We have to start this week with the top event - the Canadian Youth Championships. The games were played between July 26th and 30th in Regina. Not only did we have four club members playing but the Ontario team manager was Sarah van Steijn.
In the under 18s, Jacob Hyatt (13 years old) was competing against ten other boys.
In the under 25s (women) Baylee van Steijn and Emmalee Smith were competing in a group of seven.
In the under 25s (men) Ben van Steijn was competing against 11 other men.
Jacob finished second in his group and played in the final elimination games, finishing a very creditable fourth. I am sure we will see Jacob winning medals in the future.
Neither Emmalee or Ben qualified for the elimination rounds but Baylee had a perfect record of 6-0 in the round robin and qualified to play for the gold medal. She played her friend and fellow Team Canada player, Jordan Kos. On this occasion Jordan prevailed with a 21-14 win and Baylee had to settle for the silver medal. This was a good tune-up for her forthcoming trip to Australia for the World Championships.
We had good representation in a mixed triples tournament in Bobcaygeon on Tuesday July 22nd with three teams travelling for the tournament. The Bobcaygeon club was only accepting entries from teams from the same club. This meant there were no stacked teams and this provision seemed to be liked as they had a full entry of 16 teams which is unusual for their club. None of our teams performed at their best but the team of Bill Arthur, Nan Hendren and Louisa Arthur won the prize for last game high with an outstanding win of 18+6 with four against.
In the under 18s, Jacob Hyatt (13 years old) was competing against ten other boys.
In the under 25s (women) Baylee van Steijn and Emmalee Smith were competing in a group of seven.
In the under 25s (men) Ben van Steijn was competing against 11 other men.
Jacob finished second in his group and played in the final elimination games, finishing a very creditable fourth. I am sure we will see Jacob winning medals in the future.
Neither Emmalee or Ben qualified for the elimination rounds but Baylee had a perfect record of 6-0 in the round robin and qualified to play for the gold medal. She played her friend and fellow Team Canada player, Jordan Kos. On this occasion Jordan prevailed with a 21-14 win and Baylee had to settle for the silver medal. This was a good tune-up for her forthcoming trip to Australia for the World Championships.
We had good representation in a mixed triples tournament in Bobcaygeon on Tuesday July 22nd with three teams travelling for the tournament. The Bobcaygeon club was only accepting entries from teams from the same club. This meant there were no stacked teams and this provision seemed to be liked as they had a full entry of 16 teams which is unusual for their club. None of our teams performed at their best but the team of Bill Arthur, Nan Hendren and Louisa Arthur won the prize for last game high with an outstanding win of 18+6 with four against.
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The District 14 Novice Combo Fours playdowns were held at Pickering on July 29/30. Three Pickering teams an one Cobourg team competed for the honour of representing the District at the Ontario Championships. The Cobourg team was Al Bell, Sheri Perkins, Brent Perkins and Lynn Bryans.
This was tough test for our team against some more experienced players and their task was not made easier by having to play in the rain for most of Saturday. The format was round robin with each team having to play the other three in a fours game, a men's pairs and a ladies pairs. On the first day the ladies pairs (Sheri and Lynn) won both their games but the men lost both. In the fours game they had a bad start before recovering but it was too little, too late, and they lost that game. On day 2 they won one fours game and tied the other. Unfortunately neither the men or the ladies were able to win their fianl pairs game. The team finished third but acquitted themselves admirably and can be proud of ghe way the represented Cobourg. The experience will serve them well for the future.
On Sunday July 30th Bob Bates and I were in Cosburn Park for a men's triples. Unbelievably we drew Martin Foxhall and David Llewellyn in the first round for the fourth time this year. We lost that game but recovered well to win our next two games. We had 46 points and missed out on prize money by one point. C'est la vie.
Bill Arthur
August 1st 2023
This was tough test for our team against some more experienced players and their task was not made easier by having to play in the rain for most of Saturday. The format was round robin with each team having to play the other three in a fours game, a men's pairs and a ladies pairs. On the first day the ladies pairs (Sheri and Lynn) won both their games but the men lost both. In the fours game they had a bad start before recovering but it was too little, too late, and they lost that game. On day 2 they won one fours game and tied the other. Unfortunately neither the men or the ladies were able to win their fianl pairs game. The team finished third but acquitted themselves admirably and can be proud of ghe way the represented Cobourg. The experience will serve them well for the future.
On Sunday July 30th Bob Bates and I were in Cosburn Park for a men's triples. Unbelievably we drew Martin Foxhall and David Llewellyn in the first round for the fourth time this year. We lost that game but recovered well to win our next two games. We had 46 points and missed out on prize money by one point. C'est la vie.
Bill Arthur
August 1st 2023