Global warming does have its benefits: a mild weekend meant relatively comfortable conditions for spectators and, despite the attractions of the six nations rugby on television, many players, supporters and passers-by enjoyed watching some high-class fives and plenty of more social, if still highly competitive, games.
Championship
After a bumper year in 2006, entries were down to a more modest sixteen pairs. It was particularly disappointing that many of the top players were missing this year, although the usual large contingent of Old Olavians meant that there was still sufficient numbers and quality to ensure a successful tournament.
In the Pools, the top three seeds progressed comfortably to the quarter-finals, but there was a close battle for top spot between 4th and 5th seeds in group 2. Rahul Desai & Mark Yates won a three-setter against Anthony Theodossi & Ryan Perrie, although both pairs qualified for the quarter-finals. Other qualifiers were Betts & Agrawal, Davies & Nicholls and Bunyan & Mitchell.
The quarter-finals all went with form, resulting in semi-finals between Tom & Peter Dunbar and Yates & Desai, and Howard Wiseman & Peter White and James Toop & Matt Wiseman. In the Old Olavian match-up, Matt & James won a tight first game 15 – 11, before completing a fairly comfortable 3 – 0 victory, while the Dunbars were relatively untroubled in their match against Yates & Desai.The final was, as expected, much more competitive, although the Dunbars seemed to be in control for most of the match, and ran out winners 12–6, 12–8, 12–7.
Festival
In contrast to the main tournament, there were a very healthy twenty-six pairs in the Festival, including three pairs making the trip down from St Bees.
As usual, with a number of unknown quantities and also the rather inconvenient numbers, there were no doubt a few pairs who were unlucky with the draw but by the semi-finals the cream had risen to the top!
In the first semi-final, Peter Black & Jamie Hepburn beat Jamie & Tom Betts 12-9, 12–7, while in the other Brock & Bott beat Charlotta Cooley and James Rees 4–12, 12–4, 14–11, 12-8. That proved to be only game that Brock & Bott lost as, despite managing to negotiate a shorter match in the semi-final, the veteran pair ran out of steam in the final, losing 12–0, 12–7, 12-4.Plate Competitions
The main Championship Plate was won by John Caudle & Peter Boughton, who beat Philip Corn & Stuart Bickerton in the final 12-9, 12-6. Meanwhile a pool for quarter-final losers in the Championship was won by Theodossi & Perrie.
In the Festival plates, Plate A, for early losers in the knock-out stages, was won by Ben Michaels & Simon Crinall. Plate B, for unlucky losers in the pools, was won by Amilwalla & Sahabdeen and Plate C by Sam Ridgway & Sharvil Kirtikar (probably – records are a little lacking!).
A big thank you to everyone, particularly all the regulars, for your continuing support for the tournament.
Results
Main CompetitionFinal:
Dunbar & Dunbar beat Toop & Wiseman 3-0
12-6, 12-8, 12-7
Plate A
Pool was won by Anthony Theodossi & Ryan Perrie
Plate B
Peter Boughton & John caudle beat Phillip Corn & Stuart Bickerton 2-0
12-9, 12-6
Festival
Semi-finals:
Peter Black & Jamie Hepbun beat Jamie & Tom Betts 2-0
12-9, 12-4
Brock & Bott beat Charlotta Cooley & James Rees 3-1
4-12, 12-4, 14-11, 12-8
Final:
Brock & Bott beat Black & Hepburn 3-0
12-0, 12-7, 12-4
Plate A
Pool was won by Simon Crinall & Ben Michaels
Plate B
Amilwalla & Sahabdeen beat Illingworth & Sakhrani
A.D.M.
Northern Championship Report by Andrew Mitchell
Created 17 June by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk