2000 London Tournament
Sanjaya Ranasinghe reports:
For the fourth year running, the London Tournament at Highgate attracted roughly sixty players. There were welcomed newcomers from Lancing School and Emanuel School.
Group Stages
The group stages of both competitions took place on rain sodden Highgate courts on the Saturday, which led to some interesting underfoot conditions but didn't dampen the spirit of the competitors. Thankfully the latter stages of all the tournaments, on the Sunday, took place in brilliant sunshine (well as brilliant as you can get for the end of November), which led to a very high standard of play.
Main Tournament Plate
The Main tournament Plate final took place on adjacent courts to the main tournament final and the Festival final, this provided a wonderful spectacle for all the spectators. The Plate final was between William Powell and Paran Sarmah and Nick Shaw and Paul Thompson with Powell and Sarmah finally coming through 12-10, 12-14, 12-8.
Main Tournament
The top eight seeds in the main tournament all safely progressed to the quarter-finals. Guy Chapman and Simon Trigger defeated Robin Nagy and John Reynolds in their quarter-final to create the only upset in the semi-final line up. Guy Chapman and Simon Trigger were defeated in their semi-final by Matthew and Howard Wiseman 12-5, 12-8, 12-3. The other semi-final was between Karl Rudman and Ed Taylor and John Caudle and Seb Cooley. Karl and Ed won 12-6, 12-7, 12-8. The final was a very close affair with the first two games both having to be set to decide a winner. Karl Rudman and Ed Taylor scraped through these two games defeating Matthew and Howard Wiseman 14-11, 13-10. Karl and Ed then ran away with the third game, winning it 12-1 to be crowned champions.
This was Karl Rudman's first major competition and was well deserved. Ed Taylor also became the first player to have his name inscribed upon the Wooden Buttress twice.
The Festival
As always the Festival brought together a wide range of standards, which led to a very enjoyable competition for all involved. In the semi-finals Oli Markkanen and John McHardy defeated the surprise package of the competition, the Lancing Schoolboy pair of Nick Heppenstall and Arthur ......?......, 3-12, 15-14, 12-5, 12-8. The other semi-final was an all Emanuel School affair with Anthony Theodosi and Jonny Fagan defeating James Viventi and Robin Malacrede 12-9, 12-3, 12-7. A close and well-contested final finally went Anthony and Jonny's way 15-13, 5-12, 12-5, 12-6.
Festival Plate
The Festival Competition Plate final was between the City of Norwich School pair of Daniel Beier and Peter Brookes, last years Plate winners, and Charlotta and Oli Cooley. The brother and sister pair won in three games; 12-5, 12-5, 12-3.
Results
Main Tournament
Semi Finals
Howard Wiseman & Matthew Wiseman (Old Olavians) beat Guy Chapman & Simon Trigger (Old Cholms/Old Salopians) 3-0 (12-5, 12-8, 12-3)
Karl Rudman & Ed Taylor (Old Olavians/Old Salopians) beat John Caudle & Seb Cooley (Old Ipswichians/Old Olavians) 3-0 (12-6, 12-7, 12-1)
Final
Karl Rudman & Ed Taylor beat Howard Wiseman & Matthew Wiseman 3-0 (14-11, 13-10, 12-1)
Plate Final
William Powell & Paran Sarmah (Old Olavians/St. Olave's) beat Nick Shaw & Paul Thompson (Cambridge University) 2-1 (12-10, 12-14, 12-8)
Results
Festival
Semi-finals
Oli Markkanen & John McHardy (Goddington Club) beat Nick Heppenstall & Arthur ? (Lancing School) 3-1 (3-12, 15-14, 12-5, 12-8)
Anthony Theodosi & Jonny Fagan (Emanuel School) beat James Viventi & Robin Malacrida (Emanuel School) 3-0 (12-9, 12-3, 12-7)
Final
Anthony Theodosi & Jonny Fagan beat Oli Markkanen & John McHardy 3-1 (15-13, 5-12, 12-5, 12-6)
Plate Final
Charlotta Cooley & Oli Cooley (Goddington Club/St Olave's) beat Daniel Beier & Peter Brooks (City of Norwich School) 3-0 (12-5, 12-5, 12-3)