A fair turnout saw 9 pairs of hardy souls play each other in a single group, 2 games to 21 points with no setting using the rally-points scoring system. By the end of the evening everyone was beginning to feel just a little shattered!
Each pair was awarded 1 point for every 2 years by which their combined age exceeded 80. An extra 2 points were added per Division Two player.
The handicaps were then reduced equally until one pair was on zero. If the other pair still had more than 12 points, then the handicaps were further reduced until 12 was reached, the other pair’s starting score therefore becoming negative.
Positions were determined according to most games won. If there was a tie between two pairs, then the result of the match between them would determine position. If still equal, or if 3 pairs tied on games won, then positions would be determined in favour of the pair winning the most points.
There were some close matches and some one-sided ones.
The eldest pair on court Jim Perriss & Lynn Miller proved that age is no barrier by winning all but one of their games and taking the trophy. The one game that they lost was to the defending champions and the youngest pair on court, Barry Harriss & Kerry Mullen, who finished second overall, losing in turn one of the games against Jim & Lynn but also their very first game against Stephen Rowell & Helen Rees who eventually finished in 8th place.
Last years runners-up Eric Samways & Gill Bullock scored consistently highly and finished in 4th spot just behind Andrew & Jane who had a good tournament.
Lindsay Smith & Jane Reddaway finished in 7th place and found it a struggle against some of the older pairs who had high handicap scores, while Lester Cawley & Sandy Sheldon and Peter Campbell & Brenda Jones took advantage of those high handicaps to win a good proportion of their games each. These two pairs finished in joint 5th place and were separated by the result of the match between them, which Lester & Sandy won 2-0.
Finally Bob Jones & Sandra Wayman finished in last place but did manage to win one game so it wasn’t a totally fruitless evening.
Thanks to everyone who participated, and to Andy Bentley for organising it on the night.
The results of the games were as follows:
| Bob & Sandra | Barry & Kerry | Andrew & Jane | Lindsay & Jane | Eric & Gill | Lester & Sandy | Peter & Brenda | Jim & Lynn | Stephen & Helen | Games Won | Rank | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Jones Sandra Wayman |
17 14 | 17 16 | 19 18 | 9 5 | 8 16 | 10 9 | 13 15 | 21 19 | 1 | 9th | ||||
| Barry Harriss Kerry Mullen |
21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 19 | 17 21 | 14 | 2nd | ||||
| Andrew Bentley Jane Lipton |
21 21 | 17 12 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 17 20 | 13 12 | 21 21 | 10 | 3rd | ||||
| Lindsay Smith Jane Reddaway |
21 21 | 13 9 | 18 14 | 9 12 | 21 14 | 21 20 | 13 13 | 20 21 | 5 | 7th | ||||
| Eric Samways Gill Bullock |
21 21 | 19 19 | 18 18 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 19 21 | 18 12 | 21 21 | 9 | 4th | ||||
| Lester Cawley Sandy Sheldon |
21 21 | 17 19 | 18 20 | 17 21 | 18 20 | 21 21 | 11 11 | 21 21 | 7 | 5th | ||||
| Peter Campbell Brenda Jones |
21 21 | 15 18 | 21 21 | 20 21 | 21 16 | 11 12 | 6 11 | 19 21 | 7 | 6th | ||||
| Jim Perris Lynn Miller |
21 21 | 17 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 21 21 | 15 | 1st | ||||
| Stephen Rowell Helen Rees |
15 21 | 21 8 | 19 14 | 21 11 | 11 6 | 18 16 | 21 16 | 11 8 | 4 | 8th |