Report on the Hertfordshire Restricted 2018/19
This season’s Restricted tournament took place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September at Birchwood. 45 players from across the County took part with over 70 matches played.
In the men’s singles there were four boxes of four with the top player in each group going through to the semi- finals. The top two seeds Michael Spencer-Smith and Daniel Leers made it to the final with Michael winning 21-9 23-21.
In the ladies singles Abbie Smith, Kelly Matthews and Molly Goode played a round robin format with Kelly emerging victorious.
There were 14 pairs in the men’s doubles split into four boxes. Andy Walden and Doug Furze played Lyall and Zach Daniels in the final with Andy and Doug winning 21-16 21-13.
There were four pairs in the ladies doubles so they played in a single round robin format. The first match between Kelly Matthews and Abbie Smith and the scratch pairing of Natalie Barton and Leona Lee was an old fashion “monster” and proved to be the decisive match with Kelly and Abbie winning 18-21 22-20 21-16.
There were 11 pairs in the mixed doubles which were split into three boxes. Many of the matches went to three and the final, between Ben Vranjkovic and Natalie Barton and Conor Bambrick and Kelly Matthews, was no different. Eventually Ben and Natalie ran out winners 17-21 21-16 21-16 to give Ben his first Restricted title after numerous appearances in finals.
All the matches were played in the right spirit and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves. Overall, we broke even on the entry fees and costs. Many thanks to Tim Jalland for his help in running the Sunday as I was stumbling on and off court!
Eddie Lintott
4 October 2018