The 2026 Team event for the Schofield Cup took place on Sun 16th March 2026 at Alverdiscott Village Hall in Bideford. Peter Worthington reports on the day's event.
The DCCA President Richard Smith welcomed the players to the event and thanked them for making the trip to Alverdiscott. Four clubs entered teams for this year's competition: Newton Abbot (2 teams), Barnstaple (2 teams), Plymouth and Teignmouth. In advance of the day, Teignmouth were only able to muster three players. The event controller on the day (Rick Dooley, Barnstaple) kindly agreed to step in and make up the team, and we thought all would be well! Unfortunately, due to a last-minute medical withdrawal on the day of the event their team was again reduced to three players (we wish their missing player a speedy recovery).
After the morning session Newton Abbot A and Barnstaple A were tied on 3.5, with a hard-fought draw between the top boards of Newton Abbot and Barnstaple (Trefor Thynne vs Charlie Sturt). Newton Abbot B team in third with 2.5.
In the afternoon session the two leaders found it a little harder, Newton Abbot A scoring 2.5 and Barnstaple A scoring 2 meaning that Newton Abbot A won the event by half a point. A very strong showing in the afternoon by Teignmouth scoring 3 despite being a player short. Newton Abbot B also performed well scoring 2.5.
The final totals were as follows:
1st: Newton Abbot A on 6 points
2nd: Barnstaple A on 5.5 points
3rd: Newton Abbot B on 5 points
4th: Teignmouth on 4.5 points
5th: Plymouth on 2 points
6th: Barnstaple B on 1 point
The best individual scores, each with 2/2 were Mike Sapiecha (Newton Abbot A), John Munsey (Barnstaple A), Rick Dooley (Barnstaple player playing for Teignmouth), Tom Bonds (Newton Abbot B) and Yuan Lui (Newton Abbot B).
