Masters Doubles 26th October 2013 was the annual S A Masters Sports Day and Midlands Masters Squash hosted Kwazulu Natal Masters to a Doubles competition. The mixed doubles saw 17 pairings face each other. Matches seesawed with Kwazulu Natal notching 9 victories and 28 points against Midlands 8 wins and 23 points. Nine matches resulted in a 2-1 score and as always the competition was intense. In the clash between the number 1 pairings, Dave de Beer partnered by Chrisna Ashforth edged through 2-1 against Mike Short and Desiree Edwards. In the men’s pairings, Midlands dominated winning 7 of the 11 encounters, thereby collecting 22 points against Kwazulu Natal’s 11. In the number 1 slot Short and Sjors Gouweloos inflicted a 2-1 defeat on de Beer and Neil Isaacs. Kwazulu Natal turned the tables in the women’s doubles with 7 of their pairings emerging victorious against 3 of Midlands and an 18-12 victory. The final result of 57 points each was an appropriate finish to a highly successful and enjoyable day which is going to be turned into an annual occasion. Compliments to the organisers and perhaps an idea which can spark a number of other areas into organising a fun doubles challenge. A number of the Midlands/Kwazulu Natal pairings – 63 players in total - will be seen in action in East London from the 6th-9th November when 490 players will converge on East London to participate in the 10th S A Masters interprovincial Doubles Championships. A tournament which has grown from the initial 180 players and clearly indicates the interest by the masters players in doubles. The Zimbabwean entries are welcomed again. Venues will be Old Selbornians, Beacon Bay, Buffaloes, Gonubie, Hamilton’s, Stirling High and Point Rex. Competition in the Mixed Doubles will be razor sharp in all the evenly matched 26 sections comprising an incredible 153 pairings. The A section sees Craig van der Wath/Angelique Clifton Parks (E): Chris Moody/Samantha Herbert (Kzn): Peter and Jacqui Ryder (EP): Deon Venter/Tracy le Roux(CG): Steve Cook/Janet Byrne(Bor): Eric Bruchausen/Sharon le Roux (CG) doing battle. Central Gauteng’s Lee Klette/Sharon le Roux are favourites to lift the women’s double title. They will face strong opposition from Clifton-Parks/Michelle Groenewald(E): Kim Commins/Barbara Vintcent (WP): Herbert/Anne Chalmers(Kzn). The women’s entry has 13 section – 77 pairings. The men’s doubles sees 138 couples in 23 sections and once again the Easterns pairing of van der Wath and Gary Plumstead should steal the thunder. Ian Paterson and his team will no doubt breathe a huge sigh of relief on Sunday afternoon as a tournament of this magnitude is no easy task to organise.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:20:17 +0000