Beckham makes his mark.
All good things come to those who wait and it did for Mark Beckham this week as he recorded his first hat-trick in Division Two of the Clacton and District League for over a season and a half.
It was in March 2011 that Mark last notched up a treble but he achieved it again in Brotherhood F’s 8-2 win over Nomads Ocelots, although it was a tight 3-2 (11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9) against Andy North that sealed it.
With David North also staying unbeaten – his maximum including a win over Dad Andy – and Sandie Isaac taking two, Brotherhood F move up to a respectable and unexpected fifth place in the table.
The two leading teams, Lawford and Brotherhood C, were without a match this week so Brotherhood D leap-frogged to the top of the table with a thumping 9-1 victory over Windsor Ravens, Russell Hillier and Shaun Beckham undefeated. Isabel Barton played well to get the Ravens’ sole point with a surprise 11-8 in the decider win over Paul Alden.
No-one stayed unbeaten in Nomads Cougars’ 6-4 win over Windsor Owls, two each here for Nomads’ Paul Hume and Adam Cuthbert, and also for Windsor’s Tricia Salter and Adam Jackson, Jackson beating Cuthbert 11-9 in the fifth win, Salter defeating Hume 12-10 in the decider.
Windsor Harriers beat Brotherhood G 6-4 but again no player remained undefeated, Jenny Higgins and Ferdy Rodriguez winning two each for the Harriers, as did Dan Malinowski for Brotherhood.
In Division Three promotion-hopefuls Brotherhood I had a 9-1 success over bottom-team Windsor Kites but Windsor’s Carl Hubbard had a shock win over Allen Denyer, coming back from two sets and 6-10 down to take a memorable 3-2 (6-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5, 11-7) victory.
Nomads Pumas won all three matches that went to a deciding set to beat Brotherhood K 7-3, John Bowers unbeaten for the winners, with Lionel Goddard and John Houghton taking two each, as did Pete Bloomfield for the losers.
Gerald Batt starred for Brotherhood H in their 7-3 win over Nomads Leopards, Batt’s treble including a hard-fought 3-2 (9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7) victory over Tony Rayner. Tom Wilkin and David Wilkin contributed a pair apiece for Brotherhood.
Harry Hawkes dented Ray Chillingworth’s one hundred per cent record as Nomads Bobcats defeated Windsor Penguins 8-2, Hawkes unbeaten and Barry Brandon and Harry Barlow taking two each. Windsor’s Sue Chillingworth lost two tight matches, 11-7 in the fifth to Barlow and 13-11 in the fifth to Brandon.
Hazel Blanche’s win over the Vicki Edwards proved the pivotal point for Nomads Wildcats in their drawn match with Brotherhood M, Cris Edwards taking three and Gracie Edwards two for Brotherhood, Gracie denied her hat-trick by Brian Friday who took their individual match 3-2 (8-11, 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8).
Nomads Lynx defeated a Windsor Swallows’ side fielding a guest player 6-4, Mike Vilka and Alan Charman confirming the victory for the Lynx with a doubles’ win over Iris Howlett and Malcolm Caley.
The big match in Division One was affected by illness to Walton’s John Rice who was forced to concede his three matches which helped Nomads Panthers to an 8-2 win.
Brotherhood A’s Dave Binns was able to complete just one match because of injury in the encounter with Walton C but Alan Burgess rode to Brotherhood’s rescue, taking an important treble in his side’s 6-4 success. The closest match of the evening saw Walton’s Mark Gale just get the better of John Stubbings 3-2 (15-13, 11-13, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10).
In the all-Windsor clash, the Hawks defeated a weakened Eagles’ side 8-2, Andy Vincent unbeaten with Felipe Rodriguez and John Barton taking a couple each. Fred Button took both points for the Eagles.
Nomads Lions lost 6-4 to Walton B but the result takes the Lions off the bottom of the table for the first time this season, John Weller taking two and John Fenton one, with the two players sharing a doubles success. Gavin Price took a hat-trick for Walton with Paul Newbould denied his three by Weller, losing 15-13 in the fifth.
Finally, Nomads Jaguars went down 9-1 to Brotherhood B, Stewart Murray and Ian Graham unbeaten for Brotherhood, Brian Parish taking the Jaguars’ consolation point with a win over John Owen in the last match of the evening.
* Congratulations to League President Sheila Howe for her Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the recent Tendring District Council’s Sports Personality Awards Evening, a richly deserved recognition for her service to the League for nearly sixty years.
* The Handicapped Doubles Tournament takes place this Saturday (24th November) at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Play starts at 10.00 am.
* The Windsor Club Quiz takes place on Saturday evening (24th November) at St James’ Hall, 7.30 pm for an 8.00 pm start. Tickets are £6.00 per person and include a ploughman’s supper. Bring your own drinks. To enter a team ring Jenny Higgins on 01255 432397 – but entries must be made by Thursday (22nd November) in order to arrange catering.
RESULTS
Division 1
Walton B 6 Nomads Lions 4;
Brotherhood A 6 Walton C 4;
Nomads Panthers 8 Walton A 2;
Nomads Jaguars 1 Brotherhood B 9;
Windsor Hawks 8 Windsor Eagles 2.
Division 2
Brotherhood F 8 Nomads Ocelots 2;
Windsor Ravens 1 Brotherhood D 9;
Nomads Cougars 6 Windsor Owls 4;
Brotherhood G 4 Windsor Harriers 6.
Division 3
Nomads Leopards 3 Brotherhood H 7;
Nomads Wildcats 5 Brotherhood M 5;
Nomads Lynx 6 Windsor Swallows 4;
Brotherhood K 3 Nomads Pumas 7;
Windsor Kites 1 Brotherhood I 9;
Windsor Penguins 2 Nomads Bobcats 8.
To view the full tables click here
Tony Oswick