03 Oct 2009 at 18:38 | Published by: JJM | Views: 13212 | News search

Hardenberg veteran Uwe Ludwig putting at lane number 2.  (Photo by Sandro Cocchi 2009)

European Cup club team competition, for the national champions of European countries, returned in 2009 to its roots in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, where the tournament was played nearly every year from 1962 to 1983. This newer beton course of Vaduz proved very difficult and tricky for many players, yet generous for those who learned to master its secrets.

Victory in men’s competition returned to the hands of BGS Hardenberg-Pötter (Germany), which has won half of all European Cups since 1992, in total 9 times (1992, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009). The ball preparation wizards of Hardenberg were sovereign at the tricky beton course of Vaduz, with team average 27.95, which gave them a sizeable win margin 1.14 points per player and round ahead of the silver medalist BGK Jönköping (Sweden).

Defending champion of the two previous years, Uppsala BGK (Sweden), was left third in men’s competition, 5 points behind Jönköping and 10 points ahead of MC Olten (Switzerland). The thrilling final round of the tournament was crowned by GSP Vergiate (Italy) in 5th place, only 4 points behind MC Olten.

More clearly behind the leading teams, MGC Bischofshofen (Austria) was 6th, Manse RG (Finland) 7th, SK Tempo Praha (Czech Republic) 8th, MGC Appelscha (Netherlands) 9th, SK Adara Trnava (Slovakia) 10th, CM Porto (Portugal) 11th, Aalborg MC (Denmark) 12th, and the local team MC Vaduz (Liechtenstein) 13th.

Women’s competition saw some new blood on the medal podium, as MC Effretikon (Switzerland) took the first European Cup title in their history, with average score 29.95. MGC Mainz was second, 13 points behind Effretikon, after a tight race for silver against Uppsala BGK of Sweden (3rd, 7 points behind Mainz), MGC Leeuwarden of Netherlands (4th, 2 points behind Uppsala) and Gullbergsbro BGK of Sweden (5th, 6 points behind Leeuwarden). BGC Union Rot-Gold (Austria) was 6th in women’s competition, MC Monza (Italy) 7th, DGC Bystřice (Czech Republic) 8th, and Manse RG (Finland) 9th.

The best players of the tournament were Hardenberg players Timo Greiffendorf (average 27.29), Uwe Ludwig (27.57), Michael Koziol and Alexander Geist (both 27.71).

The best female players were Rebecca Weber (Effretikon) with average 28.14, Esther Wicki (Effretikon) 29.57, Kathrin Neumann (Mainz) and Charlotte Ryner (Uppsala) both 30.00.

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