World Under 16s Tambourelli Championships 2014

Under 16s World Tambourelli Championships, Sunday 27^th April at Newton Stewart Games Hall

Although this tournament was advertised as the Scottish Championships it has been agreed that all the different classes and the dedication of the players makes it entitled to be the World event. There is an Under 14s event at the World Championships in Devon, and at the Swedish and Dresden Tournaments held later this year. Our event has Singles in 3 age groups, 2 with a Girls and a Mixed class as well as Doubles that pairs up a mixture of ages and genders by names being chosen from a hat.

We had a great day, with plenty of help from volunteers including a Youth Coach in training. The entrants came from 3 clubs including South London Tambourelli, (SLOT). 

The players all played to their best ability at the time, were courteous to other players, and met up with new people. The day had emotional moments with everyone wanting to win and coaches wanting everyone to be a winner. It made us proud to see the quality of play on the day and everyone having a good time.

The biggest group was the 9-12s. It was an exciting final refereed by a past Under 16 and Open World Champion Stacey Duff.  With work and determination Ruiri Beattie maintained his title. The Under 9s was a fairly close game with the second game going to deuce before Noi won. The 12 – 15s showed their skills off to the other entrants. The Doubles games went well with the oldest and youngest in the final against the best 9-12 partnership. It went to 3 games and was watched by all the other players and volunteers.

These are the results

Under 16s Mixed 13-15s Singles Winner: Barnaby Williams, finalist: Lindsey Barr

Girls Singles: 13-15 Lindsey Barr.

Mixed 9 – 12s Singles Winner: Ruiri Beattie, finalist : Aaron Kennedy

Girls 9 – 12 Singles: Vanessa Ho

Under 9s Winner: Noi  Priestman, finalist: Theresa Ho.

Mixed Doubles Winners: Barnaby Williams and Theresa Ho, finalists: Ruiri Beattie and Conor Firth

Scottish Tambourelli Under 16s Championships 2014

Please note that 12 year olds are in the age group with 9-12 year olds.

As we did at the previous Championships the singles competition will have a mixed gender group that everyone can enter and a girls class. This is because usually there are not enough Girl entrants to make a day of games and the boys don't mind the girls entering both classes.

All the best for some fun and skillful games on the day.

World Tambourelli Championships, Dresden, Germany 2013

The 2013 World Tambourelli Championships were held on the 20^th and 21^st of July 2013 in Dresden, Germany. A team of players from the Newton Stewart Tambourelli club travelled to compete in the event, which has never before been held outside the UK.

The Men’s singles tournament featured many accomplished players from across the UK and Europe, but the last men standing on Sunday evening were 2 Scottish former champions. Bazil Hughes, 21, and Malcolm Heyes, 42, who both won the tournament in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and so it was no surprise to see them once more battle for the title. This time youth won out over experience, with Bazil Hughes coming out ahead to earn his place as one of the sport’s few multiple champions, and establishing himself as an early favourite for next year’s championships in Devon, England.

The Women’s singles tournament was just as dramatic, culminating in a spectacular final between Indy Priestman and Anne Larische. Indy, 38, grew up playing Tambourelli in Galloway and has been the dominant force in the women’s game for as long a women’s tournament has existed. Anne, 24, has never before attended a World Championship event but has never been beaten in her native Germany and so was the local pre-tournament favourite. The final was an exhausting affair that brought the best out of both players, but when the match was finished it was Indy Priestman who was once again victorious, claiming an unprecedented 10^th World Championship title for Sweden, where she now lives.

The Women’s doubles final again pitted Indy Priestman against Anne Larische, with Indy teamed up with Chloe Bruce, 48, and Anne playing alongside Kathl Schubb, 22. Indy once again came out on top with the old masters keeping ahead of the young up-and-comers to gain another title towards Indy’s incredible record and Chloe to gain her first World Championships Gold medal.

The Men’s doubles final was another battle between Scotland and Germany, but this time the German pair were victorious, with Phillip Bahner, 24,  and David Sobiella, 24, defeating Malcolm Heyes and Kevin Witt, 46, in an exhilarating match that tested all 4 players to their limits, and ensured not every Gold medal was won by the Scots.

Next year, Devon will host the World Tournament in August. Newton Stewart hopes to host in 2015.