Handicap Results as at November 12:
THE AUBREY HUGHES HANDICAP SHIELD – ROUND ONE
(+95)Forum H v Gladiators C Forum H win by w/o
Begbroke A v Vikings G(+160) Begbroke A win by 5 pts
Forum B v Gladiators B(+120)Gladiators B win by 59 pts
(+140)Holton v Bicester B Bicester B win by 11 pts
Forum A v Vikings F(+175) Forum A win by 28 pts
(+120)Forum F v Vikings E
Witney A v Bicester D(+170) Witney A win by 105 pts
Bicester A v Witney B(+190) Bicester A win by w/o
(+160)Forum K v Forum E Forum E win by 52 pts
(+120)Haddenham B v Begbroke B Haddenham B win by 54 pts
Forum A, winners for the past two years, successfully got over the first hurdle in the defence of their title. They were up against Ricki Whiteaway, Ken Rae and Max Jackson of Vikings F, who were given 175 points start. Vikings put up a good show, giving Sam Harrison and Greg Boone a good run for their money, but Karl Bushell was once again Mr "Mean with the points", and eased Forum to a victory by 28 points.
Gladiators B provided an insight into how good they are by beating Forum B by 59 points. They had 120 points start, but hardly needed it when Xing-Jiu Huang just pipped Jeremy Flint 21-16, 21-20, then comfortably beat Ross Henderson and Harry Yeates without needing a handicap. Paul Reynolds also played exceptionally well for Gladiators, narrowly taking the 1st leg against Henderson.
Begbroke A had a close match against Vikings G, who had 160 points start. With Ian Gordon, Janet Brown and Paul Humphrey, Begbroke had all the big guns, but Geoff Tickners' crew of Simon Cox and Tatiana Bachkirova gave them something to think about. Cox actually won his 2nd leg against Humphrey 21-20, then Bachkirova only lost 21-16, 21-19 to Gordon, but these late efforts proved to be too little, too late, and Vikings lost out by just 5 points.
Bicester B had their work cut out to beat Holton (+140), but they just managed with 11 points to spare. Brian Dobson excelled for Holton, beating Pete Hargreaves 21-19 in their 1st leg, then beating Andy Crofts 21-17 in their 2nd leg.
Witney A brought their good form from the league to bulldozer Bicester D by 105 points.
Haddenham B didn't need all their 120 start to beat Begbroke B, as they ran out victors by 54 points.
A start of 160 soon disappeared for Forum K as they faced club-mates Forum E, and in the end they went down by 52 points.
RESULTS 1st Round: Forum A 420, Vikings E (+175) 392; Forum B 376, Gladiators B (+120) 435; Begbroke A 419, Vikings G (+160) 414; Witney A 414, Bicester D (+170) 309; Haddenham B (+120) 446, Begbroke B 392; Forum K (+160) 368, Forum E 420; Holton (+140) 401, Bicester B 412; Bicester A beat Witney B by walkover; Forum H beat Gladiators C by walkover.
