SPRING PAIRS 2016
The Club’s first pairs competition of the season took place on Saturday when 28 members competed for the Spring Pairs Trophy.
The random draw produced some interesting pairings, which included Peter Smith playing alongside the experienced Ken Rimmer, a recent recruit to the club. Peter and Ken survived a scare in their first game when they scraped home 21-20 against Bill Nowell and Laurie Townson. Their next game proved to be another tough battle against Wayne Graham and Noel Morgans but it was Peter and Ken who won through to the semi-finals with a 21-17 win. Their semi-final opponents were Jim Halsall and Margaret Langley, both previous winners of Hesketh Arms pairs titles. Jim and Margaret had accounted for the strong pairing of Fergal Wright and Connie Southern in the previous round but Peter and Ken continued their consistent form to progress to the final with another 21-17 success.
In the bottom half of the draw, Chris Harding and Janice Hobson also had to negotiate three tough games in progressing to the final, defeating Dave Bedford and Irene Nowell (21-16), Barry McArthur and Norman Simpson (21-17) and in the semi-final, George Hitchmough and Lynne Smith (21-18).
In the final, Peter and Ken got off to a flying start, winning the first four ends. This included two 3’s at the second and third ends which allowed them to open up a 13-3 lead and this would prove hard for Chris and Janice to overcome. Despite a late rally, which saw Chris and Janice score four 2’s, the first four ends proved to be the decisive phase of the game and Peter and Ken were able to secure the Spring Pairs title, the final score being 21-13. Congratulations to Peter Smith and Ken Rimmer on winning their first Hesketh Arms club competition.
A consolation competition was held for 1st round losers and this was won by Dave Bedford and Irene Nowell who defeated Steve Lomas and Kevin McCormack 15-13 in a close final.
