Des Jones was the Handball version of 'Nobody' - 'Nobody is perfect, and Des just seemed to be perfect. He had balance and grace, concentration and consistency. And Des was so fast. Opponents knew of his extraordinary instinctual reaction particularly playing inside but also when backing up. Des got to countless balls he shouldn't have after they'd passed his partner. He could carry just about anyone in a pennant doubles, and in bigger games too if he had to! We still recall his kick shots with his left foot to pick up butts. They changed the rules to ban kicking after that carnival. Des was unfailingly fair, consistent, with no errors.

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He was unflappable. He never got upset with umpires. Des mastered the passing shot, which was a big weapon for him. He had amazing stamina and when it came to disguising a shot placement until the last split second he had no peer. He was an elite champion for twenty years and always somebody whom we cheered on Sunday afternoons at Easter.