SUSSEX SCOOP 7 MEDALS AT THE MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Masters News Masters Reports by Jonny - 8th December 20198th December 20190 Sussex Masters keep getting better as shown in last weeks National Championships. The three-day tournament held at Hatfield saw players in each 5-year age groupings from over 35s up to over 70s. Sussex had 5 players winning a total of 7 medals as follows: PHIL TROKE – Mens Doubles 40s Silver Medallist (with Paul Freeman) SARA FOSTER- Mixed Doubles 50s Champion & Gold Medallist (with Simon Gilhooly) Also, Womens Doubles 50s Silver Medallist (with Lesley Pallett). CATHY BARGH – Womens Singles 55s Champion & Gold Medallist! Also, Womens Doubles 55s semi-finalist (with Debbie Miller) WENDY ARSCOTT & VERA GROVES – Womens Doubles 70s Silver Medallists. Congratulations to them especially and all the other entries from Sussex.
SUSSEX 70s FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON Masters Reports by Jonny - 5th November 20195th November 20190 The Sussex 70s team travelled to the Dome in Hounslow to renew our rivalry with the Middlesex players. After a cup of tea and catch up chat with the opposition, we started the match in earnest. L-R Wendy, Laurence, Tim, Pam, Vera, Mike Vera Groves & Wendy Arscott got off to a great start winning their ladies in 2 sets, whilst Mike Stoneman & Tim Kaye also won in 3 sets. Then Vera and Pam Barden continued the trend of winning in 2, followed by the final ladies Wendy & Pam completing a hattrick of wins in 2 for the ladies! Unfortunately, Tim & Laurence Walker, then Mike & Laurence lost their remaining men's doubles bringing the score to Sussex 4, Middlesex
THREE GOLDS AND A SILVER AT THE KENT MASTERS Masters News Masters Reports by Jonny - 30th October 201930th October 20190 The first major tournament of the season saw our Sussex players continue to win medals. The Kent tournament is at the highest Gold level and attracted a lot of overseas players, particularly from The Netherlands. Over 40s Mens Doubles Chris Spice (Sussex) & partner Kenton Jones (Kent) won their group beating the No. 1 seeds on the way, whilst Phil Troke (Sussex) & his partner Paul Freeman (Kent) won their group beating the No. 2 seeds. This meant an all Sussex/Kent final pairing against each other. After a hard 3 set battle, Phil Troke & Paul Freeman beat Chris Spice & Kenton Jones, bringing both gold and silver medals home to Sussex (& of course Kent) Over 50s Mixed doubles The established pairing of
065s HAVE A SMASHING START AGAINST ESSEX Masters Reports by Jonny - 15th October 201928th October 20190 First match of the season with new regular players in the team. A phone call from the opposition (again) meant they were arriving late and the courts were booked solidly after our match so we were unsure whether we would get all the games played. As it was, a mixed pair arrived in time to get the third mixed out of the away before the rest of their team arrived. We continued in the normal format of even doubles but lost the first played mix game in two ends. James and I managed to take our first men’s in two straight, balancing the score line. Unfortunately we clashed mid court and lost a racket apiece. ££ouch!!! Unfortunately,
SUSSEX SUCCESS IN WORLD CHAMPS, POLAND Masters News Masters Reports by Jonny - 11th September 201916th September 20190 Cathy BarghVera Groves & Wendy ArscottSue AwcockSpodek Arena, Katowice Sussex success at the World Senior Badminton Championships in Katowice, Poland. Cathy Bargh reached the semi finals in the 55s singles, winning a bronze medal - congratulations Cathy ! Also, Vera Groves & Wendy Arscott reached the quarter finals in the 70s ladies doubles together and Sue Awcock reached the 70s quarter finals too with her partner Jan Hewett from Worcestershire. Well done indeed ladies Other Sussex players who also competed hard representing England did Sussex proud: Phil Troke, Mark Burgeman, Mike Stoneman & Catherine Wheller All together a fantastic result for Sussex Masters players - congratulations!
OVER 65’S V ESSEX OVER 65’S Masters Reports by Jonny - 13th March 201918th August 20190 Our last fixture of the season and second ‘home’ match at the new venue. Comments were received from both sides again especially the lighting which for some reason is brighter at the back of the courts and right over the tramlines on two courts. The day did not start well as there had been a court booking error which fortunately went in our favour as the opposition were running late due to weather and road conditions. 45 minutes late their first man appeared followed by a second ten minutes after. This was our winning ICC team, so much to prove. This was always going to be a difficult match with several of the opposition being Open Tournament players including a National Champion.
ENGLAND HONOURS FOR CATHY & SARA Masters Reports by Jonny - 4th March 201918th August 20190 McCoig Trophy & Medals Sussex Masters players and National Champions Cathy Bargh and Sara Foster, were selected to represent England against Scotland for the McCoig trophy on Friday 1st March 2019. This was held at the magnificent Railway Institute Hall York, with 9 courts. Cathy won her O55s singles after a tricky start against Jill Smith of Scotland 21-16, 21-10 adding to the English team’s match score. Sara also won her O45 mixed doubles with Simon Gilhooly from Essex (playing out of her age group), but lost her O50 Ladies Doubles with partner Caroline Hale against 2 excellent Scottish ladies. England Masters won the match 23-6 and therefore hold the McCoig trophy for 2019. Congratulations to everyone – especially our Sussex girls Sara
4 SUSSEX WINNERS AT YORKSHIRE MASTERS GOLD TOURNAMENT Masters Reports by Jonny - 4th March 201918th August 20190 Sussex players brought home more gold medals last weekend from the Yorkshire Gold Masters Tournament. Held in the beautiful city of York, in the Railway Institute, 4 Sussex players played very well and brought new titles back to Sussex. Following their previous England appearances against Scotland, Cathy Bargh & Sara Foster completed their stay in York picking up even more titles. National Singles Champion CATHY BARGH won the gold medal in the O55 Ladies Singles winning all her matches in her group, followed by a silver medal with partner Viv Gillard of Essex, winning their group but losing in 3 sets to No. 2 seeds Chris Summers & Tracy Walker in the final. SARA FOSTER, also National Champion in Doubles & Mixed, won the O45
SUSSEX 65S V BERKS 5/2/19 Masters Reports by Jonny - 12th February 201918th August 20190 Three weeks after our amazing win at the ICC, the team with one change made our way from the snowy SE to Reading. On arrival I was informed that one of my team had a knee injury but was willing to give it a go. Unfortunately, he was only able to play two of his games thus giving the opposition a walkover in the 2nd Mixed. We lost 4-5 to this team last year with them only having five players, so the possibilities of a better result were always going to be a challenge. Swapping our 2nd & 3rd men made little difference as we lost all three Men’s Doubles games in straight sets. Our ladies fared a little better by taking two games
SUSSEX 65S V MIDDX 15/12/18 Masters Reports by Jonny - 10th January 201918th August 20190 Sussex 65s Team: Back row: L-R. William Brown (Capt.),Pam Barden, Martin Pordage. Front row: L-R Janet Pordage, Gill Fairham and James Tillier. Another long drive and sitting in traffic on the M25, our team finally managed to arrive at the Dome on the busiest shopping Saturday before Christmas! Such thoughtful planning! The opposition were gracious and aware of the difficulties we had getting to them and presented us with some very good refreshments, with special note on the sausage rolls and coffee sponge cake. With our ‘new man’ making his second appearance we were hoping for a better result than the last time we met. The team shook off the cold but otherwise very good playing conditions and put in some good effort.