Championship

[<<] [>>] by Dr Ian Vincent at Nottingham
1st July 2018 (AC - Championships)

From a quick look at the trophy, which was donated by Gordon Hopewell when the event was inaugurated in 1997, David Maugham has now won it for the sixth time. His most interesting game en-route to the play-off was the final of the process, in which he beat Alain Giraud +1tpo, after pegging two balls out when the others were both for hoop 1. No recourse was needed to the impasse regulations.

It was being played on lawn 1, which had been measured the previous day at 13.5 uphill: there were patches on the former bowls greens that were considerable faster. The groundsman has already turned the irrigation back on in the hope of saving some of the grass.

The play-off against the winner of the draw, Jenny Clarke was less interactive: Dave won +17 in a normal advanced rules game, Jenny having declined the offer of playing super-advanced. Given that the play-off didn't start before tea, a single game was thought prudent if there was to be anyone left to see the end of it. Andrew Gregory let several trains go in order to commentate on the finals. Nick Mounfield won the plate, beating Alison Jones in the final.

The full entry of 32 enjoyed virtually unbroken warm sunshine, Robin Hood beer from the Nottingham Brewery, and catering provided by Beatrice McGlen, and Ellen and Malcolm Gee. Many thanks to the club members who have stocked the bar, cleared up the empties and worked hard to re-occupy the pavilion after the interrupted restoration work over the winter.

A final thought is that almost half the field were thought to be under 50, so there is some hope for top-class AC yet.