THE HANDICAP DOUBLES TOURNAMENT
Thursday 23rd March at CPC
by Dave Williams
Sixteen pairs entered this popular competition. The format being that each pair, being ranked individually have a joint rank, this is compared to an opposing pair and a handicap start given to the lowest duo, via a prescribed grid table. They were drawn into four groups.
Group 1
Jim Hall / Karen King won through, beating Kevin Allen / Bert Paice (+8) 22, 19, Rob Young / Rog West (+8) 21, 18, and Andy / Paul Lewis (+11) 22, 19. Kevin / Bert also qualified beating Rob / Rog 8, -11, 4 and Andy / Paul (+5) 13, 20. The later duo (+5) lost to Rob / Rog 25, -20, 22.
Group 2
Roger Nevell / Ron Kemp were triumphant over fellow qualifiers, Steve Downing / Nick Kelly (+9)
-26, 21, 16 then beat Pat Dean / Derek Pittard (+12) -23, 25, 22 also Trevor Percival / Clive Routledge (+12) 19, 19. Steve / Nick just overcame Pat / Derek (+4) 25, -24, 25 likewise Trev / Clive (+4) 24, -23, 21. The latter pair also lost 10, 16 to Pat / Derek.
Group 3
Kevin Gatrell / Alan Hulbert struggled a little after beating Alan Brewster / Roy Wiltshire (+5) 22, 21 who also qualified, then Pauline Rorke / Tony Rochford (+12) 22, -25, 15 and lastly Maggie Preston / Trevor Farmer (+11) 20, 23 who in turn lost with (+4) to Pauline / Tony 18, 26. Very close!
Group 4
This was a hard fought group which showed how good the handicapping was when John Cornforth / Andrew Davis, Paul Freeborn / George Downing and Don Hobbs / Lee Orton all won two matches. The two qualifiers emerged on the countback of points against. John / Andrew (+7) lost to Paul / George -13, 22,
-21.
Quarter Finals
1. Jim Hall / Karen King had the edge on Steve Downing / Nick Kelly (+6) winning 24, -20, 21.
2. With an +11 start, Bert Paice / Kevin Allen overcame Roger Nevell / Ron Kemp 16, 16.
3. Kevin Gatrell / Alan Hulbert +5. The start was too much for Paul Freeborn / George Downing 23, -23, 20.
4. John Cornforth / Andy Davis won the first 26-21 against Roy Wiltshire / Alan Brewster (+3), then just hung on to win the match 28-26.
Semi Finals
1. Jim / Karen trounced Kevin / Alan (+2) 22, 20. The latter duo being older, were very tired.
2. Bert / Kevin (+9) had an easy first end 26-18, then were knocked back by John / Andy, losing the next 26-28. The former pair then went up a gear and blitzed through to win 26-6.
Final
Giving an 8 point start to opponents is very daunting, but Jim / Karen just took the first 26-24. Then once again seemed to draw on reserves of energy to easily win the Handicap Doubles Championship 26-20.
The event was organised and catered by League Secretary Karen King.