2009 Island Magic Touch Triples
The 2009 Magic Touch Island Triples Champions are Helene Retrosi, Michel Morel and Chris Romeril. These three play in the Vagabonds league team and their fellow team members Keith Boleat, Neil Selby and Chris Pinel have won the trophy for the past two years!
Indeed the two teams were drawn in the same group and in a very close game the new champions won by just one point! Had this gone the other way, the holders of the trophy would have once again reached the semi-finals as they came second in the group. They also missed out on going through as the best runners up by 8 points to Linda and Keaven Taylor and Rita Le Brocq from another group.
The only team to beat the champions in the group stages were Island Singles champion Matthew Pinel with dad Keith and Jeremy Grigg.
Top team in the yellow group were Anne Gouedard, Marion and Sid Simkin who won 4 of their 5 games. Their one defeat was to Rosie Boleat, Darren Le Brun and Mick Cotillard. This group was a real family affair with all of the Le Brun family playing each other! Best of these was Mum Jeanne who with Myrtle Le Marquand and Marilyn Evans won 3 games including the one against their husbands!
Rita, Linda and Keaven also won 3 games and as their losses were only to 10 and 11 they finished with a creditable +18 points difference to secure their place in the semis.
The only team unbeaten in the groups were newcomers Matt Ryan, Dave Ibitson and Sam Lempriere. Taking up the sport at the commencement of the Condor Lunch Time leagues just a year ago, they have won the all 3 seasons there as L’Homard Qui Rit. Their dedication to practice and the coaching they have had sees them take on all comers with much success. They took a well deserved place in the semi finals with a remarkable +31 from their 5 wins. Penny and Ian Foster playing with Gerald Rolland took second place in this group with 3 wins. The Brown’s family team included young Martyn Brown who at just 11 years old played very well – firing too – against his adult opponents.
In the semi finals Matt, Dave and Sam found themselves 0-3 down against Rita, Linda and Keaven, but then moved into the lead and never looked back winning 13-5.
Anne, Marion and Sid began well against Helene, Michel and Chris but from 3-5 down, they fell further behind and were unable to retrieve the situation, losing 4-13.
The crowd watching the final were treated to an excellent display of attacking play. Matt, Dave and Sam took a while to settle and found themselves down 0-6 having lost a 5 in the second end. Helene, Michel and Chris continued to play at a high standard, but the less experienced trio kept playing their attacking game and began to pull back. Finding themselves at 8-12 Sam Lempriere fired to take out the one ball stopping them winning the game, and missed by the very finest margin. Still his team took 3 points now making them just one point behind. The teams were ball for ball in the final end, each holding shot in turn and a final fire by Sam failed to take the holding boule so that Helene, Michel and Chris became the 2009 champions.
Lots of photos in the Gallery - take a look!!