HALFORD HEWITT 2019 – THE DRAW
The Draw for the 2019 Halford Hewitt took place as usual at the East India Club, London, on Wednesday 9th January.
What is always a convivial affair was well attended as usual with many Hewitteers in good form and clearly looking forward to the golfing season ahead. Indeed for many of us, this marks the start of the year and brings encouraging thoughts of the fun that lies in wait.
For the second year running, Bugsy’s Balls – provided by a legacy from the late Bugsy Holland (Harrow) – produced an unbalanced draw, with many of the “stronger” (on paper) schools in the bottom quarter. Four of last year’s quarter-finalists, including the holders, Winchester, are in that quarter as well as Tonbridge, and Malvern, who may not be the side they once were but are still a danger if they can draw on their best players.
The top quarter of the draw is by no means easy either. It contains Ampleforth, runners-up for the last two years, as well as 2012 winners Charterhouse, Radley (runners-up in 2016), King’s Canterbury (runners-up in 2015) and Shrewsbury who have been resurgent of late.
The second quarter looks more open although Merchiston and Sherborne are probably favourites for a quarter-final spot and in the third quarter you would expect Eton and Watson’s to feature in the latter stages although last year’s semi-finalists, Repton, are also in there.
Hewitteers studying the draw and spreading the news to absent team-mates
