* Over 60 Amateur Doubles 2023

Defending champions Tony Munsey and Charles Human just managed to squeak past John Duns and Richard Macalister (Jesmond). They dropped the first set as the Jesmond pair (especially Duns, defending the grille with barely an error) played an immaculate game. They came back strongly to claim the second set 6/3 and reach 5/2 in the decider before the Jesmondians came back, saving several match points and eventually winning 6/5.

Newcastle again showed their resilience against David Watson and Richard Compton-Burnett, reaching 5/5 from 1/5 down. Unfortunately, they were at the hazard end and lost 5/6 and then the second set 6/1.

The final match was now crucial - and almost any result was still possible right up until the final game. The twists and turns were almost too numerous to mention - The Radley pair won the first set 6/5 meaning that they could still win the event if they won 2/0. Always a game ahead in the second set, they spurned a succession of chances to go further ahead, including at least one match point. Sadly, they lost the service end at 5/4 and 0-40 and then the set 5/6. The final set teetered both ways - a Radley lead of 5/3 evaporated along with more match points (we had all lost count by this stage) before they finally scraped home 6/5 to secure runners-up spot (losing to The RTC pair only on overall sets).

Overall, the purist might have raised an eyebrow at the punishment taken by the penthouses as players battled to raise the pace in order to beat iron-clad defence of grille and dedans, but when 5 of the 8 sets played reach 5/5 - you know its been a good day - great fun but bad for the nerves.

Mick Dean

From left to right: John Duns, Richard Compton-Burnett, David Watson, Mick Dean, Charles Human, Tony Munsey and Richard MacAlister