Hertfordshire’s Brickendon Grange won the second 2023 British Clubs Mixed Championships final today against Cambridgeshire’s Brampton Park GC in a nailbiting match.
The south west regional champions fought back from two matches down to win the final 3-2 after a day of drama at The Oxfordshire GC.
Neil and Claire Hewson got Brampton Park off to the perfect start with a 4&2 victory over Steve Dawson and Val Morrison.
And when Greg and Anne Wills held on to win on the 18th against Anuj Patel and Alison Wood, who fought back after being five down with five to play, it looked like Brampton were going to land the trophy.
First however Brickendon Grange’s Rob and Alison Ellis beat Graham and Cath Emery 3&2. Then Bob Van Hamme and Gerry Grant won 3&1 against Vin and Pam Lammiman.
It left the fourth rubber to decide the match and Graham & Gill Lamb held their nerve to defeat Alan Phillips and Di Aloia by two holes.
There was an even closer encounter in the third place play-off as Wales’ Rhos-on-Sea GC edged a brilliant game 3-2 against Scarborough South Cliff GC – in the last rubber on the 20th hole.
Northern champions Scarborough won two of the first three rubbers – with Gary Dixon and Kate Owen beating Dawn Jones and Stuart McKellar on the 18th and Ian Bland and Alison Lockwood winning 4&3 against Pat Ellis and David Roberts.
But Greg Hardwick and Jenny Stewart grabbed the second game 2&1 against Shaun and Ruth Smith and Carrie Parisella and Tracey Williams beat Neil Bruce and Anita Arnold Forster 3&1 to level the match.
It was left for Sue Ashley and John Dickson to seal third place for the north Wales side – defeating Rob Hobson and Judy Locking on the second extra hole.