Grazette wins draughts tourney

Former national player Richard Grazette, playing with consistent grit and dexterity, completed victory in the Lodge Road members draughts tournament on Thursday with a 1-0 defeat of an improving Eric Rice at Best Road, Christ Church.

From his 12 matches, the champion from St. Martins draughts club bagged eight wins, three draws and suffered a solitary loss, 1-0 against Nathaniel “Thani” Grosvenor for a tally of 34 points.

Grazette was a replica of the adage: If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. His results reflected a revitalised individual who had clearly done his homework and executed it on the draughts battlefield.

He showed no mercy for his opponents, defeating teammates Darwin Lorde and a steady Ian Callender by the 1-0 route.

The steady Junior “Post” Walrond was second with 30 points, one more than come-back kid Whitfield “Festus” Robinson who handed him his solitary defeat, a 1-0 Wagram dismissal. The veteran Robinson bounced back from early losses to challenge for the title, but Grazette maintained his winning ways to stay on top at every round.

Lorde was fourth based on honour points with 27 points, while brothers Mark and Matthew Barnett followed with 27 and 26 points apiece. Ian Callender was seventh on 26 points followed by Hallam Hope on 25 in the 14-player competition. (HH)