On Sunday it was the turn of the ESMBA Over 55’s Pairs to take centre stage in the second National Championship event of the year played at Melton & District IBC. Kerry Greenacre & Keith Cooke of Halvergate were the only one of the three Norfolk qualifying pairs to take part after the withdrawal of Erika & Neil Thomas of Thetford and Andy Rawnsley of Shropham & Simon Willies of Watton Expendables. Hopes were high of a good run for this quality pairing who won the Norfolk qualifying event but it was not to be as they finished in third place in their group. They produced an excellent 11-3 victory against Paul Kimber & Elaine Hudson of West Sussex but went down by 9-5 to Thomas Coles & Paul Hutson of Kent who went on to reach the final. In their other game they lost by 13-7 against Rose Morrison & Dave Summers of Devon. Three time champions Chris Hopkins & Steve McAllister looked favourites after reaching the semi-finals but lost a tight match by just 6-5 to Kent’s Thomas Coles & Paul Hutson while Terry Osgood & Rob Edwards of Surrey reached the final with an 11-7 win against Cornwall’s John Worton & Steve Smith. Osgood and Edwards won the title with a 12-8 win against Coles & Hutson in the final.
Keith Cooke of Halvergate
Kerry Greenacre of Halvergate