NORTHERN STARS The Finals of the inaugural season-long Northern Stars One Day GC Series were played at Bowdon on Sunday 16th August. Competitors had qualified at a series of heats held at Pendle, Nottingham, Ashby, Middlesbrough and Chester. Each heat produced two winners: an overall winner, who qualified for the Championship Final, and the player who By Ian Burridge
gained the most handicap card points on the day, who qualified for the Challengers Final. The heat winners were joined by players accumulating the most points based on finishing position across the five heats: Championship: Mark Buckley, Euan Burridge, Ian Burridge, David Cornes, Sandra Cornes, Chris Higgins, Callum Johnson and Tony McCann Challengers: Alex Aiton, David Beddy, Sarah Clements, Alan Dix, Alan Mundy, John Picken, Judith Rowe and Martyn Seal The eight Championship finalists battled through a closely- fought best of 3 knock-out competition. Sandra Cornes took a game off Euan Burridge and Ian Burridge and Chris Higgins had boundary shots at hoop 13 in the decider to beat top seeds and eventual finalists Callum Johnson and Euan respectively. The final was a lacklustre affair until the final six hoops, when the standard of play increased measurably. Euan was game up but 6-5 down but won the match with a superb flick off a ball in front of rover from the south boundary to the north boundary directly in front of hoop 13 which he was able to run after making hoop 12, when Callum’s clearance from alongside hoop 2 just missed. Euan had won three of the heats and was able to add a gold star to his collection of three rose gold ones. The Challengers was played as an all-play-all block of 8 players, with the winner being the player gaining the most
Ian Burridge, Euan Burridge, David Beddy and John Picken (Image Catriona Peterson)
handicap card points across their games. John Picken (handicap 1), as the lowest handicap player, really needed to win all his games to stand a chance and a loss to David Beddy (3) did for his chances. Going into the final round David was in control of his own destiny knowing that a win would seal the title. Alex Aiton (3), who would pick up the spoils were he to win and David lose, won his game to put the pressure on David. David had, however, taken a commanding lead and was able to win his game 7-4 shortly afterwards to take the title, with a gain of 50 handicap points on the day. He received a silver star to go with the bronze star he had won when qualifying at Nottingham. The Bowl consolation event in the Championship was won by Ian Burridge and John Picken took the prize for the being the block winner in the Challengers.
WOKING OPEN SERIES By Sara Anderson We had 16 players ranging from -3 to 2.
having played 7 matches he was 4th in his block having won 3 games but with the best net hoops. So he was now into the Main Knockout stage with best of 3 games. First he dispatched Mike Town 2-1 followed by Simon Carter 2-1 which progressed into facing last years champion (and may years
previously)Jeff Dawson. Jeff took the first game 7-3 and everyone expected the number 1 seed to continue in the same vein against the number 12 seed. However Andy found his strength and good play to win the next two games 7-5,7-5. No one was more surprised than Andy.
Andy Dochniak beat Jeff Dawson in the final 2-1 and gained a Diamond Merit Award for his first Open victory.
In fact it was a great come back because at the end of the first day
The Plate was won by Peter Payne.
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