For this year’s 4 day La Posada Triples Challenge Tournament, the format was changed from a straight knock-out competition to one where the teams were drawn into groups of 4, who played one another within their groups in round-robin matches over the first 3 days, with the group winners going forward to compete in the knock-out semi finals on the last day.
With only 12 entries however, only 3 groups of 4 could be formed and the 4 semi finalists would be made up of the 3 group winners plus the best placed second team across the 3 groups. 2 points were awarded for a win and 1 point each for a draw in the round-robin group matches.
All teams in the 3 groups played one match each on day 1, with the teams in groups A and C returning on day 2 to play their second and third matches. In group A, Jeff Turner’s team from Mijas qualified for the semi finals, with 3 wins and 6 points. In group C, Barbara Land’s team from Santa Maria qualified with 2 draws and 1 win, giving them 4 points. The best placed second team at this point was Jeff Rowe’s from La Posada, on 4 points from group A, after 2 wins.
Returning on day 3 were the teams in group B and, after their second round of matches, any 2 from 3 could still qualify, with two teams on 3 points and one on 2. Their third matches resulted in defeats for the teams on 3 points and a win for the team on 2, led by John Wilson from Mijas, who therefore qualified as group winners on 4 points. With the runners-up in groups B & C both on 3 points, that left Jeff Rowe’s team as qualifiers for the semi finals as best placed second team.
So, the morning of day 4 featured the semi finals, with Jeff Turner, Pat Baker and Steve Ward up against John Wilson, Sheila Wilson and Mick Devine, an all Mijas affair. With 3 wins from 3 in the group stages, Jeff’s team were the favourites on paper to win this one but it resulted in a comfortable win for John’s team, who were always in front, by 22-7.
The other semi final was between the Santa Maria team of Barbara Land, Tony Land and Mary Dethridge and the La Posada team of Jeff Rowe, Georg Hamblin and Maureen Fewings. There was nothing to choose between the two teams in the early stages, but on the 6th end, Jeff’s team picked up 4 shots to take a lead which they never relinquished, running out the winners by 15-12.
So, the final saw John Wilson’s team from Mijas up against Jeff Rowe’s La Posada team. Jeff’s team had the better of the early stages, leading 8-1 after 5 ends. John’s team then started to peg back that lead and, at the halfway point, were only one behind at 8-7. Jeff’s team then proceeded to win the next 5 ends and, after picking up 5 shots on the 14th end, held a commanding lead of 20-7. Two ends later, John’s team conceded the match with the score standing at 23-9 against them.
So, the tournament resulted in a “home win” for the La Posada team. It was played in good weather (for a change) and in a great spirit, and all the competitors appeared to enjoy the new format.
Photos to support the report:
1. Finalists - L to R: John Wilson, Mick Devine, Maureen Fewings, Sheila Wilson, Georg Hamblin, Jeff Rowe
2. Winners - L to R: Georg Hamblin, Maureen Fewings, Jeff Rowe
Report by: Jeff Rowe, Competition Organiser.
Photos by: Tony Parsons
20th March 2019