Handicap Singles and Pot Luck Doubles
Tournament report - by Dave Murphy

Handicap Singles The MKTTL held their annual Handicap singles and pot luck doubles in November which saw more than 30 entrants.

Gareth Jones won his group in the singles and played V. Mathews in the last 16 and had to give away 10 points start. Jones, son of Ray went on to beat Mathews 21-17, 21-16 to face Jon Hall in the quarter final, who beat Peter Sear 21-13, 21-19 after giving away a two point start. Hall, who plays for Greenleys gave Jones six points advantage, which would prove too much as he was outplayed by Jones losing 7-21, 14-21.

In the bottom end of the draw Alan Kempton of Greenleys won his group and had to play tournament organiser Madeline Baxter, giving away an 11- 0 start. Baxter, who also plays for Greenleys, came runners-up in her group lost the first to Kempton 15-21 but despite playing better, she was simply outclassed and lost 18-21 to see Kempton go through to the Quarter final against Craig Brown. Brown received a five point start but it wasn't enough to win and lost 17-21, 13-21.

Gareth Jones faced Johan Andersson in the first semi-final with a handicap of four points. Jones was still playing on top of his game and beat Andersson comfortably in the first 21-9 but Andersson, who regularly attends Keith Thompson's junior coaching, took the second 21-12 to force a final game. Andersson showed great determination and could have taken the match but it wasn't enough to overcome Jones and lost 18-21.

The second semi-final saw Dave Wackrill give Alan Kempton eight points start (rather him than me). Wackrill who plays for MK Stormers and is a life member of the league found the margin too much and even without the handicap could have lost the first and diffidently would have lost the second by going out of the competition 13-21, 8-21.

The final saw both players off scratch so the better player was going to win, which in other circumstances of the handicap system can prove to be different. Jones was saving his best for last and convincingly beat Kempton 21-13. The second was closer for Kempton but he still couldn't win and lost 21-18 to the new handicap singles champion Gareth Jones.

Pot Luck Doubles The pot luck doubles saw a quarter final clash between Neil Riddy/ Ed Londy and Dave Wackrill/ Gareth Jones.

There was no contest for Wackrill and Jones by putting to sleep their opponents winning 21-14, 21-4.

The duo went on to face T.Lau and Brian Rainbird in the semi-final and lost the first 14-21. They could have lost the second game but they made some crucial shots and won 21-18 to force a final set. The third instalment was very tight between both pairs but Wackrill and Jones played the better and squeezed the victory 21-19.

The Quarter final in the bottom end of the draw was Andy "Footloose" Fermor and partner Barbara Peters against Daniel Andersson and Peter Clark. Fermor, who only fell over the barriers 16 times, was well supported by Peters and took the first 21-16. Despite Andersson's offensive play it still wasn't enough to win and saw them lose the second 21-15. Peter Sear and Simon Green were paired together and they only just won their quarter final against John Hall and Eric Last 21-19 in the third. Against Fermor and Peters they found life a lot harder and had no answer and lost 21-13, 21-11.

The final was between Dave Wackrill and Gareth Jones who was already in the singles final against Barbara Peters and Andy Fermor. With Wackrill and Jones feeling they were fortunate to reach the final after their close match in the semis, they took full advantage and won the first 21-13. Fermor and Peters picked up the pace slightly, but it wasn't enough to overcome their opponents and lost the second 21-17.