Andy Dibben and Peter Thompson share the ARK Tournament

[<<] [>>] by Martin Burger at Surbiton
23 Sep 2018 (AC - Handicap)

There has been a certain symmetry to the Surbiton tournament season with flooded lawns at beginning and end with exceptionally dry and hot weather between. The ARK was a casualty of the floods. Saturday saw most people complete three games though a decisive one went on past dusk. Andy Dibben and Peter Thompson were the only unbeaten players at this stage .

It was clear that the forecast for Sunday morning indicated persistent heavy rain (perhaps an inch) and that the lawns were likely to become unplayable soon so it was decided that Sunday play would be abandoned , though since the club has a 'whale' roller sponge Andy and Peter were offered the option of trying to get a play-off in in the afternoon, but decided not to . Unlike many previous years Kevin Carter was the victim rather than instigator of a triple peel - by Andy Dibben who gained his Gold for his first one. Surbiton had played their friendly match against Edinburgh the previous day and a few of their members competed. Lorna Dewar , though losing a close game to Andy , seems to be developing her game satisfactorily . The earlier date for the event meant that with other events clashing and a B-level the week before, numbers were reduced and would have been low without the Scots.