Bexhillians TTC players excelled at the Eastbourne League Closed Veterans tournament held at Shinewater Sports Centre on Sunday 30th April.
Lewis Mayhew (Bexhill/Bishopstone) and Faldie Adams (Bexhill/Laughton) led the way as three of the four age-group singles events were contested by two players from the Bexhill club.
Mayhew, who looked a cut above his rivals throughout the day, took the Over 40s singles, beating team-mate Adams in the final 11-8, 11-7, 16-14. Adams did well to extend the top seed and came close to taking it to a fourth game. At the semi-final stage, Mayhew beat James Gorridge (Tackleway/Eastbourne Borough) while Adams accounted for another Bexhill player, Andy Hyde (Borough).
Faldie Adams took the Over 50s title when he beat Martin Kellaway (Bexhill/Borough). Kellaway was forced to concede the final, after a fall with Adams leading 11-6, 9-11, 8-4. Adams had beaten Tony Anderson (Bishopstone) in the semi-final with Kellaway accounting for Anthony Sidoli at the same stage.
Pam Winter (Bexhill/Borough) took the Over 70s title for the first time, beating her team-mate in both leagues, Brian Busbridge, 11-8, 7-11,11-3,11-8 in the final. In the semis, Winter beat Brian Thompson (Bishopstone) and Busbridge beat Nigel Cromey (Polegate).
The Over 60s event proved hard going for Bexhill players, but provided the closest final as Tony Rowell (St. Michaels) edged out Tony Anderson 11-8,11-9, 7-11,5-11,12-10. Rowell beat Pam Winter and Anderson beat Sue Paice (Ministries) in the semi-finals.
Lewis Mayhew and Faldie Adams both completed a double when they combined to take the Veterans Doubles, beating Martin Kellaway and Anthony Sidoli 11-7, 11-9,11-4 in the final. Malcolm Barber (Tackleway/Laughton) and Pam Winter and Tony Anderson and Brian Thompson were losing semi-finalists.
The Drawn Doubles, as the name implies, saw the entrants’ names drawn out of the proverbial hat to form a competition requiring a certain amount of adaptability and a large amount of luck. Winners were James Gorridge and Andy Hyde, who beat Faldie Adams and Nigel Cromey in the final 4-11, 11-8, 11-5,11-7. Losing semi-finalists were Anthony Sidoli and Anthony Thompson (Polegate) and Andy Panayi (Bexhill/Polegate) and Malcolm Barber.
The Handicap Singles, played up to 21 and 5 serves each (old school rules) is always a popular event and this was won by Brian Thompson who received 9 points start to beat James Gorridge 19-21,21-13,21-12. Thompson had won a marathon semi final against Pam Winter (+1) while Gorridge beat Andy Hyde (+7).
The competition was organised by Martin Kellaway.
