News Item 20; 10th July 2010
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NEWS INDEX 2009 PAGE
6th - 9th July 2010
Paul Rigge wins the Irish Cup at the Pendle Midweek Tournament 2010.
Report by Peter Wilson.

The cast included those from far and wide:

Lionel Tibble -1.5, paul rigge 0, John Filsak 1.5, Peter Wilson 2, Liz Wilson 2.5, Chris Donovan 4, Neil Kellett 4, Roger Staples 5, David Turner 5, Howarrd Bowron 10, Joe lennon 11, Robin Delves 12, Jim Penny 12, Janet Davies 14, Peter Dewhurst 14 and Ken Harper 18.

In addition Ian Theakstone (14) entered the doubles.

Overall the tournament was run as a Flexible Egyptian without time limits but there were also underlying trophies for the A & B class Advanced and Handicap. Mixed in with these were the Handicap Doubles which produced a most interesting ending in the Semi-Final where Harper and Theakstone both from Fylde played the final hoops in a two ball ending with just about everyone watching as they got to peg & peg. Theakstone and Rigge then met the defending champions in the final. Theakstone produced a silver award break (he does not get it as it is doubles) which all but sealed the match. Rigge waited for the right time and having hit a ten yarder into corner three played one of the shots of the week with a big split getting behind a ball several feet off the end of the North baulk line.

It was particularly exciting for the tournament to have Tibble and Rigge enter and on the final day they contested the A class final, best of three which was won by Rigge who was in full TP flow. Tibble was perhaps a tad jaded having won the most games played trophy with fifteen and also the fastest game in round one with a delayed TP.

The B class Semi-Final between L. Wilson v C Donovan was very close when Wilson let a winning chance slip away with an easy pickup for Donovan. In the other match R. Staples, who had established a reputation for hitting long roquets missed a couple against P. Wilson. In the final Donovan established a lead but having lost the innings in a most unfortunate way found Wilson at four back and then after hitting a long one also at peg with a reasonable leave which secured the win.

The Handicap section was played base six, a sensible decision to combine with no time limits and the threat of some rain during the course of the event. In fact there was only one wet day, mainly mist but one heavy shower that provided some much needed water to the lawns which were becoming quite glassy around the hoops. In the Handicap final Bowron found Harper fast out of the blocks spending bisques to establish a lead, but when his second ball stalled at hoop three Bowron took control and carefully out-manoeuvred him to win with a couple of sizable breaks.

All the games played counted towards the Egyptian tournament and it was probably no surprise when Deus ex Machina produced Rigge as the winner.

Barbara Dutton’s additions:

Sixteen players took part in the singles with one extra player entering the doubles. Lionel Tibble who won the recent Advanced weekend tournament was beaten into second place this time by Paul Rigge from Bury. Lionel did play the most games of the tournament, 16, and with a handicap of minus 1.5 was giving away bisques to the other players.

The A class winner was Paul Rigge beating Lionel Tibble in their final, the B class winner was Peter Wilson who beat Chris Donovan, and the C class winner was Howard Bowron who beat Ken Harper. The Overall winner was Paul Rigge.

Local player Peter Dewhurst gained a silver badge for a round without using bisques. In the doubles Ian Theakstone and Paul Rigge beat John Filsak and Howard Bowron. The weather was mostly kind although the impromptu washing line erected on Wednesday tells another story.

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