NATIONAL RACKETBALL DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

09.10.10 - 10.10.10

The National Racketball Doubles, a massive success!!

Devon and Exeter SRC played host to the England Squash and Racketball National Racketball Doubles on the weekend of 9-10th October with both organisers and players very pleased with the event. Club Owner Adam Lings commented “It was a real honour to be asked to host this event, its great to see a competition of this level in the southwest for the first time” “I was delighted with the turn out and the quality of player on show”
The tournament boasted the highest entry on record and showcased the sport of Racketball doubles in fantastic fashion.

Ladies Final - Mixed Final - Mens Final - Draws

The strength on show was also the best yet as high level Squash and Racketball players travelled to the event, notable entries included National O35 Champion Jim Lord as well as current World ranked Squash player Lauren Selby.
On day 1 matches were already going the distance with strong Ladies pairing Lauren Selby and Natalie Lawrence being pushed all the way by former National O40s Champ Julie Lawton and her partner Kathryn Milne, scraping home 3-2.
The biggest upset on Day 1 came in the Mens draw when local boys Ash Knight and Matt Pym beat Kent pairing Toby Mortimer and Scott Sumner 3-2, recovering from 2-0 down.
Whilst the Mens event was well represented probably the most pleasing aspect was the strength and depth of this years Mixed draw which had at least half a dozen really strong pairings, one of these included current National Racketlon Champion Natalie Lawrence and UK series winner Rob Watkins from Someset.
On Day 2 the event really “hotted” up with the semi finals getting underway, the top seeds all prevailed with the tightest contests coming in the Mixed and Ladies categories, top seeds Gavin Perrett and Lauren Selby  where pushed all the way in the Mixed by the local paring of Matt Baker and Carol Hayman narrowly winning 3-2. Hayman was then again unlucky in the Ladies event when partnered with Karen Bealey they lost 11-9 in the fifth game to Cornish sensations Siobhan Garland and Liz Cowley.
The finals were now decided and what a fantastic advert for the game they were with some brilliant exhibitions of movement and shotmaking.

Ladies Final

The final was between Lauren Selby and Natalie Lawrence and Siobhan Garland and Liz Cowley, some predicted a “landslide” but that was certainly not the case with the match swinging backwards and forwards before the top seeds finally clinched the match 3-2. Garland in particular showed why she has won the Cornish County title on numerous occasions with some great touch and tactical awareness and no doubt will be back for another go next year.
Final Score
L. Selby & N. Lawrence  Bt  S. Garland & L. Cowley  11-4 9-11 11-7 8-11 11-3  (3-2)

Mixed Final

This match promised to be a real classic with four top rated players on the same court and the number one and two seeds, however, nobody could have predicted what happened next, having struggled in their semi-final and both looking slightly laboured on day 1 Gavin Perrett and Lauren Selby suddenly leapt into life and played with aggressive intent from ball one and completely surprised the experienced pair of Jim Lord and Julie Lawton who were champions in 2008. Perrett attacked the ball at every opportunity and Selby stepped up the court more than ever before to seal the match 3-0!
Final Score
G. Perrett & L. Selby Bt J. Lord & J. Lawton  11-8 11-9 11-8  (3-0)

Mens Final

Having moved serenely through the event defending champions Matt Baker and Jim Lord faced the talented pair of Mike Gregory and Gavin Perrett in the final. Lord no doubt was looking for revenge for the Mixed event and with the dependable Baker by his side this looked likely especially after taking the opening game 11-2, however Eng No.10 Perrett and Eng No.22 Gregory weren’t going down without a fight and raced into a 7-1 lead in the second and third games, however, Baker and Lord ranked 6 and 7 respectively illustrated why they are rated so highly by rallying hard to reverese the lead and close out the match brilliantly 3-0...
Final Score
M. Baker & J. Lord Bt G. Perrett & M. Gregory  11-2 11-9 11-9  (3-0)

The draws were as follows

NATIONAL RACKETBALL DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Devon and Exeter SRC