England Nationals Masters Champions O55 XD 2018

 Launa Eyles & Gene Joyner (Avon) played in the O55 XD at the England National Masters Championships in Hatfield in December 2018. Playing in their group, which included the 2nd seeds, Launa & Gene won all of their matches.  This qualified them for the semi-finals where they faced a strong pair, Eric Plane (Norfolk) & Ann Jenkins (Norfolk) and in a tight match that went to 3 ends Launa & Gene were victorious. In the final they faced Kyle Nethercott  (Wiltshire) & Tracy Walker (Lancashire) and another close game followed.  Launa & Gene won the first end 22-20 before Kyle retired in the 2nd end owing to injury.  Congratulations to Launa & Gene – England Nationals Champions 2018 

At the 2018 West of England at Bath University in November 2018 Launa Eyles & Kerry Mullen had a good O55’s WD tournament & beat all-comers in a round robin box to become West of England champions.  Congratulations.

The year before, in 2017, they had been runners up in the same tournament

Launa Eyles with partner, Gene Joyner (Avon), played in the European Senior Championships at Guadalajara, Spain.  In the O55 XD they had a convincing start against a pair from Spain winning 4 & 10.  In the next round they beat a French pair 10 & 11.  In the round of 16 they faced a strong pair from Denmark & a tough match went to 3 ends where they were successful winning 21-18 in the final set.  Having now reached the Quarter finals they faced a pair from Sweden & Russia who they beat 15 & 14.  Reaching the semi final ensured that they had a medal so the competition was for the colour of the ‘gong’.  Facing Jan Petersen (Denmark) & Janette van der Werff (Netherlands) would be very tough. The pair from Denmark/Netherlands won and then went on to win the final.  An excellent performance from Launa & Gene to win a Bronze medal at the Europeans!

Launa played in the O55 WD with Kay Armer (Cumbria).  They beat a quality pair from Russia, Luidmila Postnova & Irina Shalmonova, in a very close match to 17 in the 3rd end.  Then they comfortably saw off a pair from Spain before playing the No 2 seeds from Denmark, Helle Buch & Lone Knudsen in the quarter final.  A 3 end match ensued which saw the Danes progress to the next round.  They finished as runners-up in the tournament.

In the O55 WS Launa had to play Lone Knudsen again & Lone, a singles specialist, won their match.

James Buckle played in the O60 XD with Anne Bridge (Surrey).  They beat a pair from Germany comfortably then had a closer match against a pair from France.  In the round of 16 they beat a pair from Germany/Denmark in a tough 3 end match.  In the quarter-finals they came up against a fellow England pair, No 1 seeds  Ian Purton (Surrey) & Christine Crossley (Surrey) and they lost.  Ian 7 Chris went on to be tournament runners-up.

James played in the O60 MD  with Ian Nicholls (Avon)  and beat a pair from Germany and then a pair from Sweden to reached the Round of 16.  Here they played a pair from Finland in a close match which they lost 22-10 in the 2nd end.

In the O60 MS he had a good run beating players from Italy, Poland and Denmark before losing to a Russian in the round of 16.  Good work, James – well done on a good tournament.

Launa Eyles & James Elkin wondering how they will hit this shuttle in Guadalajara.

James Elkin played  with ex-Somerset player, Ian Ross, they reached the last 16 being beaten by a good Irish pair who went on to become European Champions.

In the XD James played with Mandy Joiner (Gloucestershire) & reached the 3rd round

 Kerry Mullen played in the European Senior Championships with Linda Beer (Cornwall) in the WD, & Paul Owens (Devon) in the O55 XD she also played in the O55 WS.  It was an excellent experience. 

Kelly Fairey played In the O35 WD partnered with Claire Harrison and they just lost a very close 3 end game against a strong pair from Germany.

In the O35 XD she played with Mark Law (Essex) and they were defeated by another German pair again in 3 ends.

In the O35 WS she received a bye in the 1st round, then beat a German in the next round before losing in the round of 16 to a strong player from France

Fiona Rooke, partnered by Zoe Weller (Devon), played in the Hampshire Masters in February 2018.

They won their box, including beating the No. 1 seeds, & were ‘crowned’ Champions. Congratulations!

In the same year Fiona & Zoe were runners-up in the West of England Tournament

 The team played well & had a good weekend beating Kent, Devon, Middlesex & only losing to Essex 

Back Row
Tony Eyles, James Buckle, Trevor James, Val Fraser, Neil Robson

Front Row

Launa Eyles, Kerry Mullen, Jane Lipton, Karen Potter