This past weekend it was time for the first tournament of the season; Top of Ghent.
On Friday afternoon there was the Masters IBDT and Friday night there was a warming-up tournament, but I had a WDC game so I didn't go.
Saturday the singles were played. My first game was at 13:20H on board 21. I played against Rosina Bevilaqua (BE) and won 3-2 by the skin of my teeth. Playing horribly. :(
My next game against Sylvie Ballieu (BE) was a little better and I won that 3-0. Must say that Sylvie wasn't playing very well though. My next game was against Zoe Jones. I lost that 4-0. I wasn't "there" except maybe for the 3rd leg. But, in all fairness; Zoe played an excellent game.
The 2014 Top of Ghent Ladies Champion is Fallon Sherrock. Aileen De Graaf is runner-up.
The 2014 Top of Ghent Men's Champion is Scott Mitchell. Joppe Bakens is runner-up.
Sunday started with the mixed pairs and was followed in the afternoon by the Ladies and Men's Pairs.
I played Mixed Pairs with Kenny Neyens. We had a "bye" in the first round. We were supposed to play Alan Norris, but he didn't have a partner.
Thus our first game was against Davy Baert/ Jill Desmedt (BE). We won 3-1. Crappy start to the game from all parties, but we managed after that.
Next round we played Cedric Ponnet/ Rebecca de Jonge (BE). Cliff hanger until the last moment when Kenny hit the winning double. 3-2. Double-trouble on both sides. Nerve-wrecking. :D
We lost to Pip Blackwell/ Casey Gallagher in the next round. Neither of us played very well in that game. We did have chances, but didn't use them.
The 2014 Top of Ghent Mixed Pairs Champions are Pip Blackwell/ Casey Gallagher. The runners-up are Fallon Sherrock/ Josh McCarthy
I played Ladies' Pairs with Peggy Van Ballaert. Our first game was at 14:30H against Anja Bracke/ LieselotteBracke (BE). We struggled terribly but won 3-2. On to the next round... We played another Belgian pair; Katrien Fransen/ Katty Vereecken. It wasn't always pretty, but we won 3-0.
In the 3rd round we had another Belgian duo; Elke Aelvoet/ Ludwine Desmet. We just never really got going it seems, but did win 3-2. We had a little bit of luck on our side I guess. Doubles was a big problem.
The next round was the end of the line for us. I played an utterly horrible game. Like I'd never played before in my entire life. Shoulder is a mess and thinking too much. We lost against Rachel Brooks/ Maggie Sutton who both played an awesome game.
The 2014 Top of Ghent Ladies' Pairs Champions are Rachel Brooks/ Maggie Sutton. The runners-up are Zoe Jones/ Paula Jacklin.
The 2014 Top of Ghent Men's Pairs Champions are Wim Bonné/ Donie Michels. Runners-up are Alan Norris/ Jamie Hughes.
Well proud of Wim and Donie :D