The Stratford Tennis Club held its annual men’s and ladies doubles championship tournaments this past weekend. The beautiful weather and great play made for a spectacular weekend at the Club.
The Ladies ‘A’ doubles final had two-time defending champions Krista Plociennik and Claire Scott face off against Johanna Billings and Debbie Murphy. Plociennik and Scott once again proved they are the top ladies doubles team in Stratford cruising through the draw without losing a set. In the final the domination continued. Billings and Murphy played great tennis but could not overcome the impressive defending and superior offence of the defending champs. Plociennik and Scott took the final 6-0 6-2.
The Ladies ‘B’ final was a match up of first time finalists, as Sandie Ennett and Monica Eickmeyer took on Gail Shelton and Lise Couture. Shelton and Couture have won multiple Ladies ‘B’ doubles titles over the years with different partners but this is their first teaming together. Ennett and Eickmeyer also have championship experience as Eickmeyer won the Ladies ‘B’ singles title last season and Ennett took the Mixed ‘B’ championship last week. After knocking off the defending champions in three sets in the semifinals Ennett and Eickmeyer continued their stellar play taking the final, and the 2012 Ladies ‘B’ championship 6-4 6-1.
The Men’s ‘B’ final went the full three sets. Jagdish Patel and Mike Furlong advanced to the final by beating the defending champions in the semifinal in straight sets. In the final they took on Pat McCarroll and Jim Wilson who were teamed together for the first time. The final was a physical affair as the rallies were long with many lobs and drop shots making each player do a lot of running. Patel and Furlong took a close first set 6-4 but McCarroll and Wilson rebounded to take the second set 6-4 setting up a third and deciding set for the title. With many long rallies and long games the third set held a lot of drama. In the end it was Patel and Furlong who prevailed winning the final set 6-3 to take the 2012 Men’s ‘B’ championship. This is Patel’s second ‘B’ doubles title and Furlong’s first.
