EFA
Ladies and Mixed Championships 2001-2002
Played at Highgate 15th September 2002
Foreword
The National Championships were held rather later than usual!! Tucked in just before the new season commenced in mid September. Eighteen ladies took part, and it was especially pleasing to see the appearance of Karen Nunn (a recent leaver from Mill Hill School), as well as Sophie Palmer and Juliet Browning from Lancing College. A large group of young men from the senior team at Lancing College had also made the effort to travel from the south coast in order to support the mixed event in the afternoon.
LADIES
As usual, there was a wide range of standard on display, with everyone treating each other kindly whilst pairings qualified through to either the plate events or the main tournament final stages. Everyone played the same amount of Fives, with spectacular rallies taking place on most courts. The defending champions, Erica Tadman and Kerry White defeated Teressa Dunbar and Krystyna Vargas in the semi-finals, 12-5,12-8. In the other semi-final the young pair of Charlotta Cooley and Anita Ganguly just managed to fend off a superb display from Helen Toop and Kelly Johnson, to win 12-11,12-11.
Final
The Final was a fast and spectacular match. Erica and Kerry always held the key position on the top step and forced their opponents to retrieve and defend for much of the time. Eventually the younger pair were forced into making mistakes, and the match was won 12-6,12-9 by Erica and Kerry who have now won this event three and four times respectively.
The Ladies Plate was won by Karen Nunn and Tarja Mackay.
MIXED
The "Wiseman" mixed championship rule was used again this year - the man only being allowed to remain in the serving position for one rally before changing with his partner (as if having been cut down).This made for very even matches, and prevented domination from any of the stronger players present. The best match prior to the final was in the semi- finals between Kerry White and Jon Fagan and James Toop and Helen Toop. This was very close match played at a breathtaking pace - Kerry and Jon choosing to generate more speed on the cut than any other players in the tournament. The Toops' experience and calm in tight situations paid off as they ran out winners at 12-10.
Final
The final was first class. Chris Cooley partnering his sister Charlotta, against the Toop partnership - four brilliant players in what was clearly going to be a level match. Some dazzling play by Charlotta, who found the back bricks during several rallies when the score had been stuck at 8-9, helped to burst the bubble, and together, the Cooleys ran away with the title 15-9. Almost all the players had waited to watch the mixed doubles final - perhaps it was because they were awaiting the prize-giving ceremony which is a legacy of Richard Black's running of this tournament for so many years - boxes of chocolates flying everywhere for almost any excuse!!
H.M.E.W.Ladies and Mixed Championships 2001-2002 by Howard Wiseman
Finalised 16th September 2002
efa@etonfives.co.uk