RITCHIE RETURNS TO WIN WARWICKSHIRE WAR IN WET & WINDY WORCESTERSHIRE

Tony Shearman reports on the 2009 Primary Club English Matchplay Championship at Gaudet Luce GC, Droitwich, 19th - 21st May

Barry Ritchie, from Coventry, returned from serious illness to beat Bryan Richards, from Rugby, in this all-Warwickshire final to win his first Primary Club English Matchplay title and claim his first ranking tournament in three years. The former Coventry City footballer has suffered from a blood disorder and thrombosis since last September and is still undergoing treatment but managed to overcome not only that but also the challenge of Bryan Richards, a former Swansea & Wales International rugby player.

"This win was somewhat unexpected," said Barry, "bearing in mind what I've been through recently and the fact that I've lost five times in the semi-finals of this event and once in the final". When asked how he would celebrate his win, Barry replied: "with a sit-down and a cup of tea, just to take it in."

The trophy looked Coventry-bound even at the halfway stage with Bryan just winning one of the first nine holes to leave Barry 5 up at the turn. The Welshman, playing off of a 35-handicap mark, did halve the 10th and although he lost the 11th, he showed signs of a possible revival by winning both the 12th and 13th as Barry's composure appeared to falter. But the 14th was halved as both players flirted with the water and Barry took the title 5 and 3 on the next hole.

"I was simply beaten by a better player" admitted Bryan, "and it was difficult to give him those nine shots."

Apart from that nine shot differential, the final had an amazing symmetry:  Both players hailed from Warwickshire, both had excelled in other sports before losing their sight, both were higher handicappers in the association and both enjoyed the assistance of female sighted guides:  Margaret Swift, from Dorset, in Barry's case, and Val Brewer, from Gloucestershire, for Bryan.

For the record, Bryan beat Mike Loten, Peter Hodgkinson and Simon Cookson en route to the final whilst Barry beat Malcolm Elrick, Ron Tomlinson and last year's beaten finalist, Rob Parrott to claim his place in the War of Warwickshire showdown.

Last year's Champion, Paul Appleyard, who is based in Spain, and who was bidding to make it a record-breaking three Primary Club English Matchplay Championships in a row, fell at the first hurdle, losing to Derrick Sheridan, largely due to the fact that Paul had kindly offered to play off his Spanish handicap of 14 rather than his EBGA mark of 21. Although he probably won't regard it as such, Paul did salvage some consolation by finishing in third place in the Stableford Plate competition behind Derrick Sheridan and the winner, Jim O'Brien who, guided by Mel Jones, carded 35 points.

Thanks should go to EBGA tournament organiser, Mike Loten, to the Primary Club's Midlands Representative, Rick Coleman, for once again presenting the prizes and delivering an excellent stand-up routine and, of course, to the Management and Members of Gaudet Luce Golf Club for their continuing warm hospitality and organisation including Terry and Jenny Hartley, Rod Earle, David Worsfold, Simon Loverin, Steff K and all the catering staff who provide such wonderful service.  Those panninis are delicious!
 
It's a shame though they couldn't organise the weather.  During the three days of the event I experienced sunburn, windburn and, on more than one occasion, a right good drenching!

In a way, purely for selfish journalistic reasons, and with all due respect to Barry Ritchie, it's a shame that the final WASN'T WON BY Bryan and had taken place on the Wednesday instead of the Thursday. Then we could have had: