On an Easter Monday of horizontal rain showers and swirling wind, Duncan Sinclair claimed his first Roger Cambray Memorial Shield. As there are many repeats on the one ball trophy first won in 2001 by Deirdre Cochrane, it surely won’t be his last. ‘‘Conditions were challenging for both of us”, he said as he raised his prize aloft, “I managed slightly better”.
Monday was the culmination of Joe King’s master strategy for the Easter weekend. 16 competitors lined up for flexible block stages over three days in perfect weather, with the two top players in each progressing to Monday’s draw for the quarters. At Blewbury CC in 2023, you can call David and any of five might respond. The RC was a tale of three of them, with Vincent, Long and Grinstead joining Duncan, Paul, Carol J, Chris and Andy for the knockout games.
The semis saw off Long and Grinstead, leaving Vincent to refuse a glass of wine at lunch to prepare for the final. By then, the sun was bright, but the wind was gusting gale force. No,, it was never meant to be easy…
BCC is fortunate to have a multi tasking Chairman. Like last year, Joe set up his oil drum charcoal barbi to spit roast prime beef. Unlike last year, we ate it in the reconfigured clubhouse, more fit for this purpose than it was but no match for tables under gazebos. Sarah, David L’s partner, considerately opted for takeaway for her 92-year-old mother, but a spirit of orphans in the storm conviviality developed as the clubhouse shook under the bombardment.
Two Davids, Grinstead and Long, did all the washing up. Great job, guys. It’d have been a very late one without you.
