Two Preliminary Pool days were held at Westway and Eton in November and December respectively to determine qualifiers for the finals. Details of the results can be seen below.
For the final stages five pairs arrived at Eton, despite the snow, from Aldenham, Berkhamsted, Westminster and two from St. Olave's.
The finalists were all placed in one pool and played a two game match against each pair. The Aldenham pair of Cameron Grant and Josh Rose produced an early shock taking the first game from the Olavian pair of James Rees and Peter White after being 11-3 down. James and Peter recovered their composure for the second game to draw the match and then remain undefeated to reach the final. The Berkhamsted pair of Andrew Joyce, the defending champion, and Doug Foster cruised through the pool winning the group. All the matches were closely fought and after eight games each a few players were quite happy that they did not have to contest the final.
James and Peter got off to a flying start in the final going 8-0 up on the first hand. Andrew and Doug fought back but the deficit was too much and the Olavian pair won 12-7. The next two games were quite different with the Berkhamsted pair both using their experience to keep Peter out of the game and pressurise James on the top step to win both comfortably 12-4 and 12-6. In the fourth Peter started to impose himself again and reduced the pressure on James. Although the Olavian pair were 11-6 up they could not clinch the final point as the Berkhamsted pair did their best to win in four games. The game went all the way to 13-13 before the Olavian pair finally took one of their many game points. This did not deflate the Berkhamsted pair and they stormed into a 9-0 lead in the final game and never let their advantage slip to win 12-5 and deservedly win the Graham Turnbull Trophy.
Preliminary Pool Matches
Pool A - Westway 25th November 2007:
1st - Peter White & James Rees (St Olave's)
2nd - Anthony Theodossi & Matt Le Fleur (St Olave's)
Group 2
1st - Doug Foster & James Lowe (Berkhamsted)
2nd - Howard Wiseman & Joe Chadwick (Emanuel)
Group 3
1st - Mark Herring & Andrew Joyce (Berkhamsted)
2nd - Giles Coren & Laurie Brock (Westminster)
Group Finals - Eton 6th April 2008:
1st - Andrew Joyce and Doug Foster (Berkhamsted)
2nd - James Rees and Peter White (St Olaves)
3rd - Martin Bassot and Anthony Theodossi (St Olaves)
4th - Laurie Brock and Peter Kennedy (Westminster)
5th - Cameron Grant and Josh Rose (Aldenham)
Final:
Andrew Joyce and Doug Foster beat James Rees and Peter White
7-12, 12-4, 12-6, 13-14, 12-5
P.M.W.
Graham Turnbull Trophy: Report by Peter White
Created 23rd April by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk