I like Ponty but it clearly hates me, the Bowl Of Doom does me every single time I turn up. Reading the wind is a master class at this place and due to the warm weather and lack of gales I knew it would be a long one (course) and it was.
It wasn’t ridiculously long and it was do-able but it was going to take maximum focus. I had a rough weekend, working on Saturday and instead of sleeping on Saturday night I decided to think about the project I was working on instead. I felt pretty rough on Sunday morning but often if I just relax and only focus when I need to I’m OK.
A couple of people had cleared the AM session (John Lee and Ian Taylor) so either way, I needed to pull up some trees to even get a good percentage in my grade. I also had Phil to think about, I’m 3-2 up and today felt like I could make that gap bigger.
I started really well, nailing everything, a wobble on a 47yder took me high and right, I hate those plastic mats, I like to dig my back leg in but they really do put me on one. Next one whipped me right over, I would probably do the same again on that one though, there didn’t feel or look like there was a full kill of wind on it.
I nailed the first set of standers and the kneelers so all I needed to do was hang on. If I could hold 2 I’d be chuffed. Not be though, I missed target 25, which was 53yds, I went straight down the middle and I’ve no idea where it went. Also missed the 15mm, low I think. 2 lanes to go and I knew Phil had finished on a 6, I needed these standers and the last two. I dropped down to the long one and just like Mr Benn the wobbles appeared from nowhere and the back leg was shaking like mad. I’d not had that for a long time and shows that I’d shifted my focus too much into the game, the adrenaline was pumping me. I missed both standers, I actually had to reset 3 times on the 25yder but it was no good, I just couldn’t get in the zone and I may as well have been standing on the deck of a boat in a storm.
Right, all I need were the last two for a shoot-off with Phil, Dink went the first 45yd target way up the bank.
I finished on 23 with equals my NEFTA PB but I wasn’t happy at all, I had that course in my hands and I let it slip away from me by getting my head into the game and ruining it for myself. I was happy for Phil but even now as I type this I’m still pissed off at myself.
Final between Phil and I at Anston. I plan on pumping him!
