With the World Veterans’ Championships due to start on Monday, May 23 in Alicante I thought it would be appropriate to highlight the achievements of one of the great characters on the veterans’ circuit, Nigel Eckersley.
Sometime ago Nigel lent his scrapbooks so they could be scanned and the images this week are from those books.
Nigel was an England international making his senior debut at the World Championships in Birmingham in 1977. Playing in the Commonwealth Championships in Bombay in 1982 with Joy Grundy, Nigel won the Mixed Doubles title. He was also a member of the Men’s Gold medal winning team, winning 12 of his 13 matches.
In the National Championships, Nigel played from 1970 – 2015 and in that time won the Mixed Doubles twice, with Karen Witt in 1978 and with Joy Grundy in 1983. Added to this was a hat-trick of Veterans Men’s Singles titles in 1993, 1994 and 2005 plus a Veterans Men’s Doubles title with Brian Johns in 1996.
At the World Veterans’ Championships Nigel has won several medals – Over-40s Men’s Doubles runner-up in 1994 with Ian Robertson and two bronze medals in the Over-40s Men’s Singles in 1992 and Men’s Doubles Over-50s in 2002.
Good luck to all playing in Alicante.
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From May 13, 2016
The names have been matched up with the players’ likes and dislikes.
Nicky Mason
Favourite drink: Peach milkshake, wine with lemonade.
Favourite food: Pizza, Lasagne, MacDonalds Big Mac.
Favourite Pop Group: Early Duran Duran, Five Star.
Vices: Compulsive spender.
Hobbies: Playing bass guitar badly.
Relaxation: Watching videos and films, listening to music.
Alison Gordon
Favourite drink: Many! Beer, Wine.
Favourite food: Savoury.
Favourite Pop Group: Various – like most things.
Vices: Drink too much.
Hobbies: Most sports – having fun.
Relaxation: TV, music, my friends.
Skylet Andrew
Favourite drink: Pineapple juice and lemonade.
Favourite food: Pork chops, baked jam roly-poly.
Favourite Pop Group: Loose Ends, Eric B and Rakim.
Vices: Eating junk food.
Hobbies: Writing comedy.
Relaxation: Talking with my Mum.
Alan Cooke
Favourite drink: Pure apple juice.
Favourite food: Italian.
Favourite Pop Group: Whitney Houston.
Vices: Yes!!!
Hobbies: Music, football.
Relaxation: Sauna.
Lisa Lomas
Favourite drink: German white wine.
Favourite food: Salad.
Favourite Pop Group: Earth, Wind and Fire.
Hobbies: Aerobics, golf, tennis.
Relaxation: Music.
Carl Prean
Favourite drink: Carlsberg.
Favourite food: German and Chinese.
Favourite Pop Group: The Gap Band, Atlantic Star, Anita Baker.
Hobbies: Cricket, playing football, music and eating out.
Relaxation: Listening to music.
Pet Hate: Arriving late before matches.