Ken Wheeler Shield 24 July
This one-
Manager Terrey Sparks’s report, available on the EACF website, describes the format and scoring system. As Richard featured in the denouement the final paragraphs are repeated here:
Play commenced at 10am and, bearing in mind doubles pairs not used to each other, the match proceeded at a determined and at times a slow pace. However, progress it did with the field being led by the EACF for all the first 5 rounds, closely followed by Norfolk & Cambridgeshire. After the end of the fifth round EACF had amassed 8 points followed by Norfolk & Cambridge on 6 points each, and Bedfordshire on a creditable 4 points. At this point Suffolk and Hertfordshire were eliminated from the competition.
Proceeding to the Gold Medal Round, each team played a combination of 3 singles games which attracted 3 points per win added to their team score. The EACF started to falter and only managed to pick up 1 win. However, both the Bedford and Norfolk teams upped their game, each picking up 2 wins and each attracting 6 points. But the real surprise was the ending. With Norfolk on 12 points and the EACF on 11 points it fell to the last game in which David Ball (Bedford) was playing Richard Keighley (EACF). David's Bedford team could not overhaul Norfolk if he won but would stop the EACF Select team winning and hand the final result to Norfolk -
A very interesting and competitive day enjoyed by all, with thanks to the Wrest Park Club for allowing the use of their excellent facilities.
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