The 2010 Maccabi tournament took place today at Heathrow Airport bowl. The tournament welcomed its first International competitor with Patrick Goldberg from Sweden making the journey over to be re-united with some of the GB Maccabiah bowlers from last summer
The tournament format was changed for this year to make it more competitive for everyone. Everyone bowled 5 games qualifying with the top 8 scratch and the top 8 handicap bowlers making it through to separate knockout finals
Maurice Baum had the highest handicap pinfall after the first 5 games qualifying shooting 1029 scratch (205 avg) – 1229 handicap. Maurice therefore took home the Freddie Loberman Memorial Trophy. 2nd in the handicap standings was Michael Loberman with a 1071 scratch (214 avg) – 1151 handicap. 3rd was Patrick who ensured his journey over from Sweden was not in vain with a 978 scratch (195 avg) – 1138 handicap.
Gary Ellis, a Maccabi GB player took the handicap high game award with a storming last game of 256 scratch, 276 handicap
Next came the knockout finals where competitors went head to head with each other in best of 3 matches.
In the handicap section quarter final Teddy Littner saw his way through to the final by beating Richard Kniep and Paul Hart. His opponent for the final was Paul Freedman who disposed of previous Maccabi GB representatives Matt Plax and Ricky Cohen to get there. With only two pins separating them in their handicap it was essentially a scratch final which Teddy took 2 games to nothing to become the winner of the inaugural Russ Rubin Trophy. Ricky Cohen beat Paul Hart in the 3rd / 4th playoff
In the scratch knockout section, Michael Loberman who qualified 1st saw off Bradley Mervish and then Ian Davis to claim a place in the final. Gary Ellis, a team mate of Michael’s in last years Maccabiah fought his way through the other half of the draw and with some great scores saw off Jack Nesbit and Maurice Baum to face Michael in the final. In the first game Gary continued where he left off shooting a 246 which Michael had no reply to. However Michael fought back taking the 2nd game 244 to 201, which set up a final game decider for the title. With both players throwing a good shot it really was anyone’s game but Michael’s momentum carried him through to take the final game 257 to 209 and be crowned the winner of the 2010 Maccabi tournament.
For the full scores for both qualifying and the knockouts please click here
