from
1998
Wedding Bells for Paul,
The prodigal son returns,
A trip down Memory Lane ...
Paul Hargrave, former European Junior Champion and a member of the
Duffield National League team since 1993-94, gets married to Karen
Patching who hails from Chatham in Kent on Friday 8 July. The wedding
takes place at 2.30pm at St Alkmunds Parish Church in Duffield
Paul met Karen whilst on holiday in Faliraki with his friend and former
Duffield NL player John Russell 5 years ago.
John has since moved to the USA to take up a coaching appointment but John
and his wife Fay will return to the village where he became a local hero
back in 1998 when his never say die efforts helped Duffield to win the
National League.
The Duffield line up in the Final was Hadrian Stiff, Paul Hargrave,
John Russell, Mark Allen and Natalie Grainger.
Semi-Final Drama
However, the drama began at the semi final stage when Duffield’s intrepid
supporters travelled to Mr Crabtree’s beloved Chichester coming away
with a narrow 3-2 victory thanks to wins from Hadrian Stiff who beat Peter
Genever (3-2), from Paul Hargrave who beat Lee Drew (3-0) and Mark Allen who
beat a young Ben Garner 3-0.
Tim “the Vole” Vail beat John “Rocket Ron” Russell 3-2 and I well remember
Mark Allen giving John a kick up the backside to remind him of the
importance of the occasion. Linda Charman defeated Natalie Grainger 3-0 to
set things up for the return leg.
In the second leg Paul Hargrave gave Tamworth Street Motors Duffield
the perfect start with another 3-0 win against Lee Drew. Linda Charman beat
Jane Martin 3-0 to level, Martin Greenslade beat Kevin White 3-2 (9-7 in the
fifth after 86 minutes).
John Russell had in January 1998 contributed to one of the best British
Junior Open finals losing in the fifth to Ong Ben Hee. Russell survived
three game balls in the first game against Michael Harris and a match ball
in the fifth which would have put Chichester in the final. Russell finally
took the final game 10-8 after coming back from 6-1 down. Peter Genever beat
Hadrian Stiff 3-2 after 98 minutes only to discover that his efforts had
been in vain with Duffield wining 21-18 on games count-back after finishing
5 all on rubbers won.
On to the Final
Duffield faced Broxbourne in the final and shared the opening 4
rubbers as Paul Hargrave lost to Stuart Cowie (3-0), Natalie Grainger beat
Stephanie Brind (3-0), Mark Allen beat Peter Gunter (3-1) whilst Hadrian
Stiff lost to Rodney Durbach (3-0).
It was all down to the clash between the two lads from Kent with John
Russell battling it out with Chris Tomlinson.
Both players in turn built substantial 7-2 leads in the3rd and 4th games but
were pegged back and the deciding rubber stood at 2 all. Tomlinson led 7-0
in the fifth and Broxbourne started to open the champagne but Russell clawed
his way back and spurred on by a partisan crowd secured a dramatic victory.
I remember the supporters going wild and receiving a kiss in celebration
from that lovely girl Natalie Grainger.
What a great night, I often wonder how we managed to win the NL. Was it team
spirit or down to the manager?
How nice to recall some great names from the past, several of whom are still
playing in the NL.
Brian Hargrave
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