‘REDS’ CONQUER EUROPE

by Graham Holt, Chairman -Veterans Policy Group

Normally such a headline is reserved for other more ‘fashionable’ sports. However on this occasion it suitably describes the performance of the English Veterans team, which recently (May 2001) played in the European Veterans Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

It is not often that we can boast of a resounding success in any sport in the UK and when we do, it seems as though we always underplay the performance of our sportsmen and women. Well, in an effort to change the trend, the English Veterans Team did really, really, and one more really well. The team won 12 gold medals, 7 silver medals and 15 bronze medals at the championships! Now this is the point at which you are expecting me to say something like “ however the Danes fielded a weakened team” or “the Germans did not show up”. Actually they didn’t and they did respectively.

Back to the beginning before my jingoism takes over. The majority of the English and all the Scottish Team, which included Dan Travers and Christine Black, stayed at the same Hotel. Before we arrived, we had been treated to several horror stories about the accommodation. Again I am sorry to dispel a few more myths about Bulgaria but it was fine and the local organisers could not do enough for us. Getting there seemed to be a problem for several of us. Roger Taylor and Phil Howe ‘overnighted’ in Paris which under normal circumstances may have been quite pleasant but not if you are supposed to be in Sofia playing badminton, the premier veterans event in the calendar... Eric Plane and Tim Hudson - Church missed their flight out of London and nearly missed it again the next day and incidentally as Eric was boarding the plane with seconds to take off, he spotted his luggage on the tarmac. It had fallen out of the plane!  As these competitors arrived, they were literally called onto court by the Referee.  So much for the pre match warm up.

Question - ”Who is the only veterans badminton player to have been shown a yellow card in the European Championships” Answer Eric Plane .To be fair he was somewhat goaded into his expression of opinion, by his team mates who jeered his shot on match point!

Additionally not the entire luggage arrived which obviously can be a little problematical for many reasons.  Elizabeth Greenwood had several offers of assistance to help her shop for a few ‘essentials’, mainly from male competitors. (Who should not let their minds wander at this point, just concentrate on the article)

The seeding of the competition left a little to be desired with the individual countries seedings seemingly being ignored. This led to an interesting pre tournament meeting where you can imagine that every team manager was airing every competitor’s complaint.  It was utter chaos and thank you Peter (Emptage) for attending - you deserve a medal.  Well actually come to think of it, I wish it had been only the one medal you deserved, seeing that you and John Gardner beat John Cocker and myself in the 050 Men’s Doubles Final!

The competition was played in the ‘Winter Palace’, which was used for the Winter Olympics several years ago. It is now an ice hockey stadium and because of the demands of television, the lighting was incredibly bright. In theory, this should help us elder players, but not when you have a 2000-watt light shining into your eyes when you look up. A key element of the game of badminton.  However this did not detract from some amazing performances by the English team. Jack Webb’s O40’s singles performance against the top seed from Denmark losing in a close three end contest was exceptional.  John Hodge (supposedly a doubles player) beat the second seed from Germany only to lose a enthralling contest against a good Bulgarian player in three ends.  The spirit of the O40 ‘s filtered through the whole team and their enthusiasm and support was part of the reason for the team’s success.

The player of the tournament was undoubtedly Daryl Roebuck who won the O40’s men’s doubles with Peter Higman and the O40’s mixed doubles with Ann Jenkins.  Just to illustrate the standard of play, two women competitors from Israel and Bulgaria respectively were going from these championships to the World Championships in Seville to compete along side Simon Archer and  co.

Other notable performances were the bronze medals of Roger Taylor and Andi Stretch (O40 mixed) and Eric Plane and Tim Hudson Church (O40 men’s).  Not just a final thought but a word about Linda Wood who organised the team outfit (a red jacket hence the headline) and who played with a broken hand throughout the tournament - due to a car accident (not in Bulgaria). Linda could not play to her normal high standard and was obviously very disappointed.  Thank you Linda, your time will arrive and not in the too distant future.

What of the other age groups. In the O45 we won a gold medal in the ladies doubles (Christine Crossley and Jenny Cox), silver medals in the men’s doubles (Phil Howe and Roger Taylor), ladies doubles (Barbara Davidson and Jackie Hurst) and mixed doubles (Pam Dallow and Peter Emptage), and bronze medals in the ladies singles (Christine Crossley) and mixed doubles (Barbara Davidson and John Molyneux, Chris Crossley and Ian Purton).  The Brits dominated the mixed doubles as Dan Travers and Christine Black (Scotland) won the O45 event.

In the 050 competitions England dominated the event winning four gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals.  Sue Whittaker won the ladies singles and doubles and was runner up in the mixed doubles with John Gardner.  Betty Bartlett won the ladies doubles, mixed doubles with John Cocker and was runner up in the singles.  John Gardner was runner up in the men’s singles, and we gained bronze medals in the ladies doubles (Maureen Rimmer and Elizabeth Greenwood) and mixed doubles (Maureen Rimmer/Tony Evans and Elizabeth Greenwood/Graham Holt).  In the mixed doubles we eliminated all of the German couples in round three and all of the Danish couples in the quarterfinals. Quite an unusual event for any sport!

In the O55 competition David Eddy was outstanding, winning the men’s singles and doubles with Keith Hawthorne. In addition Beryl Goodall won bronze medals in the ladies singles and in the ladies doubles with Ann Murray.

There was similar success in the O60 competition with gold medals for Harry Shadwick in the men’s singles and doubles (with Michael Coley) and a gold medal in the mixed doubles for Colin Abbott and Barbara Henley who beat a Danish pair in the final with an outstanding performance. Additionally we won bronze medals in the ladies singles (Ann Murray, Doreen Mattinson), the men’s doubles (Colin Abbott/William Houghton) and the mixed doubles (John Oliver/Doreen Mattinson)

If any one would like to check, then that adds up to the medal totals above.  Actually the event was not all about medals. It was about team spirit and friendship.  A little old fashioned I know but there you are, we are veterans after all.  By the end of the competition we had out shouted and more importantly outplayed the Danes by their own admission and the Germans who will admit to nothing!

There were many memorable moments off the court like the Taxi driver race at 90 mph through the pot holed streets which we unwillingly participated in and the all you could eat and more Chinese restaurant which cost around £2 a head.  There was the pole dancing for relaxation before a big game (not compulsory I must add) and Peter Emptage’s brown bear that reportedly walks the streets of Sophia alone during the day.  Of course it does Peter!

 And finally there was Alice! Maybe she might sponsor the next English veterans sortie abroad.