Teams from Chiltern, London, Southern, Surrey, Plough and Towers, including Victorians own teams competed in the fourth annual Open Doubles in memory of Joe Doble.
Simon Doble, who donated the trophy, was there with Sofiane Lachani to defend his win from 2010 as were Raj Tupsy & Dinesh Seetahul, winners in 2008 and 2009.
The sixteen teams played in four morning leagues with some highly competitive play and some excellent results.
Dave Tarling & François Bourquin (Victorians), and Steve Zimmerman & Emma Jones (Pot & Kettle, Chiltern), both winning all three games and high points. But at that point, their fortunes changed.
The top two teams in each league went through to the Main where Simon and Sofiane lost out in the quarter final to the London team and Raj Tupsy and Dinesh Seetahul in the semis leaving Matt Eversden & Sharon Fane (TEUAM, Chiltern) to fight it out with Roz Silvester & Stuart Floyd (Southern), the eventual winners.
The last two teams in each league went into the Plate where Eric and Pauline Taylor beat Andy Wilmot & Dawn Bourquin and Aris Savvides & Naheb Khodabux beat Iris & Derek Sutton in the semis.
In a late final, with fading light, Aris & Naheb won narrowly over Eric & Pauline.
The four losing teams from the quarter finals in the Main had their second chance in a Consolage where Simon & Sofiane beat Kim Lachani & Derek Gutteridge and Dave Tarling & François Bourquin beat Steve Zimmerman & Emma Jones.
With so many experienced players, everyone enjoyed a highly competitive event with an unpredictable outcome. All winners and runners-up received cash prizes. The only distraction from play was provided in the afternoon by two airliners demonstrating a “near miss” over Theydon Bois.

MAIN Winners: Matt Eversden and Sharon Fane
Runners-up: Roz Silvester and Stuart Floyd

PLATE Winners: Aris Savvides and Naheb Khodabux
Runners –up: Eric and Pauline Taylor

CONSOLAGE Winners: Simon Doble and Sofiane Lachani
Runners-up: Dave Tarling and François Bourquin.