Masters Tournament Update-Silverware and biscuits for Sussex players.
The first (UK) Masters Tournament this season was the Kent Gold Masters held on 28-30 October in Gillingham. With over 300 entries, over 20 Sussex players took part and several came away with trophies. The players and some former Sussex players that achieved winning results were:
MS O45 -Ollie Smith- 3/4th
MS O60 Crowborough resident but Kent player, Martin Staden R/U in and also 3rd in MD O60
WS O35 Mitsuyo Kondo- R/U
WS O45 Helen Milne- Winner
WS O60 The masterful Cathy Bargh -Winner. When was the last time Cathy did not win a medal?
MD O40 Former Kent player Phil Troke with his Kent partner, Paul Freeman- RU
MD O45 Chris Spice and Kent partner, Kenton Jones- Winners
MD O60 Former Sussex player Ian Hunter and partner- RU
MD O70 William Brown & Middlesex partner, Richard Fischer- 3rd
WD O45 Mitsuyo Kondo & Helen Milne- 3rd
WD O60 Cathy Bargh & new partner Linda Wood- Winners
WD O60 Karen Thomas & partner Chris Summers coming- RU
WD O75 Sue Awcock & partner Jan Hewitt- RU
XD O45 Phil Troke & Mitsuyo 3rd
XD O50 Sara Foster and partner Simon Gilhooly – Winners, & Jane Ashfold with partner Phil Sunderland ended up joint 3/4th
Second Tournament was the Cumbrian Masters held in Carlisle on 15/16th October where there were only two players from Sussex.
MD 60 Crowborough resident Matin Staden and regular partner Nigel Fell were Winners with former Sussex player Ian Hunter and partner coming 2nd
MXD 60 Martin Staden and partner Kay Armer took joint3/4th position
MD 70 William Brown and Lancashire partner, Peter Lonnen came 4th (having beaten the RU pair in their group stage!)
Third Masters Tournament was the Northumberland Silver in Newcastle 4 Nov to 6 Nov where there were three players from Sussex.
MD O60 Martin Staden with partner Nigel Fell came 3rd and in the MS O60 was the Winner
MD O70 William Brown and Lancashire partner Peter Lonnen were RU (no silverware in the north-that’s where we got the tin of biscuits)
WD O75 Sue Awcock and Hampshire partner Jan Hewitt Winners and were RU in the combined WD O70/O75
XD O60 Again Martin Staden and partner Kay Armer were RU
Fourth and most recent Masters Tournament was the West of England Masters 2022 held in Bath on 19/20 November with over 12 players from Sussex.
O60 MD Simon Wootton and Kent partner Mike Nevett – Winners
O70 MD William Brown and Middlesex partner, Richard Fischer – 3rd
O50 WD Sara Foster and partner Caroline Hale Winners with Jane Ashfold & Karen Thomas RU
O60 WD Wendy Gill and partner Mair Dew came 3rd
O75 WD Sue Awcock & partner Val O’Neil also came 3rd
O45 MXD Ollie Smith and partner Jane Ashfold – Winners
O60 MXD Simon Wootten and partner Kerry Mullen were Runners Up with Karen Thomas and partner Mike Nevett and Wendy Gill with Paul Chard taking 3rd/4th positions
O70 MXD Wendy Arscott and partner Robert Bell from Cornwall, came 3rd
A good turn out by Sussex and it is always the same competitors, we could do with more entries across all age groups. The next event is the English Nationals at Hatfield on 2/3/4th December and the Hampshire and Middlesex Masters in the New year. There have also been two European Masters events, Spain and Denmark where several of our players took part.
Apologies for anyone left out and any spelling errors.
Pictures showing participants and winners at the events and our own Graham Billingshust Officiating at the Kent Gold
Pictures courtesy of John Gardner & William Brown