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Tournament winners Mike Carter and James Lloyd-Roberts with the Smith and Kemp trophyReport by Head Professional Matt Potter
The first Club tournament to take place after Christmas is our hugely popular Handicap Doubles. This event brings together every level of player to have the chance to win a club competition, with handicaps given away as big as -40, 30 and one serve, to as little as ¼ 15 (meaning a 15 love lead every 4th game). The teams came together in early January to do battle, and get in some much-needed exercise of mind and body after the festive season!
With two groups and the top two contesting the semi-finals, all was to play for. The most interesting games came in the semi-finals, when last year's beaten finalists, Bryan Eaton and Clive Turner, took on 2 new club players, Peter Awad and Dominic Scally, who had never before played doubles. With the match first to 8, the crowd were convinced the newcomers were bandits and off the wrong handicap, however, after 8 games the pairs were tied 4-4. Eaton and Turner then battled hard, retrieved everything, and won through to prove the doubters wrong, earning their place in another final 8-7. Mike Carter and James Lloyd-Roberts fought back brilliantly from 7-4 down to win 8-7, and the finalists were decided.
In a final which would be first to 10 games, the battle commenced with Eaton and Turner, seemingly in control, racing through to a 7-4 lead, and snatching the next with a superb winning shot to 8-4. At this point the emotions of the event took their toll, Eaton jumping around thinking he and Turner had won the tournament, only for the marker to call 8-4 and not match! Battle continued, and Eaton and Turner's lead dwindled to nothing; 8-8 became 9-9, then, in the thrilling final game, great defence and attack from both pairs saw the match reach 40 all...match point...game, set and tournament to Mike Carter and James Lloyd-Roberts!
A superb day was had by all, and Eaton and Turner promised to make it 3rd time lucky next year!
