30th August 2025.
The Vintage Doubles was held at Ongar PC on Saturday 30th August. 16 teams attended. All matches were played in good spirits. Gerry Pudney & Tony Barton from Chalkwell PC, emerging as Champions, beating Carolyn & John Innocent, Ongar PC, in the Championship final.
We would like to thank Jean-Marc Leroy for his services as umpire for the day.
The weather was amazingly kind, since we were led to expect rain toward the end.
Congratulations also to Ongar’s Dogleg Team, Sheila Spring & Alan Bryant, in winning the Plate Final, defeating Great Boules of Fire, David & Jane Thame from Epping.
I would like to thank my two sons Matt & Howard Innocent, for the organisation of the admin. Carolyn for the refreshments, and the set-up team, led by Matt. We had all the tents and everything else set up in a record time of 35 minutes.
I believe this was a first for the format we used, with two consecutive pools. These refined the ‘layers’ further, whilst allowing all to play the full six rounds.
I hope the offer of shuttle runs to free parking was useful, for the few that used the facility.
I know I slept about 9 hours after the event. If you feel that the format was too demanding, please let me have some feedback, we may foreshorten it for next year.
Report by John Innocent, Ongar PC.