BUDLEIGH SERIES EVENTS CONTINUED
nevertheless the expected outcome presented a Currie v Peterson Plate Final. This game saw two fairly well-matched players battle it out, hoop for hoop, until Peterson secured the deserved Plate winner position at hoop 12, final score 7- 5. GC ‘B’ Level (DG<1700) Series The first of the new criteria <DG1700 ‘B’ Level Series saw 39 players at allocation competing for the 16 available places. As a result, BSCC held a SiSTER tournament for those disappointed in the GC ‘C’ and ‘B’ SERIES allocations, running simultaneously on Sunday with the ‘B’ Level. This gave players an opportunity to experience playing at Budleigh and gain valuable ranking points, although it was not part of the Series events. The popularity of the GC ‘B’ Level Series was evident in the quality of the field - only 77 D/Grade points separated seed 1 from seed 16 – so this will probably be the most competitive GC ‘B’ Level heat of the entire season! Paul Rockall (Gainsborough), Jill Bateman (Cheltenham), Dan Rhodes-Chadder (N/A) and Izzy Poyntz (Budleigh) all topped their respective blocks with 3 wins. In Block A, top seed Glynis Davies (Northampton) joined Rockall in the main knockout, alongside Martin C. Leach (Budleigh) from Block B; Stephen Flay (East Dorset) from Block C; and Jill Shaw (Camerton & Peasedown) from Block D - all with 2 wins each. The strong female showing in the Main Quarter Final round saw Izzy Poyntz despatch Stephen Flay 7-4; and Jill Shaw beat Dan Rhodes-Chadder 7-5. Glynis Davies, the stronger competitor, defeated Jill Bateman comfortably 7-3 whilst Paul Rockall and Martin C. Leach provided the tightest game of the QF, with Leach clinching a narrow 13th hoop decider to move on to the semi-sinals. The semi-finals pitched Budleigh players Leach and Poyntz into a hard-fought contest, with Leach successful on the 12th hoop 7-5. Davies again swiftly despatched her opponent Shaw in a clinical 7-2 win and looked favourite entering the Main Final. Meanwhile, the eight players in the Plate Knockout all opened their campaigns with competitive matches. In the first semi-final, Claire Herring (Cheltenham) faced Paul New (Budleigh), while Frank Pearce (Dowlish Wake) took on Brent Watkins (Cheltenham) in the other. After a below-par showing in the block stages, Paul New found much better form in the Plate Knockout. Having come through his quarter-final, he defeated Herring 7-4 to secure his place in the Final. In the second semi-final, Pearce edged past Watkins in a tight contest, winning 7-6.
However, New was unable to maintain his momentum in the final. His form dipped once more, allowing Pearce to take control and claim a comfortable 7-2 victory to win the Plate. After a varied weekend of weather, the Main B Level Final saw some welcome sunshine and a crowd of Budleigh Spectators gathered adding to the atmosphere. Like Susan Bellew in the previous ‘C’ Level (7+) Final the day before, Martin C. Leach took every opportunity playing a confident and positive game. Glynis Davies did not appear able to answer this offensive and was soon 1-6 down. A short rally at hoop 8 gained Davies another point but had left Leach onside within 4 yards of hoop 9. This easy approach then forced Davies into two failed clearance attempts with Leach securing a comfortable victory and his first GC ‘B’ Level DG<1700 Series win. Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club are again delighted to have a representative at the GC ‘B’ Level National Series Final later this season at Pendle & Craven.
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