Club Champs Day Three

We're down to the semi-finals in the main events, with the top seeds all through.

In the women's event defending champion Hannah Cliff eased past Carly Huntley to set up a semi-final meeting with Lucy Beecroft, while the other semi will be an all-Ward affair. Sam beat Gilly Milly in straight games but mum Dawn was stretched to the limit, having to come from 2-1 down and 4-1 down in the fifth to deny Nicky Dobson. "I didn't think I  was going to win that," admitted a relieved Dawn.

The bottom men's semi was already settled - Glenn Ward v Ferret Fargher, and tonight the last remaining quarter-final saw Russell Hunter and John Thompson slug it out for the right to meet Paul Millington in the top half  semi.  As expected it was Russell doing most of the slugging, coming through 3-0.

Elsewhere the Masters continued apace ... well, probably slower than that term suggests, but at least the matches were completed with no emergency calls required. Yours truly took his life in his hands by despatching El Prez in five fast, furious, skilful, imaginative, action-packed games, and my next task, in all probability, is to see if I can extract a bead of sweat from Mr Thompson in the vets semis.

Meanwhile over on court one, the "pong, pong" sounds told us that the racketball event was under way. Everyone tells us we should be playing more of this, and maybe it will be good for beginners and those struggling with their movement in their dotage, but so far it's yet to take off in t'North ... time will tell.

Steve Cubbins

Mister Maximum
Dave Todd in the O45, O55, O65 and Racketball events