2019 October

The Robinson Trophy Scratch Doubles took place last weekend and as usual did not disappoint! Although the field was slightly shorter this year there was no lack of quality in the matches! The tournament started on the Saturday with two quarter final matches with the winners going through to play the top 2 seeds in the semi-finals. The first match saw Hereward Taylor and Charlie Maunder take on Tim Armstrong and John Priestland and win 5/6 6/4 6/4 in an incredibly tight match that really could have gone either way. Then we had David Fortune and Fergus Jenkins vs Simon Armstrong and Adrian Warburton, David and Fergus struggled to get going in the first set losing 6/2 but managed to find some form in the second to get to 5/5, but Simon and Adrian continued to power through and took the set 6/5

The first semi-final was between the number 1 seeds (and current holders) Nick Chambers and George Andrews vs Simon and Adrian, in this match it would be Simon and Adrian who couldn’t quite find a way through, losing the first set 6/1, then battling hard in the second to narrowly lose 6/5! The second semi final saw Hereward and Charlie take on the number 2 seeds Jon Petersen and Andrew Falk, Hereward and Charlie dominated throughout to cause an upset winning 6/2 6/3

On to the final, Hereward and Charlie Vs Nick and George, and it did not disappoint!

Nick and George came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders to win a very convincing first set 6/0! But Hereward and Charlie were not going to give up that easily, and with a bit of tactics discussions managed to take the second set 6/3, this match could really have gone either way! However it would be Nick and George who held their nerve winning the final set 6/3.

Congratulations to Nick and George on winning this years Robinson Trophy Level Doubles!

Special mention to George with his second title in a row, and also to Nick for his third title in a row!

Well played to all of our competitors and we hope to see you all again next year!

Nick and George and Hereward and Charlie have now both qualified for the Ellis-Rich Scratch Doubles Tournament being held on the 23/24^th November, be sure you don’t miss it!

Although we had a slightly smaller than usual entry, it was full of quality! In the group stages quite unusually every group had a pair that were undefeated in their three matches with the defending champions Robert Dolman & Hereward Taylor looking in fine form losing only 3 games in 3 sets! The quarter-finals started at 12 noon on the Sunday. In the Semi-Finals it was the Michael Marcar & Simon Armstrong that beat Hereward & Robert 6/2 to knock out the chaps and the last minute paring of Richard Blackburn & Bill Chambers (Bill filled in for Kate Rowe due to injury). They beat Carolyn Armstrong-Smith & Oliver Harris 6/3 with a difference of 25 points! So the final was then between the two strongest pairs (31 and 35) in the tournament which has not happened for a long time and what a final it was! Michael and Simon battled well early on but it was the younger paring of Bill and Richard that seemed to have all the answers and went on to a 4/1 lead. The next four games were shared but from 6/3 Bill stamped his authority on the match to snuff out Simon and Michael hopes to take the victory 8 games to 3.

A big thank you to Carolyn Armstrong-Smith for lunch on Friday and to Jane Taylor for cooking lunch throughout Saturday and Sunday as well as playing!

Make sure you look out for the date next year nice and early!