Playing his 5th final of the Winter, Jerry Staffurth had to fight back from the brink to take his second Winner's trophy in the Open Handicap Final
Handicappers - Ready! Jolyon Thompson (+6) and Jerry Staffurth (-6)
Jolyon, who is fast improving, was up for it and sharp from the off. Needing only a few winners or some errors from Jerry to take him over the line, with a 12 point start, Jolyon pounced on anything loose from Jerry. And with Jerry obviously stiff and tired from his exertions of the previous finals, it was not long before the first game was history - 15/1 to Jolyon - and further away than at the start.
The second game looked like being a similar runaway win for the highly-handicapped Jolyon, as he swiftly gained a 13-0 advantage. Jerry had almost warmed up by then, though, and was making fewer unforced errors. He pulled back 10 points before Jolyon buried a winner off the return of serve to clinch it 15/11.
So the third game would be the one that left the handicapper with egg on his face, or the proving of the system. Either Jolyon would continue to prove the doubters right by cruising to a 3-0 victory, or he would tire and the usually steady Jerry would overhaul the deficit. The result was in doubt until the middle of the game, as Jerry pegged back the lead to 11/12, and as Jolyon's error rate increased. Needing only a few points to close it out, Jolyon could not find enough winners and the game slipped away 15/13.
In the fourth, a run of 12 straight points saw the handicap gap again closed and Jolyon making the classic mistake of sitting back on his heels hoping for errors and even a small streak of points. They didn't come and Jerry levelled the match up at 15/11 2-2. The final game went a similar way, as a tiring Jolyon again couldn't get any run of more than two points going at a time. At 10-10 Jolyon realised that the game was up and the writing on the wall. Quickly 15/11 to Jerry and a second Winner's plaque and mug for his efforts. Jerry now takes a well-earned six week break.
Handicap Open - Finished