Cooper & Hollinrake romp to victory in the British Doubles Matchplay at Wisbech

The BMGA British Doubles Matchplay 2025, held at Play2Day in Wisbech on 3 May 2025, brought together seventeen competitive pairs to battle for the national title. The tournament followed a group stage format, with the top teams progressing to a main knockout bracket, while those eliminated in the groups competed in the Plate competition for final rankings.

Cooper & Hollinrake emerged as the standout pair of the tournament, showcasing consistency, mental resilience, and a knack for winning under pressure. After advancing from the group stage, they edged out Wilde & Dodd in the quarter-finals with a narrow 1UP victory. Their semi-final clash against Greenhead & Tutt was an intense battle that went to a sudden-death extra hole, which they won — a clear sign of their composure in high-pressure moments. In the final, they faced Shaw & Angel and once again showed their class and control to secure the championship. Cooper & Hollinrake’s ability to handle close matches and deliver under pressure marked them as worthy champions, finishing unbeaten in the knockout phase.

Shaw & Angel also impressed throughout the tournament, proving themselves as one of the most balanced and consistent teams in the field. Their journey through the knockout rounds began with a commanding 3&1 victory over Bullin & Bishop in the quarter-finals. They then edged past Kukielka & Maud in a closely fought semi-final, winning by one hole to book their place in the final. Although they fell just short against Cooper & Hollinrake in the final match, Shaw & Angel demonstrated tactical intelligence and teamwork that earned them a well-deserved second place.

Kukielka & Maud had an outstanding group stage performance, winning all three of their matches and topping Group A with a perfect nine points — the highest tally of any team in the group phase. Their strong form continued into the quarter-finals, where they recorded a solid 2 hole win against Smith & Smith. However, their unbeaten run came to an end in the semi-finals, where they lost narrowly to Shaw & Angel by one hole. Despite this setback, Kukielka & Maud secured third place overall and proved to be one of the tournament’s most formidable pairings, combining consistency and competitiveness from start to finish.

Further down the standings, the teams that did not qualify for the main knockout bracket competed in the Plate competition to determine places 9 to 11. King & Woodcock rebounded admirably from a difficult group stage to win the Plate and secure 9th place overall. Their ability to refocus and compete strongly in the second phase of the tournament was commendable, particularly considering the level of opposition they faced earlier in the day. Pearse & Pearse also recovered well after a difficult group performance. They showed improved cohesion in the Plate matches and finished in 10th place, climbing the rankings through solid performances. Amey & Rutherford rounded out the plate podium. Although they failed to register a win in the group stage, they maintained a positive attitude and fought hard in the Plate competition. Their effort and persistence paid off with a third-place finish in the Plate and 11th place overall.

The final standings reflected the intensity and competitive depth of the tournament. The 2025 edition of the BMGA British Doubles Matchplay will be remembered for its closely contested matches, especially in the knockout rounds. Two of the knockout matches were decided by a single hole, while one even went to a sudden-death playoff. Cooper & Hollinrake demonstrated nerves of steel to win three tight knockout matches en route to the title with Shelley delivering an impeccable performance in final, backed up ably by partner James. The tournament successfully combined competitive tension with sportsmanship and skill, providing a memorable showcase of British minigolf at its finest.