Club News
BISHOP SUTTON TENNIS CLUB TOURNAMENT 2009
Another dry year for Bishop Sutton Finals Day on Sunday 6 September, and this year there were even more improvements to the day. Instead of a BBQ we had a pig roast which was so successful it was a complete sellout. This was accompanied by an all day bar and the famous great Bishop Sutton Tea. There was new fencing in place to make sure players on court were not disturbed by the 100 plus spectators walking past and the grounds looked superb, thanks to grounds person Harry Connell and all his work, especially with the leafblower.
SENIORS
In the mens finals Nick Walters put up a good fight against coach Duncan Grew with some really fast hard hitting rallies, but Duncan always managed to win more points. In the mens doubles, junior coach Matt Thompson and partner Colin Timson beat Nick Rogers and Steve Evans in a fairly noisy but good tempered match.
Nic Scott managed to end up in 3 finals - ladies singles and doubles as well as the mixed doubles. She won the ladies doubles ably assisted by young Sophie Webb against Pippa Coles and Bridget Rylance. In the ladies singles Jane Parkes won the first set convincingly and then struggled to win the second set 7-5 making sure Nic could not get all three trophies. In the mixed doubles Nic played with experienced finalist Steve Evans, who probably holds the record for playing the most final matches in the club but never actually winning a title. This year was different and, with Steve having been in serious training for some weeks, he and Nic put in a grand performance ousting Geoff Jones and Judith Penna. The game was not without drama. First Geoff Jones managed to hit Nic with a mishit and then, at match point to Nic and Steve, Steve managed to get in the way of a winning smash from Nic which put the game back to deuce. After lots of sympathy and some finger wagging the game continued and was won by Nic and an overjoyed Steve 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
JUNIORS
The boys singles was won by Dan Gordon in an exciting hard fought match against Tom Hunt, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. This was the fifth consecutive year that Dan has won the singles, previously winning twice in the under 12’s and twice in the over 12’s. The boys under 12 was another close fought match this year that also went to a competition tie-break, Charlie McDonald eventually winning against Benji Stephenson 6-1,4-6,10-8. The boys doubles was then won in two sets by Harry McDonald and Benjii Stephenson against James Blackwell and Harry Battersby 6-4, 7-5.
In the girls singles Charlotte Wareham beat Emily Parkes 6-4, 7-5 in yet another nail biting match. Charlotte then went on to win the girls doubles as well; with partner Laura Finch they defeated Emily Abrahams and Jessica Boardman. Although Charlotte has won the doubles title in three previous years this was her first single title.
MINIS
This is played by little people who seem hardly big enough to see over the net using small racquets and special soft balls. They play a slightly different format playing up to three others in a box system. They have a wonderful time and the concentration is amazing.
Oliver Lowe won the orange box for under 8’s, Freddie Saunders the green – under 9’s and Johny Streatfeild-James the red box for under10’s.
Altogether the day was a great success and went very smoothly thanks to a lot of hard work by coaches and organizers. Many thanks to all the umpires, players, coaches, raffle ticket sellers, bar staff, tea persons and of course to our own Dr Phil Hammond for making the presentation ceremony such good fun. We should be very proud of our club, the friendly though competitive spirit and general family feel make it very special.
<< Back to News
