Congratulations to ‘Poole The Other One’ which has won the 2023 B&DCL Team Handicap Knockout Cup by beating Ringwood B (aka Ringwood Waifs & Strays) in the final.
Due to the difference of 310 points in the average live ratings of both teams, ‘Poole The Other One’ had to win by 5½ – ½ on the handicap system which it did after 5 wins for Nick Lee, John Weatherlake, David Fuller, Jamie Doyle & Andy Matko on boards 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6 and then agreeing to a draw on board 2 which was the last game to finish.
Despite being heavily outrated, Ringwood Waifs & Strays competed well on all boards and the overall result was in doubt for most of the evening.
John Weatherlake on his way to victory on board 3 in the final which was played last Monday 30th October
Rob Davenport who secured this lone draw on board 2 described it as … ‘The evening reminded me of when two armies fight and one is slaughtered by the other, with only one person spared. The spared person is given the task of going back to his leader to tell him what happened to his army … I was that spared person. Thank you’
The full result can be found here.
Summary
* Won on the handicap system
Past Winners
This is the 30th year of the competition, having started in 1993.
Poole have now won the cup 4 times having first won it in 2015 and now go joint 2nd with Southbourne and Weymouth in the all time winners list.Wimborne have been the most successful club having won the cup 8 times but it has not won it since 2014.
A list of all winners can be found here.
Final Thoughts
The handicap system has proved to be very successful and a great leveller as it has meant, despite some average large rating differentials between teams, most matches have gone down to the last game to be finished.
The new format (which came about due to Covid restrictions at the time) continues to work well with first 2 rounds in the Spring and Summer and the semi-final and final being played at the start of the following season.
Clubs will be contacted again in January 2024 for next year’s competition.
Martin Simons – November 2023
