15-Jan:
Clark chases special
English Nationals record
 ANTHONY
CLARK is bidding to rewrite the record books when he tackles
the English National Championships at The Veldorome in
Manchester from February 5-7.
Clark and Nathan Robertson, the defending champions, are
among a 136-strong entry at these seventh Championships to be
staged at The Velodrome.
And Clark is bidding to improve the men's doubles record he
shares with Simon Archer of eight consecutive wins.
Of Archer's nine men's doubles titles, he won eight in a row
from 1994-2001, six with Chris Hunt and two with Robertson. His
ninth title came with Clark in 2005, by which time the
Nottinghamshire man had won three times in a row with Robertson.
Clark followed that with two wins with 2006 world silver medal
partner Robert Blair and then made it eight in a row with
two more wins after teaming up again with Robertson.
Victory next month will put him top of the list for consecutive
wins on nine titles ... and his next target would then be
Mike Tredgett's total of 10 triumphs. Six of his wins came
consecutively with Ray Stevens and that consecutive partnership
record was later matched by Archer and Chris Hunt.
 Clark
is also bidding for a fourth consecutive mixed doubles title. He
won three times with Donna Kellogg and will now bid for
more glory with new partner Heather Olver.
But Tredgett is the man to beat in mixed doubles with five
consecutive wins (1977-81) among his six titles.
However Gillian Gilks is by far the most successful
player at the Nationals. She has six consecutive wins among her
12 mixed titles and also claimed the singles title eight times
and the women's doubles title seven times between 1968 and 1985.
Kellogg with five in a row has the women's doubles record for
consecutive wins among her seven titles and she also won the
mixed four times.
In singles Darren Hall won the men's title four times in
a row in his record 10 men's singles wins. In women's singles
Julia Mann's eight wins included seven in a row.
But Clark will be the man to watch this year as he bids to
extend his long-playing record.
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