The second national qualifier competition was held on Saturday at Elm Court. This was the over 55’s pairs competition. Sixteen pairs took part with entrants from Cuffley, Northiam, Letchworth, St Margaret’s, Greenwood, Shillington and Bush Hill Park. The first round saw four groups of four pairs play each other in a round robin of ten ends per game. The top two pairs from each group then went forward to the quarter finals.
Quarter Finals
Alan Hare & Martin Nash played Julia Bruce & Trevor Knight. Julia & Trevor won 10 – 5
Brian McGivern & Alan Spicer played Jeanette & Tony Gayler. Brian & Alan won 9 – 7
Jeff Branch & Dennis Mack played Mike Hargreaves & Chris Pilgrim. Jeff & Dennis won 13 – 10
Michael West & Malcolm Petrie played Peter Griffiths & Val Penn. Michael & Malcolm won 12 – 10
Semi-Finals
Brian McGivern & Alan Spicer played Michael West & Malcolm Petrie. Michael & Malcolm won 11 – 4
Jeff Branch & Dennis Mack played Julia Bruce & Trevor Knight. Jeff and Dennis won 14 – 1
Third place play off
Julia Bruce & Trevor Knight played Brian McGivern & Alan Spicer. After ten ends it was all level at 8 shots apiece. An eleventh end was played with which Brian and Alan won to take third place.
Final
Jeff Branch & Dennis Mack versus Michael West & Malcolm Petrie.
Winning this match 11 – 4, Jeff Branch and Dennis Mack become Hertfordshire's 2021 over 55’s champions with Michael West and Malcolm Petrie being the runners up.
Going forward to the nationals on Sunday the 06th March 2022 at Solihull will depend upon Hertfordshire’s allocation. Our understanding at the moment is that we have three places and these will be Jeff Branch and Dennis Mack, Brian McGivern and Alan Spicer & Julia Bruce and Trevor Knight.
The next competition will be the County mixed fours played at Elm Court on Saturday the 27th of November.