OXFORDSHIRE celebrated David Buckingham’s 201st cap this weekend during their third team’s resounding 14-1 victory against Worcestershire 3rd.

Buckingham, the reigning Oxfordshire men’s doubles champion, has had a successful county career spanning 30 years, playing in all teams.

For the last 15 years, has chosen to stay true to his home county and commute from his family home in Bristol.

Oxfordshire’s former world champion, Judy Hashman, was there to present Buckingham with a special shirt and other awards.

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Having coached him as a junior, she praised his loyalty to the county and his enthusiasm, which has been a feature in training and in matches since he was a young lad.

Playing with his nephew, 15-year-old Alex Cook, in the mens doubles, and Emily Giles, at first mixed pair – Buckingham did not drop a game as Oxon dominated the County Championships Division 5 Central.

Oxon’s pairings of Natalie Ng and Emily Giles, Matt Jackson and Jack Bird also did not drop a point.

In the men’s matches, there were some closely-fought rallies, with Jackson and Bird going to three sets in both of their rubbers.

Sixteen-year-old Megan Ready, from Oxfordshire’s development squad, made a promising start to her senior career.

She won her singles 21-10 and 21-12, and only narrowly lost out to the Worcestershire first ladies’ doubles pair 22-20 in the third.

Oxfordshire’s first team battled back to narrowly lose 8-7 away to Shropshire in Division 3 Central to clinch a point.

Oxon were unfortunate that Kat Pace suffered an injury during her singles debut, which could put her out for the rest of the season.

James Buffham and Jack Smith won their singles, leaving the score 2-2 after Kathryn Schutterlin lost.

Oxon had to forfeit two level doubles matches because of Pace’s injury, but Sarah Torgersen and another debutant, Helen Richmond, won one match.

In the mens doubles, Buffham and Matt Harris both won twice.

Alistair Reed and Smith picked up one victory, leaving the score at 6-6 going into the mixed matches.

The mixed could not have been closer, with all three matches going the full distance.

Buffham and Richmond lost 18-21, 21-181, 21-19, Harris and Torgersen won 19-21, 21-18, 21-16 and Reed and Schutterlin went down 21-13, 15-21, 21-19.

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