September 20th, 2021

We had another fun-filled action-packed day at the club for the return of our Tennis finals day last weekend. 

 

So many members, friends and family turned up to support the finalists, enjoy the food provided by Isalie and give the bar staff a workout.

 

Josh Sapwell, a former junior world champion, gained his third men’s singles title at the club, beating Tennis & Fitness Director Tyrell Diaz-Stevens pretty decisively.  Josh is looking practically unbeatable in his current form.  Tyrell and Jezz Baker did beat Josh and his partner Phil Casserley in an emotional men’s doubles final.  It was touch and go for a while whether Josh would be able to play theses matches as he injured his leg during his mixed doubles final – not playing but celebrating!  He won that match too with Natasha Hathaway - almost an exact replica of the last mixed doubles final in 2019.

 

The Ladies singles main event and the Over 40’s was a repeat of the same match, with Kate Murphy winning her second title in a row, and Farida Korallus the over 40’s title.  Judith Alnutt will be needing an extra glassware cabinet, as she won the ladies doubles for the trillionth time, with Jenny Webster who she partnered last year too.  Jude also won the ladies over 40’s doubles with Penny Kent which they have done since records began!

 

It was great to see a couple of youngsters, Ryan Friend and Noah Solomons reaching the senior finals.  Ryan won the Men’s Tier 1 event, having already won the U18 singles earlier in the day.

 

The stamina award has to go to Kate Murphy who played 83 games and a championship tie-break over 4 main finals.  The sun was setting as she came off court and the trophy presentation was already in full swing!

 

Thanks to Sue Wolstenholme OBE for presenting the trophies, Claire and Graham and their team for providing us with delicious food and constantly flowing drinks and to Paul for some great photos (click here to view!), but most of all to Tyrell for running such a successful tournament.  Not forgetting - thanks to all our wonderful members who made it such a memorable and eventful day.

 

For the first time, the Junior tournament was run in parallel to the senior one, with all finals on the same day.

 

David Lidderdale Trophy

 

This years’ recipient is Sebastian Mundy. He has trained in the junior academy sessions multiple times per week and has regularly competed at external tournaments. He plays for the junior teams and will always put his hand up for a senior call up if needed. He also plays the box leagues and even volunteers his time to assist in the coaching of the U10 kids on junior night. He is a very worthy winner of the trophy in 2021, which I’m sure David would have agreed with.

 

Senior Tournament Results - click here.

 

Junior Tournament Results

 

U8                               Winner    Leo Dale                              Runner Up       Finlay Lilieveld

8-10 Singles                 Winner    Samuel Cooper-Rolfe          Runner Up       Maverick Smith

9-11 Singles                 Winner    Samuel Cooper-Rolfe          Runner Up       Maverick Smith

U14 Boys Singles         Winner    Henry Bennie                      Runner Up       Connor Reardon

U18 Boys Singles         Winner    Ryan Friend                         Runner Up       Jack Barron