This year a smaller number of players than usual joined the tournament. So few that in fact both pairs made the final. To make the day more interesting David, James, Jolyon (Jo) and Tim decided this should be a round robin event with each pair playing every other pair. This made the handicapping much more fun. David though worked all out and also for games to 15 or 11 depending on how long the matches were taking to get through.
The four finalists
The opening match saw David and James against Tim and Jolyon. Some excellent squash from both pairings. James sportingly offering tips to Tim mid match and the usual challenges of keeping track of who was serving and the let v stroke debate did not stop both pairings from playing some fantastic squash with all players finding their rhythm. The game seesawed as neither pairing could stamp their authority on the match. In the end David and James did enough to sneak it in the fifth. The handicap in this match was clearly about right with only two points different by the end of five games.
David & James vs Tim & Jo: 15-11, 13-15, 15-13, 11-15, 15-13: 3-2
Repairing saw David and Tim take on Jo and James. After the near hour long marathon just played it was agreed to reset to a games to 11 for this match and see how that worked. This first game started with James and Jo making a very strong run early on in the first game taking 8 or 9 straight points. Tim and David fought back strongly but were not able to get the score line as close as the squash deserved. All players were slightly suprised when Jo announced at 11-6 that’s 1-0 as we had forgotten we were not still playing to 15. James and Jo kept the hammer down and took the second again quite comfortably. Sadly in the third game Tim started to struggle more with the injury sustained on team duty earlier in the week but pushed on regardless although David and Tim were not able to push it to a fourth game.
David & Tim vs Jo & James: 6-11, 5-11, 6-11: 0-3
Despite the struggle with his back Time carried on, aided by joining forces with the very mobile James for the last game. Starting with games to 11 led to the first game being taken to next point wins at 10-10. A good rally eventually won by James and Tim. As games had started to speed up the next game was played to 15 and so the handicap adjusted David and Jo pushed hard to try and stop James winning all of his games. Some excellent work from both players had James moving hugely as Tim’s movement was still hampered. David and Jo were able to keep the ball just out of reach and took the game to tie things up. As again this playing to 15 lark was taking too long the score was pulled back to 11 and another handicap adjustment. The next game saw David and Jo pull out some of their best squash to put take the game 11-5. This was followed by another strong performance and the match 11-5.
David & Jo vs Tim & James: 10-11, 15-7, 11-5, 11-5: 3-1
A lot of fun for all with nearly 2 hours of intense squash played. It was decided that the strongest pairing of the night had been Jo and James, although had Tim remained at full fitness their could have been some different results. Hopefully we all get to do it again soon.
Jo and James after the doubles marathon