2007 ISLAND DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Twenty nine doubles teams took part in this year’s Island Doubles Championship and played in four leagues. The top two in each league went through to quarter finals.
Two teams won 5 of 6 games in Orange group; Dennis and Joan le Mercier with +39 and Mary Fennessey and Barbara Bechelet with +23.
The yellow group was very closely contested with 4 of the 7 teams winning 4 games. Niall Fennessey and Tim Bechelet topped the group with +17, followed by Chris Satchwell and Keith Lajoie on +14, Elaine Paisnel and Joy Hart +9 and Gordon and Dorothy de Gruchy on +7.
The qualifiers from the blue group were Maurice Richard and Roy Langlois with 5 wins and Michel Morel and Helene Retrosi with the best points difference of +27 and 4 wins.
Finally the largest group of 8 teams was won by Ken Luce and Lol Therin who were unbeaten, with Matthew and Keith Pinel runners up with 5 wins.
In the quarter finals Dennis and Joan le Mercier beat father and son Keith and Matthew Pinel by just one point 13-12. Maurice Richard (the oldest competitor at 80 years old) and Roy Langlois beat Chris Satchwell and Keith Lajoie 13-1, Michel Morel and Helene Retrosi beat Tim Bechelet and Niall Fennessey 13-5, while Barbara Bechelet and Mary Fennessey beat Ken Luce and Lol Therin 13-10.
The semi finals resulted in similar scores, with Le Merciers beating Richard & Langlois 13-8 and Morel and Retrosi beating Bechelet and Fennessey 13-7.
The final was quite evenly matched at the start with Morel and Retrosi taking a small lead to 7-4. However a lose end was taken full advantage of by the Le Merciers to jump ahead to 8-7. From there the husband and wife pair steadily pulled away to win the match 13-7.
More photos in the gallery