2001/02 Alan Barber Cup
Mike Fenn reports:
Early Rounds
Sadly, once again several matches in the first round were awarded on a walk-over basis. The 'lucky winners' were then pitched into the deep end to meet the four seeded clubs in the second. Here the Etonians were unlucky to lose to the Edwardian fourth seeds, the outcome hinging on the first string result, which went in favour of the Edwardians, three games to two. The Salopians gambled by only taking two pairs to Lancing but ran out comfortable winners, 2-1. As expected the two seeds, Olavians at one and Cholmeleians at two, had little trouble in disposing of the Ipswichians and Aldenhamians respectively.
Semi-finals and Final
The top two seeds met stronger resistance against the Salopians and Edwardians in the semis, each winning close matches two games to one. In the final the Olavians dominated proceedings, defeating the Cholmeleians 3-0 in each pair, thus completing a hat-trick of consecutive Alan Barber Cup victories.
Results
1st Round
Old Etonians beat Old Berkhamstedians 3-0
Old Aldenhamians beat Old Carthusians 3-0
Old Ipswichians beat Old Cranleighans 3-0
Lancing Old Boys beat Old Harrovians 3-0
2nd Round
Old Ipswichians lost to Old Olavians 0-3 at Ipswich
P V Boughton & J W B Levick lost to K Rudman & M Wiseman 0-3 (3-12, 2-12, 1-12)
M Graves & J A Caudle lost to H Wiseman & M Marriott 0-3 (5-12, 3-12, 6-12)
G Hoskins & S Burnell lost to S Cooley & T Rakow 0-3 (4-12, 4-12, 4-12)
Old Edwardians beat Old Etonians 2-1 at Highgate
R C Tyler & C Friend beat N Bailey & H Dixon 3-2 (12-6, 9-12, 12-7, 8-12, 12-5)
R A Mason & J Birch beat S Barber & D Bailey 3-1 (11-14, 12-3, 12-3, 13-10)
P Knowles & J Seelig lost to H Mackenzie & F Dalhuisen 0-3 (10-12, 5-12, 4-12)
Lancing Old Boys lost to Old Salopians 1-2 at Lancing
N Cox & T Monckton lost to E Taylor & A Walters jr 0-3 (4-12, 5-12, 5-12)
R Black & M Searle lost to J Walters & M Hughes 0-3 (4-12, 1-12, 5-12)
Old Salopians conceded the third pair
Old Cholmeleians beat Old Aldenhamians 3-0 at Highgate
J Halstead & S Khan beat G Pulsford & T Chamberlain 3-0 (12-1, 12-0, 12-9)
S Rasheed & N Addy beat J Knowles & I Khan 3-0 (12-0, 12-2, 12-0)
Old Aldenhamians conceded the third pair
Semi-finals - Eton
Old Cholmeleians beat Old Salopians 2-1
E Wass & J Halstead beat E Taylor & A Walters jr 3-1 (12-9, 12-6, 6-12, 12-11)
J Pinner & S Rasheed lost to M Hughes & J Walters 1-3 (9-12, 8-12, 12-9 ret)
N Addy & S Khan beat D Blofield & C Prentice 3-0 (12-1, 12-3, 12-2)
Old Olavians beat Old Edwardians 2-1
M Wiseman & S Cooley beat J Mole & R Tyler 3-2 (14-11, 12-4, 7-12, 8-12, 12-9)
H Wiseman & P Markkanen lost to R Mason & C Friend 1-3 (14-13, 7-12, 10-12, 9-12)
C Cooley & K Rudman beat P Knowles & P Scholey 3-0 (12-8, 12-8, 12-8)
Final - Eton
Old Olavians beat Old Cholmeleians 3-0
J Toop & C Cooley beat E Wass & J Halstead 3-0 (12-8, 12-1, 12-7)
S Cooley & K Rudman beat J Pinner & S Rasheed 3-0 (13-10, 12-6, 14-13)
H Wiseman & D Hawkins beat S Khan & N Addy 3-0 (12-2, 12-9, 12-7)