Hartley Open Doubles
Sunday 20th August 2006
The weather was bright with just a few short sharp showers to send players occasionally scurrying for cover for short periods.
A prize fund amounting to £250 was contested by 26 teams from 7 clubs and others attracted to the event.
Particular notables were ex Medway player Marcus Hickman from Dover (Vale Tavern, Ramsgate), playing with Greg Adams a surprise visitor now residing in France (who ran the Kent League in the early 90s). Also Marcus's younger brothers, ex juniors Dominic and Miles from the Medway Towns. The 3 brothers previously played at the “Masons Arms” (Rochester), at the time a top club, when Hartley first started playing in the early 90s.
Also welcome were Barry Wing (Lordswood) jetting in from Tenerife and several players from Croydon, also Dave Chalkly (Plough & Chequers) and two novices.
The final of the Plate was contested between brothers Geoff & Robert Booth (ex juniors from the Fighting Cocks, Horton Kirby), and Josie Elvin and Dennis Peareth (from Hartley). The Booth boys came out on top in a close encounter by 13 points to 10.
In the Main competition semi finals: Marcus and Greg took a fine 10-l lead against Angie and Lee Jamieson (from Worthing) only to see them fighting back to 9 - 10 and then finally shooting the coche for the four points needed to win. In the other semi final Diane and Peter Bryant (from Hartley) took an apparently easy and unassailable lead 12 - 2 lead against Matt Horrigan and Larry Belcher (both of Lordswood), only to finally lose out 13 – 12 as the Lordswood pair came storming back to win.
The final was a close affair with some terrific shooting eventually won by the Lordswood pair Matt and Larry with 13 points and the Jamiesons 10 points.
All in all an excellent day's petanque.
Report Mick Nash