Racquets Health and Fitness club in Thame Oxon hosted the 2012 National Racketball Doubles Championship, with players, spectators and organisers overjoyed with the events success.

The quality on display was the best on record with numerous current and past National Champions in attendance.

In the Ladies event players battled through group stages before playing off for final positions. The play off for first and second saw defending champions Bev Vatcher and Vic Jarvis take on 2010 champions Lauren Selby and Nat Lawrence. Whilst the match ebbed and flowed it was Selby and Lawrence that prevailed, winning a tight 3-0 contest.

The mixed event provided pure quality throughout with no easy matches for any pair in the super 8 draw. On paper the formidable sibling pairing of Lauren and Elliot Selby looked favourite and so it proved, but not before finalists Vic Jarvis and Mike Ypes from Dorset gave them a scare by taking the first game, however, the Selby pairing were simply too strong and secured the title 3-1.

The Mens draw saw the strongest field ever produced with numerous current or former champions on show. Number one seeds and defending champions Christian Turner and Robert Watkins made heavy weather of the early rounds, only managing to win their first two matches 3-2. One of these victories was over Oz Mustafa and 1992 National singles champion and club owner Simon Martin. This run came to an end when they finally lost 3-2 to local pairing Tom Phipps and Dave Herron 3-2. In the opposite side of the draw Elliot Selby and Matt Cutchey from Essex looked strong, Matt Baker was playing without six times champion Jim Lord and although his new partner and close friend Steve “Billy” Selley was dependable, the quality of Selby and Cutchey was too strong.

The final was an epic between UK series champion Phipps and his partner Herron, and favourites Selby and Cutchey. Over five sets and 90 minutes, four match balls were exchanged before the local crowd went wild as Phipps and Herron secured a famous victory.

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