CHAMPIONSHIPS – Singles and Fours results
Since the last championships (Triples) at the end of November, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus had taken hold throughout the country. Although no show stopping restrictions had been issued by the government we were all being urged to continue to take sensible precautions and be very cautious due to the increased level of transmissibility of this new strain. The SMPT British Open due to be held in York last weekend had been cancelled and the SM British Isles Council had yet to meet to decide whether or not to go ahead with the annual British Isles competition due to be held in Scarborough at the end of January. After some email discussion of the risks involved, ManCom finally decided that with some extra precautions in place, both the Singles and Fours Championships would still go ahead.
SINGLES Saturday January 8th: The 42 entrants were initially drawn into 10 groups (8×4 and 2×5). However there were 4 dropouts which reduced these groups to 6×4, 3×3 and 1×5. The initial round robin stages required 12 mats and were played over 6 sessions. The winners of all 10 groups plus the “next best 6” then progressed to first KO round (22 players having been eliminated). The winners of this “last 16” round then played in the QFinals in which there were wins for…
Pete Arthur v Joseph Newsome (8-6)
David Newsome v Daniel Agar (14-3)
Francis Boatman v Danny Langdon (9-8)
Matthew Jackson v David Brown (9-6)
The Semis were then won by David Newsome who overcame Francis Boatman (10-8) and Matthew Jackson who beat Peter Arthur (19-3). Matthew then went on to defeat David by 11-7 in the Final match, to pickup his first win in this event and deny David what would have been a record 4th successive Singles title win.
All games were 10 ends. The Umpires for the day were Tim Pearson and Eva Dayes and the day ended about an hour behind schedule at 5.20pm.
FOURS Sunday January 9th: A last minute dropout reduced the entry to 12 teams who played in 3 groups composed of a 3, a 4 and a 5. The group winners and the “next best 5” played in the QFinals in which there were wins for….
David Newsome, Steve Duffin, Jane Rudd and Neil Flynn v Dave Herbert, Paul Williamson, John Marshall and Dave Edwards (12-2)
Chris Prendergast, Judith Fearns, Jean Bridges and Pete Arthur v Freddy & Gill Alnutt and Colin Ellis & Norma Davies (9-5)
Joseph & Jill Newsome, Daniel Agar and James Clark v Roger & Diane Ellis, Samantha Stacey and Janet Clark (6-3)
Danny Langdon, Francis Boatman, David Brown and Dave Hunton v Jez Williams, Neil & Heather Robertson and Rhona Worley (18-3)
The resulting Semis were won by Joseph’s foursome v Danny’s team 10-1 and by Chris and Co. who overcame David on a final end measure (7-6).
Joseph’s team finally proved too strong against Chris and his Four from the new club in Flixton (Wolds) who went down 3-10.
All games were 7 ends. The Umpire for the day was Alan Debenham and the day ended later than scheduled 5.40pm.
Note: The Pairs Championship which was curtailed in November after only 2 completed sessions, due to a prolonged power cut, will be resumed on February 5th ay 9.30am.
