Kites celebrate first ever win
The Kites have done it at last!
In their fourth season, and after seventy-six straight defeats in Division Three of the Clacton and District League, Windsor Kites recorded their first-ever League victory.
A Chris Simson hat-trick, two from Carl Hubbard and their combined doubles victory gave the Kites a memorable 6-4 win over Nomads Wildcats.
But it was nail-biting match, the victory secured by the narrowest of margins when Simson defeated Roger Baalham 8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10 in match nine.
Andrew Cawley took two for Nomads while Baalham and Hazel Blanche picked up a point each. But surely no-one – apart perhaps from the defeated Wildcats – will begrudge the Kites their moment of glory, a testament to their determination and doggedness.
Elsewhere, there were excellent unbeaten performances from Morgan Harvey and Jonathan Found in Brotherhood L’s surprise 8-2 victory over Windsor Swallows. Found’s three included 11-7 in the fifth wins over both Iris Howlett and Sheila Howe.
In the all-Nomads clash, an Andrew Cousin maximum was the crucial factor in the Pumas’ 6-4 success against the Lynx. Kevin Hume and Brian Friday took two each for the losers.
Everyone got a point in Windsor Penguins’ topsy-turvy 7-3 win over Nomads Leopards. Rob Bright of the Leopards beat Sue Chillingworth who beat Nomads’ Roger McNaughton who beat Windsor’s Mike Monschau who beat both Bright and Tony Rayner. Only Ray Chillingworth stood above the confusion, winning all his three.
Windsor Ospreys’ Lucy Burton beat Alan Fryer 22-20, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 11-6 in her team’s opening match against Brotherhood G but three each from Pete Bloomfield and Mark Trayhorn ensured Brotherhood the 8-2 win. It was a first League maximum for Trayhorn although he had to fight hard against Burton before taking it 12-10 in the fifth.
In Division One Nomads Panthers, playing with a guest, were still too strong for Walton B and emerged 7-3 winners. Colin Webber and Gill Locke took hat-tricks, Locke cutting it fine against Paul Newbould, 11-9 in the fifth.
Kevin Gowlett took a predictable three for Walton D against club-mates Walton A but it was George Kalli’s performance, with unexpected wins over John Rice and Colin Dearman, that ultimately proved decisive in the 6-4 success for the ‘D’ team.
Windsor Eagles will feel unfortunate to have come up against a near full-strength Brotherhood A for the first time this season. Not surprisingly, the Brotherhood side ran out 9-1 winners, Alan Burgess and John Andrews unbeaten.
Nomads Cougars’ Sam Hume recorded a first-ever top-flight hat-trick in his side’s 6-4 victory against Nomads Lions, although it was a close 11-9 in the decider against John Hatley, the same score by which Hume and Colin Beaumont beat Hatley and John Fenton in the doubles. Hatley and Fenton each took two for the Lions.
Three for John Owen and two for Martin Edwards helped Brotherhood B to a 6-4 victory against Walton C but newly-promoted Brotherhood D were unable to trouble the scorer and lost 10-0 to Windsor Hawks.
In Division Two Nomads Ocelots went down 6-4 to Windsor Ravens for whom John Harvey remained unbeaten. Daryl Lott and Andy North each won two for the Ocelots, North’s victories coming close in five against both John Long and Brian Thiel.
Lawford beat a weakened Brotherhood C 9-1, Richard Spence and Ian Sherwood undefeated. Kevin Pryor’s success against Paul Hewitt was the only Brotherhood point.
Hat-tricks from Isabel Barton and Ferdy Rodriguez eased Windsor Harriers to a 9-1 success over Brotherhood I, John Wrigley beating Jenny Higgins for Brotherhood.
Elsewhere, in a Division that is usually littered with close results, there were three 10-0 scorelines.
The Windsor Kestrels’ trio of Graham Bunce, Dave Martin and Bob Sawyer was a class above Nomads Tigers, none of the matches extended to a fifth set.
David Sweetland of Windsor Magpies took Elliott Attrill close in five, as did Dan Wright against Sandie Isaac, but they were the nearest the Magpies came to a point against Brotherhood F.
And Brotherhood J, forced to field a reserve, fared no better against Windsor Owls, Frank Burbidge, Tricia Salter and Adam Jackson all staying undefeated. Burbidge’s 11-7 in the fifth win over Kelvin Olano was the tightest match of the evening.
* The Windsor Club Quiz Evening takes place on Saturday 2nd November. Details from Jenny Higgins (Tel : 01255 432397).
* Players are reminded they must be registered with the ETTA. This can be done on-line, by post or by telephoning the ETTA.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood B 6 Walton C 4;
Windsor Eagles 1 Brotherhood A 9;
Nomads Cougars 6 Nomads Lions 4;
Brotherhood D 0 Windsor Hawks 10;
Walton B 3 Nomads Panthers 7;
Walton D 6 Walton A 4.
Division 2
Brotherhood I 1 Windsor Harriers 9;
Lawford 9 Brotherhood C 1;
Windsor Magpies 0 Brotherhood F 10;
Windsor Kestrels 10 Nomads Tigers 0;
Brotherhood J 0 Windsor Owls 10;
Nomads Ocelots 4 Windsor Ravens 6.
Division 3
Nomads Wildcats 4 Windsor Kites 6;
Brotherhood L 8 Windsor Swallows 2;
Nomads Lynx 4 Nomads Pumas 6;
Windsor Penguins 7 Nomads Leopards 3;
Windsor Ospreys 1 Brotherhood G 9.
To view the full tables click here
Tony Oswick (October 7, 2013)