Centenary Doubles 2018

The Centenary Doubles was held this year on October 14, a morning which began with heavy and prolonged showers but which turned into a beautiful day.

The tennis was in the best tradition of club mixed doubles, with plenty of athletic interceptions, precise lobs and extended and exciting rallies. 24 players, 14 ladies and 10 men, took part under a format which provided for six rounds of four game mini matches with randomly allocated partners.

On the men’s side, Jon Drake was an early leader and Ian McDermott came through strongly in mid-morning, but in the end Peter Williams established an unassailable lead, while Paul Taylor just held off David McDonald, Rob Pippin and Gareth Jones for the second men’s finalist spot.

The women’s side was even more closely contested. Carolyn Waters was eventually the clear winner but Sheona Howlett, June Fallow, Alison Legg, Dorothy McDonald and Maria Flewitt were all in contention and in the end a tie-break match was needed as a result of which Maria went through to the final.

Accordingly the final was a match between Peter and Maria against Paul and Carolyn, which was won, again after a tie-break, by Paul and Carolyn.