Federation Millennium AC Handicap 10/11th July at Pendle – The women dominate….(spoiler alert)
Clubs again sent their representatives to contest this event, well at least the members who were prepared to allow their names to be submitted in these risk-adverse times.
Pendle lawns looked resplendent in the sunshine for the start of play, but player’s optimism and the clouds, quickly clouded over as a very heavy cloud-burst passed through. After three rounds (manager tried to push for a 4th ) on the first day, only last year’s victor was unbeaten..each of which was a timed win, the 2nd & 3rd being by the margin of +2t & +1t – what a grinder, what a performance!
Day two opened with the sun back again and during the fourth round, the manager took the opportunity to ‘correct’ an omission from last year – taking a picture of the winner hoisting the proper ‘Pidcock Mallet’ trophy (due to ’20 isolation we didn’t have it available). The interruption didn’t break her campaign challenge however – another win taking her clear of the field.
Round five – the match against her closest challenger (in effect the final), turned into a great match..both players expended their bisques sensibly but both ran out a long way from home. What followed could have degenerated into a classic ‘C’ class game of ‘Hide the Aunt Emma’, but it proved to be a real quality tactical tussle with the title going to (for the first time) the defending champion..queue another picture for this year’s gallery…
For the other place that gets recorded for posterity, the runners-up spot, places changed throughout the weekend, and it came down to the vagaries of the Egyptian system to return a clear 2nd spot occupier at the death, the other woman in the field – Pendle’s own…Libby Dixon.”
