English National Over-50s Pairs
The English National Over 50s Pairs held at Brighton on Sunday 23rd July.
No less than eight Hartley teams entered the competition; Colin and Anne Senneck, John and Linda Bradley, Irene and Colin Gibbs, Joyce and Mick Nash, John and Liz Friend, Peter and Diane Bryant, Jim and Babs Carr and Ken and Barbara Potter
The full line-up was of 45 teams; 23 of which went into the main and 22 into the plate.
Seven Hartley teams made it into the Main. The remaining team of John and Linda fell at the first hurdle in the plate.
In the Main competition Colin and Anne, Jim and Babs, Ken and Barbara, and John and Liz all lost in the round of 32.
Colin and Irene lost in the last 16.
Peter and Diane made it to the last 8 before losing to Joyce and Mick
Joyce and Mick made it into the semis where they lost to a team from Chiltern Region but went home with a nice shiny trophy each (that's how I know it was pairs not doubles).
The venue on Brighton front was interesting. There were literally thousands of people walking past, some stopping to watch and a few asking questions or telling their children what (they thought) was going on. Some of it was accurate. Even with all the hubbub, none of us found ourselves distracted. The general noise level meant that we didn't hear specific noises. The pistes were very forgiving and therefore not overly demanding. Largely carreaus were the order of the day.
Report from Mick Nash