Murphy retains the Restricted Treble

Ian Murphy, the county's no. 1, once again demonstrated his superiority with a superlative performance at the Norfolk Restricted Championships played at the new Town Close School Sports Hall. He won the mens singles title for the eighth successive year, teamed up with new partner, Christian Nielsen, to take the level doubles and then partnered Katherine Cooper to win the mixed doubles.

In the singles, he coasted into the semi-finals to meet and beat no. 3 seed Mike Philpott 21-12,21-10. At the bottom end of the draw, second seed Jonny Cooper came face to face with James Ruthen, who had had a tough 3 set quarter-final match against Peter Sidaway, but Cooper reached the final with a 21-4, 21-17 victory. In the final, Cooper was 20-17 up in the first set but then the pressure got to him and the more composed Murphy went on to win the title 22-20, 21-10.

In the mens doubles Murphy and his new partner Nielsen beat Paul Daynes and Jon Atmore 22-20 21-10 in their semi-final, whilst Mike Philpott and Andy Piff beat Matthew Hammond and Matthew Howes 21-14,21-16 to set up a final which Murphy and Nielsen won 21-17,21-16.

Murphy then completed his title hat trick, by teaming up with Katherine Cooper to beat Justin Gerrard and Julie Pike 21-16, 21-19 in the mixed doubles final. Earlier Murphy and Cooper knocked out Peter Sidaway and Helen Newstead 21-12,21-8 in the first semi, whilst Gerrard and Pike beat Andy Piff and Charlotte Crosby 21-11,21-12 in the other semi.

The new ladies singles champion is Julie Pike who defeated her doubles partner, Katherine Cooper 21-17,21-14 in the final. The losing semi-finalists were Helen Newstead and Toni Sturgeon.

The ladies doubles was played in two groups. Cooper and Pike finished top of their group, with Ann Jenkins and Louise Culyer in second place, whilst Newstead and Sturgeon topped the second group with Katie Price and Amber Nielsen taking second place. The final was a well contested match going to three sets in favour of Cooper and Pike, 19-21,21-14,21-12, giving Cooper her second title of the day.

The plate winners were: mens singles, Justin Gerrard. Ladies singles, Charlotte Crosby, Mixed doubles, Chris Piff and Louise Thacker, Mens doubles, Justin Gerrard and Alex Wyett.