Basil Townsend Quaich 2013
5 May 2013, Auchincruive
Auchincruive offered a wild and windy but generally dry day for this year’s quaich. David Arnot represented Auchincruive; Richard Sparrow, Glasgow; Alistair Malcolm, Kinross and Hamish Duguid, Edinburgh. Each player played all three others in 18 point games. The lawn was set out by Malcolm P W Smith and the extensive catering facilities of the Malcolm P W Smith Memorial Pavilion were enjoyed by players and spectators alike.
The lawn was reasonably fast after spring time tining and sanding, but there was little grass growth and some very tricky boundaries which deceived even David. Everyone adapted quickly to the conditions and games generally finished well before the two and a half hour limit. With a wide range of handicaps the Auchincruive bisque machines were in constant use.
Richard quickly used up bisques to complete his first turn to rover and then allowed David to catch up. Richard hit the tice and needed only one of his 2 remaining bisques to peg out winning +11. Alistair was also quick to use bisques, but they were exhausted too soon and Hamish pegged out as time was called winning +5.
Winners played losers in the second game with Alistair beating Richard +13 and David coming back to beat Hamish +5.
So each player had one victory from the first two games. David quickly went to peg with his first ball against Alistair and really should have completed his second turn, but a failed approach to rover allowed Alistair to score 5 hoops before David won +13.
That meant, to take the trophy, Hamish had to win by 8 or more or Richard by 10 or more. Luckily for David, Richard and Hamish conspired to play a tight game with Richard winning +6 with a half bisque standing.
The final placings were
David 2 wins +7 points
Richard 2 wins +4 points
Alistair 1 win -5 points
Hamish 1 win -6 points
David Arnot
Players and Quaich: from left to right, David, Richard, Alistair and Hamish.