Posted by Sunday, April 3rd
A slightly disappointing entry of 26 teams for the Cobbetts Open Doubles at Burridge on Sunday, April 3rd. We did initially have a few more teams entered but had some last minute withdrawals due to sickness and other reasons.
A lovely sunny day started with 6 morning leagues, one with 6 teams and the rest 4. David Franco Cruz and Callum Lombard lived up to the label of favourites dropping just 4 points in their morning league. A little way behind on 3 wins +28 were Mark Robertshaw and Hassi Leverett followed by Peter and Tony Kidd on +26. Also on 3 wins were Dave Stubbs and Richard Greeves +23, Ali Stubbs with Mike Porter (visiting from Devon) +19 and Danny Corp and Bob Bish +15. Marion Stanbrook and Sandie Barnett from The Ship were also league winners on 2 wins +11 and the eighth team through to the main competition were the home team of Lee and Diane Redfern on 2 wins +19.
Last year’s runners-up, Dave and Richard, made it to the semi-finals again before losing a very good game to David and Callum. The other semi-final saw Tony and Peter defeat Mark and Hassi.
Last year’s winners, Steve and Karen Lombard, were away on a cruise so could not defend their title but Callum, helped by David, kept the trophy in the Lombard family for another year with a win over Tony and Peter in the final. Congratulations to Callum (and Karen) for being selected for the World Championships in Denmark in May.
Mike made the long journey up from Devon worthwhile by winning the Main Consolage with Ali. They defeated the Shedfield pair of Danny Corp and Bob Bish in the final.
The Plate competition saw three out of the four semi-finalists from Cobbetts but the trophy was won by the Handcross/Worthing pairing of Nigel Sibbring and Martin Gordon. They beat the home team of Sue Sandy and Steve Love in the final. This is the 5th time that Nigel has won the Cobbetts Doubles Plate in the last 11 years that it has been held (and runner-up once)!
In the Plate Consolage, the Parley team of Alex and Kevin beat Dave Lucas and Marc in the final.
In the Wooden Spoon competition Ness Raynbird, runner-up last year, went one better playing with Vi Parsons, and finished top with 3 wins + 18. Just behind were another Cobbetts team, Frankie and Rod Bennett, who finished on 3 wins +16.
A big thank you to all the teams that supported the competition, especially those who travelled a long distance from the likes of Handcross, Worthing, Crondall, Clymping, Parley, Muscliff and Devon!
Many thanks to Chris Barron for his morning bacon rolls and to Lyn Porter for stepping in to do the lunchtime soup, burgers and hot dogs, when Chris found himself drafted in to play as a last minute substitute. Also a big thank you to all the other helpers with the food and the raffle, the providers of cake and raffle prizes and those who helped with the general organisation of the day.
| Main Competition | |
| Winners | David Franco Cruz and Callum Lombard (River Hamble) |
| Runners-up | Tony Kidd and Peter Kidd (Handcross) |
| Semi-Finalists | Hassi Leverett (Cobbetts) and Mark Robertshaw (Fareham) |
| Dave Stubbs and Richard Greeves (Cobbetts) | |
| Main Consolage | |
| Winners | Alison Stubbs and Mike Porter (Cobbetts) |
| Runners-up | Danny Corp and Bob Bish (Shedfield) |
| Plate Competition | |
| Winners | Nigel Sibbring (Handcross) and Martin Gordon (Worthing) |
| Runners-up | Sue Sandy and Steve Love (Cobbetts) |
| Semi-finalists | Paul Leverett and Janet Dalton (Cobbetts) |
| Steve Brickell and Terry Rixon (Cobbetts) | |
| Plate Consolage | |
| Winners | Alex Hepburn and Kevin Williams (Parley) |
| Runners-up | Dave Lucas (Ship) and Marc Franco Llado (River Hamble) |
| Wooden Spoon | |
| Winners | Vanessa Raynbird and Vi Parsons (Cobbetts) |
| Runners-up | Frankie Bennett and Rod Bennett (Cobbetts) |
| 3rd | Bernie Miles and Graham Blake (Cobbetts) |
| 4th | Nick Hall and Mike Powlesland (Portchester) |
