Kay, Arnold and Beltrami retain North of England titles

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Durham University Fives Courts
Saturday/Sunday, 26-27 February 2022

After a covid-induced hiatus of two years the North of England championships took place once more on the courts of Durham University, with a Singles entry of 26, and 13 pairs contesting the Doubles. There were players from the two local clubs — the University Club and the City of Durham Club — , from Derby Moor, Cambridge University, and a clutch of players from the South, South East and South West, including defending Singles champion Ed Kay and defending Doubles champions Ollie Arnold & Ben Beltrami.

Highlights of the Singles were a three-gamer between Tom Watkinson and Sam Russell and what some deemed an upset when Richie Murby beat Julian Aquilina in straight games. Neither winner could match Ben Beltrami or Ed Kay in the semi-finals, however, and in the final Ben found, not for the first time, that Ed simply got better as their match progressed. The Plate final was an all-Uni contest between Nathan Jerome-Armah, back on court after a long break from the game, and Will Hanley, who won his “best ever singles game”.

The Doubles went to form and expectations up to the final. Then, when Julian Aquilina & Ed Kay won the first game, there were thoughts of an upset. However, in the second game Ben cut out errors, Ollie continued his consistent onslaught from the left, Ed took a few unsuccessful risks, and suddenly the momentum switched to the defending champions. Meanwhile in the Plate final, Simon Beattie & Oscar McIntyre, now in their final school year, enjoyed what must be the most exciting win of their bourgeoning career in beating Will Hanley & Nathan Jerome-Armah in a Town v. Gown encounter.

Huge thanks go to organiser Julian Aquilina and to the hosts, the City of Durham Club, for setting up and running a superb weekend’s Fives. The National Doubles and the National Mixed Doubles now beckon, as well as the National Schools Championships. Not to mention three Winchester Fives events!

Scores

Singles

1st round: I Weaver bt M Langtry 11-4; M Suddaby bt E Wardle 11-1; R Whitehorn bt D Swinbank 11-1; S Beattie bt L Ware 11-2; O McIntyre bt K Bell 11-0; E Thursfield bt N Jerome-Armah 12-10; D Law bt A Hicks 11-0; O Arnold bt J McIntyre 11-2; L Keates bt C Beattie 11-1; W Hanley w/o P Atkinson
2nd round: E Kay bt Weaver 11-4, 11-1;  Whitehorn bt Suddaby 11-3, 11-3; S Russell bt S Beattie 11-4, 11-6; T Watkinson bt O McIntyre 11-3, 11-4; J Aquilina bt Thursfield 11-2, 11-0; R Murby bt Law 11-3, 11-4; Arnold bt Keates 11-2, 11-4; B Beltrami bt Hanley 11-1, 11-2
Quarter-finals: Kay bt Whitehorn 11-3, 11-1; Watkinson bt Russell 11-12, 11-6, 11-5; Murby bt Aquilina 11-6, 11-6; Beltrami bt Arnold 11-1, 12-10
Semi-finals: Kay bt Watkinson 11-6, 11-0; Beltrami bt Murby 11-6, 11-6
Final: Kay bt Beltrami 11-6, 11-2
Plate: Hanley bt Jerome-Armah 15-5

Doubles

1st round: Hanley & Jerome-Armah bt Bell & Ware 15-2; Keates & Whitehorn bt C Beattie & Hicks 15-6; Law & Weaver bt Atkinson & Wardle 15-0; R Christie & V Singh bt L Hogarth & J McIntyre 15-2; S Beattie & O McIntyre bt Langtry & Thursfield 15-6
Quarter-finals: Arnold & Beltrami bt Hanley & Jerome-Armah 11-1, 11-0; Keates & Whitehorn bt Law & Weaver 11-3, 11-9; Russell & Watkinson bt Christie & Singh 11-1, 11-4; Aquiina & Kay bt Beattie & McIntyre 11-2, 11-4
Semi-finals: Arnold & Beltrami bt Keates & Whitehorn 11-4, 11-5; Aquilina & Kay bt Russell & Watkinson 11-8, 11-9
Final: Arnold & Beltrami bt Aquilina & Kay 8-11, 11-2, 11-4
Plate: S Beattie & O McIntyre bt Hanley & Jerome-Armah 15-9

Ben and Ed play each other in the Singles final

Nathan and Will take each other on in the Plate Singles final

Ben & Ollie win in three games

Medallists and trophy

Recording the victors

The organiser hands out the plaudits

About to do battle in the Doubles final

Town versus Gown in the Doubles Plate final

City of Durham’s proud Doubles Plate winners

Julian, without whom …..

 

…… there would be no play!