Sidmouth GC Open Series 6‐7 JULY 2024
by Louise Smith As ‘flaming June’ passed by on the south‐west coast, July began overcast and unsettled. Such were the conditions for the Sidmouth GC Open Series Tournament held on 6/7th of the month. A full field of players travelled from distant clubs to compete, including Bude, Phyllis Court, East Dorset, and Hunstanton, plus a contingent of three from Roehampton. As strong winds blew in off the coast, top ranked Stuart M. Smith, (Budleigh), dropped his first block game to New Zealander, Helen Reeves. Helen’s relaxed style of play did not hide the fact that she was in terrific form as she went on to win every game in her block.
Photo Credit : Richard Gardiner, Dowlish Wake
Block A’s 2nd and 3rd seeds, Neil Fillery, (Taunton Deane), and Martin French, (Bude), did not fair quite so well, gaining just 2 wins apiece. Local players, Louise Smith, (Budleigh) and Phillip Harris, (Sidmouth) gave good performances above their ranked placings, gaining 4 wins each ‐ with Philip just ahead on net hoops. They joined Helen in the knock‐out stages along with Stuart, who had gathered a further 6 block game wins. Tim Russell, (Roehampton), was another player in great form and went unbeaten throughout the block stages in Block B. Steve Leonard had been the top ranked seed in the block, and came in at 2nd position with 5 wins, having also dropped a game to Rick Lilley (Phyllis Court). Stephen Custance‐Baker found himself on the wrong side of three 6/7 losses, attaining 3 games wins overall. This meant Diana Wilson, (Roehampton), and Rick Lilley went forward to the knock‐out stages, with 4 wins each. Heavy rain showers were due to set in from late morning on Sunday, so the main Quarter finals were reduced to a single 19pt game to ensure the tournament would finish before the weather soaked the courts. Helen Reeves continued her unbeaten run and despatched Rick Lilley fairly swiftly, 10/5. An upset in the 2nd Quarter final saw Philip Harris beat Steve Leonard 10/8. Diana Wilson lost out to Stuart M. Smith 6/10, whilst Louise Smith and Tim Russell battled in a tight game. Louise has had some excellent results lately against higher ranked players, and despite Tim’s early 2 hoop lead she equalised and took the lead herself by 2 hoops. Tim went from the jaws of hoop 17 to the jaws of hoop 18 to level the score. On the deciding 19th hoop Louise wired her ball which secured her the game win and a place in next phase of the knock‐out. Louise’s ‘prize’ was to face her husband Stuart M. Smith in the Semi‐final, whilst Philip Harris was to play Helen Reeves. Intermittent heavy rain‐showers now accompanied the rest of the day, making the courts somewhat slower than usual. The higher ranked players prevailed in the Semi‐finals, with Helen and Stuart beating their respective opponents 2/0, and the stage was set for the main tournament final. Games in the Shield led to a Steve Leonard v Tim Russell final, having overcome Rick Lilley and Diana Wilson respectively. Steve and Tim bravely opted for a best‐of‐three match which was nip and tuck throughout the first two games 7/5 and 5/7. The third game saw Steve Leonard stretch ahead to win 7/3. The Plate event was run as a knock‐out. Lynn Pearcy, (Roehampton), gained her first game win of the tournament, beating visiting Australian player David Wise, 10/8. Despite being the lowest seed in the tournament, Patrick Coulter, (Budleigh), played some very competitive games throughout, and made the Plate final after wins against David Thirtle‐Watts, (Hunstanton) and Richard Gardiner, (Dowlish Wake). Despite the close game results in the final, the experience of Neil Fillery, (Taunton Deane) was evident, and earnt him the Plate title win 7/6, 7/5. The inclement weather conditions led to some players opting to watch the main final rather than play on for positional places. They were joined by some hardy club members eager to spectate and support the finalists. Good and bad luck befell both Stuart and Helen – each having cut their respective opposition balls into the jaws during game one, which ended with a win at the 13th hoop for Stuart. Helen continued in her very competent, easy style of play, whilst Stuart deployed his centre‐ball hitting expertise. The Final result was a 2/0 victory to Stuart, having taken the 2nd game 7/3, and he retains the trophy and tournament winner's title for the second consecutive year.
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