Cardiff Grand Prix: Team Event

Glasgow were drawn in a group along with Athinaikos, London/Essex B and Yorkshire. Yorkshire were seeded but due to call-offs had a team of only three players. First up for Glasgow was Athinaikos (from Athens). All matches were level at half-time but the team went down 3-1 with only Dave Gladman managing a victory. This was a close match which Glasgow certainly could have won. Athinaikos went on to win the group and reach the semi final.

 

Burns	0	2	Vasilopoulos
Day	1	2	Ritoridis
Fleming	1	2	Kosmopoulos
Gladman	2	1	Koutsompinas

 

 

 

Having lost the first match, the pressure was now on Glasgow to win each of their remaining matches. The Scots started favourites against London, the English team having a junior in their ranks. It was Willie Fleming who had the decisive win over ‘auld enemy’ Colin Tarry, with Burns and and Gladman both having draws to make the final score 2-0.

 

Burns	2	2	Peters
Day	5	1	Target
Fleming	1	0	Tarry
Gladman	1	1	M Bellefontaine

 

 

 

Not only were Yorkshire reduced to three players, they also had a junior, so again Glasgow were favourites. Tom Burns comfortably defeated Tony McCann and Colin Day had a creditable draw against Mark Farrell. With Fleming sitting this one out, the final score was 3-0.

 

Burns	5	2	McCann
Day	2	2	Farrell
Gladman	5	1	Peters
Fleming

 

 

There is no doubt that the draw had been kind to Glasgow but they missed a real opportunity to win the group and have a winnable quarter final. As it was they were paired with Valletta, winners of their group. Nevertheless it was a good experience to play against the team ranked 3 in the world.

 

Burns	0	7	Tabone
Day	0	6	Thomas
Fleming	0	4	Pisani
Gladman	0	3	Short

 

 

Valletta went on to lose their semi final to Bristol who lost the final to Brussels a team which Bristol had beaten in the group stage.

 

 

Further pictures from the weekend:

 

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