Page 9 - Winter 2017-18

Gunton 2:Layout 1 24-Dec-17 9:10 AM Page 1

The Pairs opened up with Mary & Richard Paddy 9
closing off their quarter final with two three’s for a 16
- 9 win over Lonnie & Maureen Fyson.
Scratch Pair Marianne Taylor & Eunice Taylor
edged home 12 - 10 over Philip & Marnie Wright.
A two - two finish by Toni & Bill Gearing saw
them home 11 - 7 over Sandra & Rob Carson. Com-
pleting the round Joan & Dave Taylor beat Pam Fay-
ers & John Paddy 13 - 7. However, in the semi-finals
Joan & Dave lost out 8 - 10 in a close game to Toni &
Bill Gearing.
The other semi saw Mary & Richard Paddy
firmly end the run of Marianne Taylor & Eunice
Thompson 13 shots to 4. In the final Mary & Richard
Paddy had one hand on the trophy when they led 10 Pairs winners Richard & Mary
Pairs winners Richard & Mary
- 5 with two ends to go but Toni & Bill Gearing fought Paddy and runners-up
Paddy and runners-up
back and needing a four for a draw on the last end Toni & Bill Gearing
Toni & Bill Gearing
managed a three to lose by a single shot at 10 - 9.

Times up! - Oh! No it isn’t!
Times up! - Oh! No it isn’t!
A problem happened in a timed game in Wales. As it was explained to
me, the event was a fours event limited to 9 ends or one hour and fif-
teen minutes. A very generous time I feel but that’s what the organisers
arranged.
An end was in play being completed after the time limit and the
jack was fired off. A losing team player insisted that the jack should be
re-spotted and the end completed/replayed, despite the time limit hav-
ing expired, claiming that the end had not been completed. An Umpire
declared the game over but the losing player disagreed and as it has been explained to me
has apparently complained to all and sundry. Not necessarily in this case but have you ever
noticed it’s only the losers who complain?
Everyone I have consulted agrees with the Umpires decision no problemo but there is a
hiccup to be examined. In all the timed games I have played, there is a clear stipulation that
a jack cannot be set after the time limit, usually signalled by a bell whistle or whatever. How-
ever, no clear stipulation like this was made in this event, it was 9 ends or 75 minutes.
This was probably an omission of the kind we learn from (or not as the case may be),
so the losing players claim was that the end had not been com-
pleted by the jack leaving the mat i.e. the head should be com-
pleted. Presumably the event was being played by Welsh National
rules and therefore the jack going off did not incurr a penalty.
Therefore, the player argued that the end should be com-
pleted in the usual manner, by re-spotting the jack. A very interest-
ing point and some would argue that the player concerned had a
legitimate point. Of course it was a timed game and a time-line had
to be drawn somewhere. Perhaps next time the organisers would
have learned from this and draw up a rule to suitably cover the
problem.
I have only heard a spectators view of what happened, not
one of the players nor the Umpire, whoever that was but as I see
it, the time was up and that was that, or do you disagree?