RACKETBALL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tuesday 9th March
The Doubles tournament started yesterday with an epic first round encounter between Tim Barker and Richmond Broadway against Rick Smart and Hardeep Bhogal. Starting at 7.00, the match finished as the bar was about to draw down the shutters.
Tim usually wins the ‘hard-hitting’ competiton, but this time was matched by three players with similar intent, the long rallies usually ending with Rick asking for a let.
Tim and Hardeep took the first two games, but were pegged back to 2-2, before regaining the initiative in the fifth. Leading 10-6 in the fifth, they looked to have the match in the bag, but Richmond and Tim took the next six points to take the game and the match.
Fortunately the games are now played to 11 points rather than 15, or there’s a good chance they’d still be at it.
In the Mixed Doubles, Bajinder Mehta and Sue Hartill beat Rod Belcher and Christine Maloney 3-0, while Rob Shay and Mandy Gannon beat Joe McConnell and Terry Blatter by a similar score.
Today’s matches include two Mixed and one Men’s Doubles match.
Friday 5th March
Matt Pugh and Pippa Phelan are the 2010 EPC Racketball Champions after Friday’s finals after victories over Rob Alger and Aarani Blaney.
While Rob produced some great shots in the Men’s Final, Matt had more consistency, and was able to force the errors from his opponent, winning 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6.
After her narrow victory in the semis from match point down against Carole Maddock, Pippa proved the more experienced player against Aarani, winning 3-0.
In other events, Ian Russell won an exciting battle against Darryl Grayston, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11, 3-11, 11-9 to take the Over 45 title;
Richard Waller pipped Bill Mulholland 14-12, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10 in the Over 55’s;
John Houghton beat John Shingler 3-0 in the Over 65’s;
Simon Delves beat Dave Rothery 11-9, 14-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 in the Men’s B event;
Anne Middleton beat Sue Griffith 3-0 in the Women’s Over 55 event and Carole Maddock beat Anna Matthews 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 in the Women’s B event.
Thursday 4th March
All semi final matches have now been completed in this year’s Singles Championships, and last night’s matches were a treat for all those who watched.
The Men’s semi-final saw Rob Alger pipping Mike Edwards in 5 games, to set up a clash with Matt Pugh (who beat Mark Taylor in his semi final the day before).
The Men’s final between Alger and Pugh will be at 8.00 on Friday, and spectators are advised to get an early seat, as they’ve had some thrillers in the past!
In the Women’s section, top seed Pippa Phelan also had to survive several match points against Carole Maddock, before taking the fifth game 14-10 in another nail-biter. She now plays Aarani Blaney in Friday’s final, at 7.30.
Another nail-biter cam in the Men’s over 35 event, where Matt Pugh, competing in 2 events, took on Tim Barker. Tim held three match points in the fourth game but Matt never seems to know when he’s beaten, and edged the fourth 16-14, from 7-10 down and then took the fifth more comfortably as Tim tired.
Matt now meets Rob Shay, who beat Paul Johnson 3-1 in the other semi final. As Matt is in 2 finals, this one will be postponed to a later date.
Earlier, Johnson lost 2-3 to Darryl Grayston in the Over 45 semi. Grayston meets Ian Russell in the final on Friday at 7.20
In the men’s Over 55 semis, Bill Mulholland beat Neil Hillman 3-0, while Richard Waller finally ended Clive Cutler’s heroic run, despite losing a game.
John Shingler and John Houghton will contest the Men’s Over 65 final, and the B section final will be between Simon Delves and Dave Rothery, who beat ‘Sid’ Siddiqui and Tony Thomas respectively. In the women’s B section, Anna Matthews beat Annette Downing and meets Carole Maddock in the final.
The only match tonight will be the Women’s Over 40 final between Aarani Blaney and Jacky Owen, at 7.30
The Draw for next week’s Doubles events are now up on the Club website.
Friday’s finals Schedule will be:
4.40 Men’s Over 65 Final: John Shingler v John Houghton
6.00 Men’s B Final: Simon Delves v Dave Rothery
6.00 Women’s B Section Final: Carole Maddock v Anna Matthews
6.40 Women’s Over 55 Final: Anne Middleton v Sue Griffith
7.20 Men’s Over 45 Final: Ian Russell v Darryl Grayston
7.20 Men’s Over 55 final: Richard Waller v Bill Mulholland
7.30 Women’s Open Final: Pippa Phelan v. Aarani Blaney
8.00 Men’s Open Final: Rob Alger v Matt Pugh
Don’t forget that there is live music after the finals with Yolanda, and the presentations will be after the Squash finals, at about 5.30 on Saturday 27th March, prior to the supper to celebrate Club Team’s success (Squash, Racketball and Tennis). All are welcome!
Wednesday 3rd March
Day 3 of the Club Championships saw events progress to the semi final stage, with some great matches and a few upsets. In the best match to date, Matt Pugh beat Mark Taylor in four sets, to reach the Men’s Open final.
Clive Cutler provided the main upsets so far, beating team players Bernie Green and Peter Burton, both 3-2, to reach the Men’s Over 55 semi final, where he will meet Richard Waller. In the other half of that draw Neil Hillman also reached the semis with a second walkover, when Peter Watt pulled out injured. His next opponent, Bill Mulholland, should be warned….
Tonight sees the semi finals of most events as well as the Ladies Open final at 7.20 between Pippa Phelan and Aarani Blaney.
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