2011 Island Magic Touch Men's and Ladies Triples
Barbara Grover, Marion Simkin and Julie Brown
Dennis Le Mercier, Derek Hart and Gordon De Gruchy
I am delighted to report that the inaugural Championships for Mens and Ladies Triples were a great success today at St Martin’s!
The seven ladies teams all played each other and winners with 5 wins from their 6 games and net point’s difference of +31 were Marion Simkin, Julie Brown and Barbara Grover. Runners up, also with 5 wins were Linda Taylor, Rita le Brocq and Beryl Vibert and a net +22. In third place were Joan Le Mercier, Dorothy De Gruchy and Karen Bougeard with 4 wins +29 and fourth were Elaine Paisnel, Maggie Allchurch and Joy Hart also with 4 wins but +18.
The 10 Men’s teams were drawn into two groups of 5 and played all in their group. Winners of each group played the runners up of the opposite group in the semi finals. Marc Nicol, Mathew Pinel and Jeremy Grigg were unbeaten in their group with 4 wins and +37. Derek Hart, Gordon de Gruchy and Dennis Le Mercier took the runners up place, winning 3 of their four games, only losing to the top team. Sid Simkin, Frank Morel and Robert Morel were third with two wins -13.
In the other group, Ross Payne, Chris and Jake Romeril were also unbeaten with 4 wins +27.With two wins apiece, Neil Selby, Keith Boleat and Michel Morel edged out Keith Pinel, Graham Follain and Graham Huelin with a +7 to -6.
Hart, De Gruchy and Le Mercier won their semi final by the reasonably comfortable margin of 13-8 against Payne and the Romerils. In the other semi it was closer with Nicol, Pinel and Grigg winning 13-11 against Selby, Boleat and Morel.
The final was an excellent game. Marc, Matthew and Jeremy took three points in the first end, but Derek, Gordon and Dennis pulled two back in the following end. Their opponents than jumped ahead to 7-2 and whereas lesser teams may have buckled, Derek, Gordon and Dennis dug in to take 3 points and pull up to 5-7.
Another 4 points in the next end say the younger triple once again move ahead – now leading 11-5 in what many thought a winning lead. Not to be, as taking 2 points in each of the next three ends, Derek, Gordon and Dennis found themselves right back in the game at 11 all. A very tight end with both sides both placing and firing well saw Marc, Matthew and Jeremy very nearly clinch the victory but they were held to just one of the two points they needed!
In a final thrilling end, both sides had been in the ascendancy, but Dennis Le Mercier placed two excellent boules to close the game at 13-12 for his team.
Very creditable performances were put up by newcomers Lorna Limbrick, Joan Poignand and Sue Yu and Andy Limbrick, Alan Lahiffe and Ian Soloman each in their first championships and both won a game with some great play.
A thoroughly enjoyable day in the beautiful surroundings at St Martin in the sunshine!