Page 8 - SMI Spring 2017 Revised

Page 8:Layout 1 26-Apr-17 9:26 AM Page 1

WALES WIN THE
8 WALES WIN THE
McDERMOTT TROPHY FOR THE
McDERMOTT TROPHY FOR THE
FIRST TIME AT THE
FIRST TIME AT THE
BRITISH ISLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
BRITISH ISLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
The event has quite often been dominated by Ireland but this
time the championship titles were spread around a little. In the
Premier event Wales won 1 England 2 and Ireland 2. In the
“A” team event Ireland won 4 England 1.
When all the points were added up for the various posi-
tions that their players finished, Wales won the McDermott Tro-
phy for the best overall performance.

Michael John
Michael John
BRITISH ISLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
BRITISH ISLES CHAMPIONSHIPS takes the
takes the
singles for Wales
singles for Wales
Wales have produced a number of
successful singles players and in-
cluding this year they have won the
singles four times over the last five
British Isles events with four different
players.
The opening game between
Michael John and Cecil Dillon was
an absolute cracker between two
outstanding players.
After 9 of the 18 ends Cecil Dil-
lon led 10 - 5 but by 16 ends Michael
John led 15 - 13. Back came Cecil
with two singles and the match fin-
ished all-square and a point apiece.
In the other match England’s
Jon Pitcher was given a hard time by
Scotland’s Sandy McDonald, with

Singles Runner-up Ireland’s Cecil Dillon, Sandy leading 15 - 12 with just two
Bromsgrove DC Vice Chairman Councillor ends to go.
Malcolm Glass, ESMBA President George Clark and A Single to Pitcher helped
Singles Champion Wales’ Michael John close the gap and McDonald
seemed to crumble on the last end
with Pitcher scoring a full house four to win 17 - 15.
In his next match Pitcher gained a 14 - 8 lead over his Irish opponent but over the next three
end Cecil Dillon levelled the match at 14 all. A single to Pitcher put him back in front but the next
four ends went to Dillon along with a final 20 - 15 victory. In the other Match Michael Jon romped
into a 17 - 4 lead after 13 ends over Sandy McDonald and this ended 19 - 9 in favour of the Welsh-
man.
In the third and final round it looked like shots difference would decide the title and so it turned
out, with Michael John in the driving seat at +10 against Cecil Dillon’s +6. In the end Cecil Dillon
beat Sandy McDonald 23 - 1 whilst Michael John beat John Pitcher 20 - 9 to take the Singles title
by three shots with Cecil Dillon taking the runners-up spot but leaving both players undefeated.