This weekend saw the first round of the 2010 Ladies Doubles, held at The Maram. With 9 starters after a late withdrawal, Cindy Blackmore & Nicole Welsh were looking to extend their title run to four straight, and seven overall. But standing in their way were the 2006 Champions, Kylie Power & Les O’Connor, 2008 runners up Ann Peffer & Cath Rollinson, Kathy Harmon & Theresa Whitten (both former champions), last year’s 3rd place finishers Alison Murphy & Theresa Skipper, Heather Robertson & Penny Foudoulis (7th/8th in the Ladies Singles), Melissa Chapelli & Olivia Ott (5th last year), Lee Love & Michelle Massey (former and current Top 12 qualifiers) and first time participants Margaret Auvaa & Tammie Ashlin.
With the entire 2010 ACT Ladies team in the bunch, the Top 4 was an open race. The 9 pairs took each other on in 4 round robins over two days, with the top 4 to reassemble the following Sunday for the State Title. Strong starts from Ann & Cath, Kathy & Theresa and Cindy & Nicole saw them finish top after round 1 with 6 frames, but Heather & Penny were just a frame back at the head of the peleton (sorry – Tour de France reference there…).
The group tightened up in the next round, with the highest finishers on 5 frames, including Cindy & Nicole who took the overnight lead 11. But Heather & Penny and Ann & Cath sat just one frame back while Kathy & Theresa dropped back to join Kylie & Les in equal 4th a further frame back on 9. With 16 frames each on the Sunday remaining, everyone was still in the mix, although 3 or 4 of the pairs needed a big second day to bring it home.
Lee & Shelly promptly destroyed the field in round 3, winning their first 7 frames before dropping their last to set the biggest round of the weekend and jump from 6th to 2nd behind Cindy & Nicole, who hit another round of 6 to jump 2 frames clear. But a frame behind the round 3 dominators were Ann & Cath, Heather & Penny and Kathy & Theresa on 14, while Kylie & Les hovered at 13, setting up an enticing final round.
Marg & Tammie had played well all weekend but were unfortunately outplayed as they finished 9th on 7 frames, but they can take comfort in the fact that 2 of those frames were against Cindy & Nicole, proof that when they are hot they can beat anyone. Lissi & Olivia, meanwhile, while also struggling to 8th, still had a role to play in the makeup of the Top 4…
Alison & Theresa weren’t able to match their 3rd place finish last year, nor their 5 frame 2nd round, as they were off the pace for most of Sunday despite some good play to finish 7th, but Cindy & Nicole did enough to finish 2 frames clear at the other end on 22 frames and into another top 4. Note from author – break these records while you can, ladies, because my two baby girls were checking out the competition on Saturday and reckon they’ll give it a good shot in 15 years time…
Kath & Theresa were quietly moving along to a 6 frame final round and 11/5 for the Sunday. Intentionally not following the leaderboard or keeping their own score, the pair where pleasantly surprised to find they had finished 2nd on 20, fighting hard up until what was to be the last frame of the day. Behind them though, four pairs were in the struggle for the last two spots.
Ann & Cath had a horror start to their last round, winning 2 out of 5, to slip back in the ranking, but came good under pressure to nail two of their last three frames to finish on 18. A few minutes later, Lee & Shelly also finished with 4 frames to total 19 for the weekend, hopefully good enough for the Top 4.
Behind on frame wins, but with frames in hand, Kylie & Les and Heather & Penny fought hard in the final hour. Heather & Penny ($251 outsider anyone?) managed 4 frames to level with Ann & Cath on 18, and Kylie & Les also leapt to this total with 5 out of 7 and one frame in hand. There is no such thing as an eight ball group without drama and there is no such thing as an eight ball email without dragging it out…
Despite a disappointing weekend results-wise, Lissi & Olivia turned it on in their final frame against Kylie & Les. A win to Lissi & Olivia would see a 3 way playoff (and more beer for the adjudicator, Scrol), but a Kylie & Les win would see them through. No blow by blow description here, I’m afraid, but needless to say a crucial end of the day with everyone watching frame ensued with tactical play dominant. In the end, Kylie & Les were able to hold off for the win, ending Ann & Cath’s and Heather & Penny’s hopes of a playoff as they finished equal 5th
Well played to all the ladies this weekend, especially to Cindy & Nicole, Kathy & Theresa, Kylie & Les and Lee & Shelly, who all qualified for next Sunday’s Top 4 at The Maram. Special mention must go to Theresa Whitten who completed the solitary Master Break for the weekend. (She all but did this to me last season, running out after I broke, but I would have done the same if she didn’t, honest…)
Again, a big thank you must be extended to The Maram for hosting the weekend, as well as Scrol, who held the fort admirably in adjudicating 18 ladies including his wife, despite the witty barbs he received. And I must apologise to Nicholas, because it was my fault his Mummy couldn’t be there for his birthday.
So next weekend will prove to be an exciting one, with the Masters Singles to be held on both days and the Ladies Top 4 joining them on Sunday. Spectators should see some great eight ball, they also serve beer there, and the bistro is open between 12 and 2 for an awesome feed so there are plenty of reasons to be at The Maram next weekend.
Below are full results for the Ladies Doubles Round One.
http://www.acteba.com.au/downloads/2010_Ladies_Doubles_Round1_Results.xls
Regards
Chris Jones
ACTEBA Tournament Director
