2005/06 Alan Barber Cup
Mark Williams reports:
Twelve teams entered the competition this year, and two of the four first round matches were played. Otherwise all matches were completed with full pairs.
In the second round, the Old Etonians pulled off a notable win against the Old Edwardians 3-0, and the Old Cholmeleians gave the Old Harrovians a run for their money, with Harrow emerging victorious after two of the pairs had gone to five games.
In the semi-finals, the Old Olavians comfortably beat the Old Etonians, although Alex Illingworth and Will Sorrel pushed James Toop and Howard Wiseman hard at first pair. Old Salopians and Old Harrovians won the first and third pairs respectively in the other semi, and in the second pair, Ross Bryan and Jamie Fleming lost the first two games 12-14 against T and Jacob Walters, before Shrewsbury ran out easy winners in the third game.
In the final, the Salopians were without Ed Taylor which significantly reduced the strength of their side in all pairs, and the Old Olavians won quite comfortably, although Mark Lascelles and T Walters won a game against Howard Wiseman and Pauli Markkannen in the second pair. The Olavians therefore emerged as worthy winners of this distinguished Cup for the seventh time, and third in a row.
First Round
Old Ipswichians beat Old Stoics 3-0 at Highgate
G Hoskins & J A Caudle beat J Hutter & M Skjott 3-0 (12-7, 12-8, 12-4)
M Graves & T L Fletcher beat S Russell Smith & M Andrews 3-0 (12-2, 12-0, 12-1)
Old Stoics conceded third pair
Old Cholmeleians beat Old Aldenhamians 3-0 at Aldenham
G Chapman & A Varma beat J Rose & J Harris 3-0 (12-3, 12-4, 15-10)
M Williams & N Addy beat P Lyndon & P Kendall 3-0 (12-7, 12-0, 12-5)
W Wass & P Szemerenyi beat N Ravi & R Patel 2-0 (12-8, 12-2)
Old Etonians beat Old Berkhamstedians 3-0
Old Berkhamstedians conceded all three pairs
Old Millhillians beat Lancing Old Boys 3-0
Lancing Old Boys conceded all three pairs
Second Round
Old Harrovians beat Old Cholmeleians 3-0 at Harrow
R Bryan & T Dunbar beat N Addy & A Varma 3-1 (12-6, 12-2, 8-12, 12-9)
P Dunbar & N Shaw beat G Chapman & H Young 3-2 (12-9, 6-12, 12-7, 8-12, 12-5)
J Frederick & A Hassaram beat R Beenstock & D Davis 3-2 (12-9, 12-8, 8-12, 6-12, 12-8)
Old Etonians beat Old Edwardians 3-0 at Eton
W Sorrell & B Yarde-Buller beat R Tyler & P Thompson 3-0 (14-12, 14-11, 12-10)
T Dawson & E Remnant beat J Mole & S Purkis 3-1 (12-6, 12-7, 9-12, 12-10)
F Wickes & S Randall beat P Scholey & C Friend 3-2 (3-12, 14-12, 12-11, 8-12, 12-9)
Old Salopians beat Old Millhillians 3-0 at Highgate
I Hutchinson & A Walters beat V Bhimjiani & C Vincent 3-0 (12-3, 12-2, 12-1)
E Taylor & A Taylor beat F Mir & N Krendal 3-0 (12-6, 12-5, 12-5)
P Nichols & R Taylor beat N Tandy & P Mason 3-0 (12-3, 13-10, 12-1)
Old Olavians beat Old Ipswichians 3-0 at Orpington
J Toop & M Wiseman beat M Graves & G Hoskins 3-0 (12-5, 12-1, 12-4)
H Wiseman & D Hawkins beat T S Fletcher & T L Fletcher 3-0 (12-4, 12-9, 12-7)
S Ranasinghe & P Cohen beat J A Caudle & S A Woolfries 3-0 (12-11, 15-14, 12-9)
Semi-finals
Old Salopians beat Old Harrovians 2-1
E Taylor & I Hutchinson lost to T Dunbar & P Dunbar 0-3 (5-12, 12-15, 5-12)
A Walters & J Walters beat R Bryan & J Fleming 3-0 (14-12, 14-12, 12-2)
M Hughes & R Nichols beat J Willis & N Shaw 3-0 (12-9, 12-2, 12-7)
Old Olavians beat Old Etonians 3-0
J Toop & H Wiseman beat A Illingworth & W Sorrell 3-0 (12-11, 12-7, 13-11)
D Hawkins & D Mew beat F Taylor & T Dawson 3-0 (12-8, 12-7, 12-10)
P White & S White beat F Wickes & S Randall 3-1 (12-5, 14-15, 12-8, 12-4)
Final
Old Olavians beat Old Salopians 3-0
J Toop & S Cooley beat I Hutchinson & J Walters 3-0 (12-3, 12-2, 12-5)
H Wiseman & P Markkannen beat M Lascelles & A Walters 3-1 (12-5, 3-12, 12-7, 12-6)
D Hawkins & D Mew beat M Hughes & B Alderson 3-0 (12-5, 12-6, 12-3)