West of England Championships 2016
Clifton College, Bristol, 29-30th October
STOP PRESS It was a weekend of dominance by the game’s top four ranked players at Clifton. After Will Ellison, Dan Tristao, Dan Grant and Ed Kay all reached the semi-finals of the singles championship, the same four players also went on play out the doubles final between them.
In the singles, Will eventually claimed his fourth West of England singles title – and his 26th in total – by beating Dan Tristao. And Will then went on to complete the double, teaming up with Ed to add the doubles title as well.
Organiser Simon Werkshagen reports: Another successful and highly competitive West of England Championships has come to an end. Despite a smaller singles entry than ever before the quality of the players and games was exceptional!.
The highlight of the first few singles rounds was undoubtedly the match between Matt Cavanagh and Matt Shaw which produced three fabulous games, with the older and wiser head eventually coming through.
As predicted the top four seeds made their way through to the semi-finals and, as expected, Dan and Will moved their way into the Sunday morning final relatively easily.
In the singles plate there were two boxes, with each player able to have four games of singles followed by a play-off between the highest scorers of each box. This produced a great final which was won by Matt Shaw.
Sunday morning saw another fabulous quality final between the first and second seeds. Some rallies were truly mesmerizing with power and precision and amazing fitness, but eventually Will pulled ahead and won the final.
Just a few minutes later both players were involved with their doubles partners, ready to take on all challengers. Once again the quality of the doubles entry was outstanding; and after four hard-fought rounds the final saw holders Dan G & Dan T take on Will & Ed.
I have been to most of WofE finals over the last 30 years but this was the first time that I have seen the ball being hit quite so ferociously as these four players were doing on Sunday afternoon. We had some onlookers who had never seen our game played before: they were amazed at the aggression, balance and speed at which the game was played.
Congratulations to all four players: as far as I am concerned the true winner was Fives, with both pairs deserving victory. Eventually, however, Will and Ed came through to beat the defending champions and I was extremely grateful to be able to clear up the courts, go home and put my feet up!
Thanks to Lionel for his help and to all the players for making it all such a good weekend.
See you all next year.
Scores
Singles
Preliminary round: B Beltrami bt B Jourdan 12-10, 11-5
1st round: S Russell bt J Tilston 11-5, 11-5; P Hanton bt R Whitehorn 11-9, 11-5; G Price bt A George 11-5, 12-10; H Jefferies bt G Munn 11-3, 11-5; O Arnold bt N Geere 11-1, 11-0
2nd round: W Ellison bt Russell 11-4, 11-2; R Murby w/o J Toop; E Kay bt Hanton 11-6, 11-2; Beltrami bt D Butler 6-11, 11-8, 11-2; D Tristao bt Price 11-4, 11-6; M Cavanagh bt M Shaw 7-11, 11-3, 11-2; D Grant bt Jefferies 6-11, 11-8, 11-4; Arnold bt J Aquilina 11-5, 11-8
Quarter-finals: Ellison bt Murby 11-2, 11-1; Kay bt Beltrami 11-7, 11-1; Tristao bt Cavanagh 11-2, 11-5; Grant bt Arnold 11-8, 11-2
Semi-finals: Ellison bt Kay 11-4, 11-8; Tristao bt Grant 12-11, 11-2
Final: Ellison bt Tristao 11-8, 11-2
Plate: Shaw
Doubles
1st round: George & Russell bt Geere & B Baral 11-3, 11-8′; Jefferies & Tilston bt A Goodwin & A Wheatley 11-6, 11-3
Quarter-finals: Ellison & Kay bt George & Russell 11-4, 11-9; Beltrami & Shaw bt Aquilina & Hanton 4-11, 11-8, 11-4; Arnold & Butler bt Boyd & Jourdan 11-0, 11-0; Grant & Tristao bt Jefferies & Tilston 11-9, 11-2
Semi-finals: Ellison & Kay bt Beltrami & Shaw 11-8, 11-9; Grant & Tristao bt Arnold & Butler 4-11, 11-8, 11-4
Final: Ellison & Kay bt Grant & Tristao 12-10, 11-4
Plate: Aquilina & Hanton