Over 60 Amateur Doubles 2025

The qualifying group was won decisively by Rupert Henson and Paul Wright, though Andrew and Stephen Bishop showing well, though just losing out 5/6 to Oliver Buckley and Gerard Soames. John Lubbock and Tim Roberts gave solid accounts of themselves (despite their higher handicaps), scoring 10 games in 3 sets.

The subsequent groups produced some entertaining matches and exceedingly close results. Martin Richards and Paul Norris lost only to Charles Human (a past champion) and Patrick Lawrence who, in turn, only lost to Simon Constantine and Richard Compton-Burnett – and they only lost to Richards/Norris, who eventually won the group by 0.03 of a game. In this group the qualifiers (Henson/Wright) played really well and only lost 2 matches by 5/6 though gaining no wins. Henson’s power dovetailed well with Wright’s measured approach.

The other group was won by Ashley Deakin and Alan Giddins, though a 6/5 defeat of Tony Munsey (another past champion) and Nigel Pendrigh proved crucial, as the latter also won their other 2 sets. Deakin’s played an athletic and technical game, covering the back, while Giddins patrolled the galleries. They were hard to pass, though Munsey’s power and Pendrigh’s experience nearly proved enough. John Duns and Richard Macalister beat Jonathan Fisher and Tim Pendered, who themselves pressed Munsey and Pendrigh very hard (5/6).

The final proved an astonishing affair. Deakin/Giddins progressed serenely (though in a some thoroughly competitive tennis) to 5/1 and 40/30. The wheels then came off as a combination of Richards’ extraordinary lefty hitting with Norris’ more conventional courtcraft put the opposition under increasing pressure. And in a single set, we all know that it is extremely hard to change the momentum. Without conceding another game point (some going with short deuces), they won 6/5 before a highly animated and appreciative dedans. This was a thoroughly good day.