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 County Open - Season 2003-2004 - 10&11/02/04 This tournament was due to be played over two nights but due to the timescales and other reasons, this was pushed out to a third. The Mens and Ladies Singles' winners went with the form. The Mens Doubles final was a tough contest with Russell Craigie and James Henderson (Tech College) linking to beat Benji Mackay and Ian Nicolson (Wick). The two Tech players strolled through to win the first set, easily but did not anticipate a strong comeback by the Wick lads in the second. With the score at 13-6 to the Tech bhoys, the crowd started leaving the arena but the Wick lads had other ideas and started to claw back the difference. At 14-14, it looked like it was going to a third set but with Raz adding to his now consistent 'tippie-tappie' shots and Bird managing to sustain any further on-slaught, the Tech finished it off after a long rally with Russ smashing it into the ground after a couple of good retrievals. Sorry, but there was only going to be one pair of winners here and that was, Casey 'Don't panic - I'm in charge' Sangster and Carole Mowat. The other participants put up a good fight but the County pairing proved too strong. The Mixed Doubles, are you ready for this....... Remember Rocky III... If not, your going to have to picture the scene... There was nervousness, a lot of team talks, goose bumps, socks were pulled up, shirts were tucked in and as the crowd started to assemble around the assigned court, all we needed was James Brown to come out and start singing, 'I live in 'eBIG'H'.....', like he did in a previous encounter, and a few sparklers. As the first shuttle hit string, everyone knew it was going to be a tight and competitive game that had the possibility of going all the way. James and Jane took the upper-hand and stormed ahead to take the first set - but Sam & Casey are always slow starters and had plenty of tricks and sucker punches kept up their sleeves. With rally after rally producing great pick-ups, tight net shots that a fish would have no chance of getting out of and cross court drops, the crowd sat in amazement thinking when is this going to finish. Casey & Sam, eventually, managed to take this match to a third set but James & Jane will be kicking themselves because for long spells throughout the game they were well in-front and only needed a bit of luck to lift the title. The final set went point for point most of the way through, until the competition reached double figures and a few rash shots and misunderstandings in the 'Double J' camp let - probably, the calmer pairing, Sam & Casey in to secure a memorable win. The crowd clapped in appreciation of this excellent encounter and hopefully we will see more of this kind of play in the near future. As Rocky shouted in the first film after winning, 'Adriiiiaaaannnn.....' - Casey picked up her mobile phone and shouted, 'Gaaaannnngggssstteeeer'. Memories... Spielberg, if you are reading, contact me, I can make you millions on this encounter. I already have ideas of actors to play the above parts. Well done to everyone and hope you are all there next season.
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