From an entry of 17 teams, representing 11 clubs from around the region, 8 teams qualified for the Winter Doubles final.
Out of the 16 qualifying players, 7 were from River Hamble and 5 from Cobbetts:
1 David Franco Cruz & Marc Franco Llado (River Hamble) 12 wins +97
2 Dave Stubbs & Richard Greeves (Cobbetts) 11 wins +58
3 Lee & Diane Redfern (Cobbetts) 10 wins +25
4 Karen Lombard & Tomasz Rypien (River Hamble/Anglesey Arms) 9 wins +74
5 Mark Duncan & Will Read (River Hamble) 9 wins +22
6 Steve Lombard & Ray Oakley (River Hamble) 9 wins +17
7 Ali Stubbs & Dave Lucas (Cobbetts/Ship) 8 wins -4
8 Paul Myers & Eliot Mortimore (Crondall) 7 wins +4
The final was played at Burridge on Saturday, March 18th. There were 2 four team leagues with teams playing 3 matches. After the 3 morning games the league winners were top seeds David & Marc (3 wins +26) and 4th seeds Karen & Tomasz (3 wins +13). Joining these two teams in the semi-finals were league runners-up Paul and Eliot (2 wins +11) and Lee & Diane (2 wins -2).
Both the league winners won their semi-final matches.
David and Marc were given a tough game by Paul and Eliot before coming out on top 13-8 while Karen & Tomasz were 13-4 winners over Lee & Diane. David & Marc took the title with a 13-5 win over Karen & Tomasz while Lee and Diane took 3rd place with an emphatic win over Paul & Eliot.
Defending champions and 2nd seeds, Dave & Rich, could not repeat last year’s efforts narrowly losing both their first two morning games 13-10 to Lombards! Two afternoon wins saw them finish 5th.
A big thank you to Chris Barron for supplying bacon rolls, soup and cake.
Final 2022/23 placings:
Winners David Franco Cruz & Marc Franco Llado (River Hamble)
Runners-up Karen Lombard & Tomasz Rypien (River Hamble/Anglesey Arms)
3rd Lee & Diane Redfern (Cobbetts)
4th Paul Myers & Eliot Mortimore (Crondall)
5th Dave Stubbs & Richard Greeves (Cobbetts)
6th Ali Stubbs & Dave Lucas (Cobbetts/Ship)
7th Mark Duncan & Will Read (River Hamble)
8th Steve Lombard & Ray Oakley (River Hamble)
