Hobson Cup

Eleven pairs competed for the Hobson Cup. At the quarter-final stage Andy Dalton and Martin Harris won a close encounter 6/4 with Mark Leefe and James Richardson. Jon Lambon and Tony Branfield ghosted past Julian Rawstorne and Terence Drane 6/1. Andrew Hamilton and Mat Fattorini achieved the same score line against Richard Seymour Mead and Keith Beechener. George K and Mark Savage succumbed to the consistency of John Miller and Stuart Hodges 4/6. In the first semi, Branfield and Lambdon were too strong for Dalton and Harris with a 6/1 victory. In the other semi George K and Mark Savage failed to convert a 5/1 lead as their opponents Hamilton and Fattorini remorselessly fought their way back to squeeze through 6/5.

In the final, the much improved Branfield and the mercurial Lambdon were unable to repeat their box defeat of Hamilton and Fattorini when they had successfully clawed back from 3/5 but on this occasion three games was to be their limit. The winners' success had been built on consistency, tight serving and playing the percentages. The Chairman thanked Tom for providing him with such a seasoned doubles title holder (Ponsonby, Ogilby twice, and Hobson) who was, apart from one major hiccough, generally in the right place at the right time with the correct choice of shot!

Simon Hobson presented the cup, named after his father, who had been such a great supporter of the club over many years.