THE CHALLENGE CUPS 2025 AC ADVANCED PLAY
By Sarah Hayes
successfully completed their three rounds on day one (albeit most games going to 6me and only finishing at 7pm) The players showed real grit and determina6on and their efforts did not go unno6ced – which might explain being rewarded with hear5elt thanks and a Mars bar by tournament management ‐ no expense spared eh? The early leader was Adam Moliver with Beaumont, Thompson and Donovan all closing in on the rails. The final two rounds would be crucial as these players were all to be matched against each other. Andrew Beaumont was improving all the 6me but despite bea6ng Moliver +4T and Donovan +1T he had already lost to Thompson again by 1 on 6me, and so his chances of winning rested on the results between the remaining three of the leading pack. Thompson finished the last round on 4 wins so the winner would be determined by the outcome of the game between Moliver and Donovan. From what I could make out, Moliver had made great headway and was winning by some margin when Donovan pulled his socks up and began his poten6ally winning turn ‐ lots of hoops needed and these were made, but wait ‐ he needs a peel as well ‐ this was completed and now with 6me pending and seconds le& the leave was all important with him now ahead. Moliver hit the li& right in the middle and finished to win 26‐24. We won’t men6on Chris having mistakenly laid up in corner 1 ‐ oops.
Several players had stayed on from the Gilbey handicap and, with some new arrivals, a total of 20 players vied for the three beau6ful silver trophies. THE ROEHAMPTON CUP A manager’s job is never done, nor dull, as many of you can a7est to, and the originally planned all play all two seeded blocks being completed on Day 1( which would have led to an 8 person KO on Day 2) unfortunately couldn’t happen, resul6ng in the two blocks being completed on Day 2. Sadly due to the resultant 6me constraints the intended 8 player knockout rounds were then reduced to just the block winners. The final being between Sam Cuthbert and David Warhurst with Cuthbert prevailing.
Sam Cuthbert with the Roehampton Cup
Of the players David Warhurst played solidly throughout and both Richard Marriage and Mark Simmerson showed a great deal of skill and are both improving rapidly all the 6me, even though Simmerson spoke in some foreign language most of the 6me with Warhurst ac6ng as translator….. mu7ering “Aye Lad” in response to most comments seemed to work. Chris Crowcro& displayed flashes of sheer brilliance and accuracy with a fantas6c and unexpected win over Cuthbert +2. Those not involved in the event final played one last round for the consola6on Hands Ladder which was won by Sarah Hayes, being just a single index point above her closest rival. THE COUNCIL CUP This event was competed for over two days by six players in one all play all block. Despite the showers and windy condi6ons the compe6tors
Delighted Adam Moliver wins the Council Cup
So the Council Cup was presented to a delighted Moliver whose missile‐like accuracy throughout made him a well‐ deserved winner. Peter Thompson was solid and reliable and received a small token as runner‐up. Beaumont was third overall, the same as he had been in the Gilbey Goblet
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