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Home , Anne Kremer, Badminton New Zealand, Colin Dowdeswell, Erin Routliffe, Fred Stolle, Frew McMillan

November 2019

President Cecilie McIntyre [email protected] Page 2-4 Report on match ICNZ v IC

Hon Sec. Angela Hart [email protected] Page 5-6 Report on French IC Week team

Vice President Russell Tills [email protected] Page 7 –8 Obituaries. Heather Robson and Paul Thomson

Link to IC Council website www.ictennis.net Page 8 New Life Member of .

Have a look through this website and click the Page 9-10 News of members flags to see news of the other countries. Page 11-12 Dropshots, more on Frank & Ken. AGM date 2020.

Greetings to our IC members in NZ and around the world. It is a couple of months since our last newsletter and we have a mixture of very good and sad news. We have lost two of our best known and long standing Members. Our Hon Treasurer for over 25 years Paul Thomson died after a sudden illness and Heather Robson MNZM, wife of our Patron Jeff Robson, but a member in her own right, died recently after being unwell for the past year. There will be more news about these two members in the newsletter. The better news is that although we have enjoyed visits to our country by teams from France, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic in the last few years, we have travelled ourselves with 2 teams representing ICNZ playing overseas in the last 2 months. It always takes many months to organise teams, especially when we entered a men’s team in the IC France Week to help celebrate their 90th anniversary. Our thanks go to Paul White and Russell Tills here and our very valuable UK liaison man Mark Hadley who was organising the European side. Our other team match was just last week when our team of 11 players and 13 supporters were made so welcome by the IC Australia when we visited the Gold Coast of Queensland , based at the Royal Pines Resort . The chance to play golf as well as tennis was an added attraction and we were really honoured to be able to meet TWO LEGENDS of Australian and World Tennis. has been the President of ICA and the IC Council and is known for his interest in the ICA and assistance with their philanthropy programme. More about these men and the Sedgman-Tills Trophy match later in the newsletter. We are very grateful to the ICA led by President Kerryn Pratt, Treasurer Noel Jensen and the locally based member who organised an excellent weekend for us.

Our players, pictured here are:

Angela Swinkels, Janine Perkinson, John Lawrence, Peter Stokes, Don Turner, Quentin Maisey, Paul White, Helen Litt, Greg Long, Mark Lewis , Julia Sim.

1 A team of 11 players plus 4 other members and 9 supporters crossed the Tasman to the Gold Coast where the ICNZ team played IC Australia. We stayed at the Royal Pines Resort which was ideal with three 9 hole golf courses to challenge many of our members and supporters. On the Saturday there were practice games on the covered courts, mixing the players from both teams for a couple of hours. That night we had a BBQ where the teams were introduced and the 2 legends of tennis Frank Sedgman and Ken Rosewall both spoke along with President of ICA Kerryn Pratt and Treasurer Noel Jensen. The NZ players and other IC Members were also introduced. IC was very generous and our large group was all catered for that night and lunch the next day. It was heartening to see how keen our younger members were to join in a photo with Frank and Ken as well as the older ones who grew up knowing about these players. Ken was not an Honorary member of our club although Frank has been since 1989 ...so we rectified that and invited him to become an Honorary Overseas member. The following evening we made the Australian IC President Kerryn Pratt an Honorary Overseas Member and I was very pleased to have the same invitation given to me by IC Australia.

On the Sunday the match was held at the nearby KDV Sports Centre which has around 20 hard or clay tennis courts as well as a double layer golf driving range. Our men singles players were very strong, winning their singles and doubles, we won the 2 ladies doubles, lost the other men’s doubles and the mixed was quite close with all of the 4 matches having close sets before we won 3 of these. So the final score was a win to NZ 8/3. It was great to have Frank there to present our match captain Paul White with the Sedgman- Tills Trophy. We are hoping to play a return match somewhere in NZ in February or March 2021.

The Presentation Dinner on the Sunday evening was an excellent meal at a restaurant on the 21st floor of the Royal Pines Resort. It was a shame it was dark by 6.30 as the view to the beaches along the coast was very nice.

Thanks to the players and their partners, Colin, Gary, Ann Maree, Kerry and Jik. Supporters were Jim & Ann Martin, Russell Tills, Pam & Norm Sowter and Cecilie & Ken McIntyre. We had players and supporters from around NZ ...Christchurch, Hawkes Bay, Tauranga, Waikato and Auckland. The team spirit was wonderful, so the future of IC matches is in good hands. Cecilie

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Frank Sedgman presenting the Sedgman-Tills Trophy to NZ Match Captain Paul White. Presidents of ICNZ and Australia Cecilie and Kerryn .

If you would like to see more photos please access our ICNZ Cluster site. It has photos from previous IC events over the last year. Many of you have already joined but if not please just click https://cluster.co/i/XVX3DXDD You don’t have to be a member of our IC to see these. It is not public, but we invite our tennis friends to look, or comment under any photo if you wish, or add your own photos..it is very easy.

Players and supporters from both countries. Thanks to ICA from ICNZ

4 REPORT FROM FRENCH IC WEEK Organising a team to play on the other side of the world in 2 different age groups was a year long challenge ! It was first discussed this time last year and the IC Week to celebrate the 90th anniversary of IC France was held at Le Touquet in September. Our team Captain was Mark Hadley, with Gilles de Gouy and Andrew Turner playing the 45+ matches and Martin Colenbrander and Anton Bettink in the under 45 part. They were unfortunate to draw the eventual winners, France in the first round, but did beat Luxembourg 4/2 before losing to Mexico. Mark reports : “Firstly, I would like to say that WE PULLED IT OFF ! Thanks to all of you for your hard work in organising team NZ. The event was extremely well run and the French team couldn't have been more friendly. Superb club, great entertainment, lunches, dinners and competitiveness. The team camaraderie was exceptional and it was great to meet Martin for the first time as well as getting to know Gilles much better. They are two top men and exceptional ambassadors to NZ tennis. It was superb having Gilles on the team to help us translate and give the team some va va voom ! “ Anton won his 3 singles matches and after Andrew Turner won his match against the Luxembourg No 1 Mark thought he still has the best volleys in NZ tennis !!

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Thierry Pham and Henri Reiter have both toured NZ with their IC teams in the last few years ...with Mark.

Mark says this is an example of the IC Motto. Hands across the net , friendship across the ocean . was in the Luxembourg team. She won the NZ Open final in 2000 and Martin was her ball boy !! He is now a hitting partner for the top women players each year. Andrew, Mark, Anne, Martin and Anton.

6 Obituaries Heather Robson MNZM 1928 to 2019 It is with great sadness that we remember a stalwart of our club, Heather Robson. Heather became a member of the ICNZ in the early nineties when the rules were changed to invite ladies to join. Her playing record in tennis was outstanding, having been a NZ representative and winner of numerous NZ titles in women's doubles and mixed doubles. She competed at Wimbledon twice, in 1954 and 1957. In 1954 she reached the second round of the singles, the quarter final of the doubles, playing with Judy Tinnock and fourth round of the mixed doubles with her husband Jeff. Three years later she progressed to the second round of the singles, the third round of the doubles with Ruia Morrison and third round of the mixed doubles again with Jeff. As a player she won seven New Zealand singles championships, and also won nine national women's doubles and three mixed doubles titles, again playing with Jeff. In 1954 she reached the semi-finals of the singles at All England Badminton Championships and won the Irish singles title. She was a long time representative in NZ's and Whyte Trophy teams. At various times, Heather served as president of Auckland Tennis, Auckland Badminton, Badminton New Zealand and . In 1988 she received a meritorious service award from the Badminton World Federation. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to racquet sports in the 2001 New Year Honours. In 2004 at the Halbergs, Heather and Jeff were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for services to Tennis and Badminton and in 2013 the Badminton World Federation presented Heather with its lifetime achievement award. When Heather was President of Tennis Auckland in the 1991/92 season, she introduced an afternoon tea for a group of past lady tennis players, and this was the forerunner of the IC morning teas that we have today. She has been a loyal member of our club and always supported our activities with enthusiasm. We will all miss her greatly. Thanks to Jill Bignell for this tribute.

Heather at our 60th Anniversary in 2016, with Peter McQuibban the President of the IC Council, the late Sir Tom Eichelbaum, and Jeff Robson.

********************* Paul F Thomson. 1944-2019

I first met Paul when he came to Dunedin in 1963 to attend the Otago University School of Physical Education. Prior to that he had won several New Zealand Junior Titles and competed in The in Florida. Later Paul played in an New Zealand team which competed in Australia. He loved the fierce competition of playing in major tournaments and the Wilding Shield. He was hard to beat. He toured with IC teams and was elected an honorary member of the IC’s of France, Great Britain, Canada, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Paul was the honorary treasurer of IC New Zealand 1990-1992 and from 1994-2019. Our club is hugely indebted to Paul for his many years of service. At times it was a difficult job chasing members for their overdue subscriptions. Our condolences go out to Kathy and the family. Des Shaw.

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Paul with Kathy and with Gary Swinkels at the May AGM.

Gary and Angela paid tribute to Paul saying he was an absolute legend, still playing Caro Bowl into his 40’s. They recall many times watching him slice, dice, , dink and toy with opponents 20 years younger than himself . We will miss Paul.

We acknowledge the passing of these well known IC members from other countries Peter McNamara The former Australian tennis player, Peter McNamara, died from cancer aged 64 in late July . McNamara, who reached a career-high No 7 in the world in 1983, beat all-time greats and to win two of his five singles titles, but he is perhaps best remembered for his successful doubles partnership with Paul McNamee. The duo twice won Wimbledon, in 1980 and 1982 as well as the 1979 . There was an excellent article about Peter which several of us read soon after he died ..click here to read the link.

IC Canada have advised us that Lorne Main, a member since 1966 has died. As well as being a Canadian Davis Cup player and Captain between 1949 &1961 he achieved great success on the Senior Tour. He won over 40 world championship titles in every age category from 55 to 80 years and over…. the most by any Senior player.

Italian legend Beppe Merlo died aged 91 . Over 60 years ago at an Auckland Junior coaching school week, I can recall Alan Burns describing Beppe’s loosely strung racket…. He joked that he would be able to catch the ball in his racket and sling it back over the net! I wonder whether any of our other older members remember that.

Kevin Long. We are very pleased to report that one of our longstanding members, Kevin Long, was made a Life Member of Tennis Auckland recently. Kevin's record and contribution both on and off the court has been outstanding. He was a ranked NZ player from 1957/58 till 1968/69 and in 1960 he had his biggest career win when he beat Lew Gerrard to win the Auckland Senior Championship title. He was a regular in the Auckland Wilding shield team for many years and played in the Auckland International Tournament in 1956, the first year it was held. He mixed his tennis career with a very successful Badminton career and played numerous times for the NZ team both in Whyte Trophy and . He was a nationally ranked Badminton player for many Kevin , Pam and Greg . Greg and his brother Mark years. who lives in Texas, are also ICNZ members. After his active playing time was over, he did a coaching course and worked with numerous players of different ages around Auckland. He was a NZ Junior selector for 5 years as well as an Auckland tennis selector, a position he held for 24 years and managed many Auckland Wilding shield teams. He was President of Tennis Auckland in 2001 to 2002 and has served on the Emeritus Committee for 14 years since 2005. He has been Club Captain and a committee member of our club for over 30 years, until he stood down this year.

8 IC Council AGM and Lunch During Wimbledon we were represented at the IC Council AGM by committee member Malcolm Elley. Our Hon Secretary Angela Hart was at Wimbledon in her capacity as Tennis Auckland President and along with Stephen Temple they were invited to the special lunch held in the Members Lounge. Stephen has lived in Hong Kong for many years and is running an ITF event there this month.

Kerryn Pratt, Helena Sukova, Angela ,Peter McQuibban

Malcolm (right) played in the NZ team we entered in IC WEEK 1999 at Wimbledon. Stephen (right) and Jan Kodes (centre)

NEWS OF MEMBERS

Overseas ICNZ Member Ian Crookenden is a member of the Last 8 Club at Wimbledon…. He sent this photo. The Last 8 Club is special, for those who reached the quarter finals of singles and semi’s of doubles and mixed. Front row: , Jenny Hoad, Christine Janes, , Francoise Durr, Judy Dalton, , Standing in second row: , , , , Jan Kodes, Frew McMillan, , Helena Sukova, Gigi Fernandez, Ramish Krishnan, Linky Mortlock, , , Patti Fordyce, Helen Baker, Elena Feltham, . Back row : , , , , John Paish, Angela Barrett, , , , Ian Crookenden, , Anand Armitraj.

9 Kevin Woolcott At the recent Tennis NZ AGM committee member Kevin Woolcott was elected Honorary Vice President of TNZ. Last year he was awarded the inaugural winner of the Spirit of Tennis award for his long career of playing, as a Davis Cup player with Parun and Fairlie, coaching, and helping disabled youngsters amongst his many tennis related achievements. He managed several of our ICNZ junior teams and has been a major part of our Philanthropy programme, planning the lessons with Tracey O’Connor.

Peter Hampton Canterbury IC Member Peter Hampton has won the World Over 60 Doubles AND Mixed Doubles Finals. A great effort. Both times he was playing with an Australian partner. With Michael Ford ….10/8 in the 3rd set tie break and much more comfortably with Ros Balodis. 6/2 6/0

Stephen Temple Stephen (on the left) played with a Belgian IC Member Robert van Malder in Antibes, where they won the 60’s doubles. Mark Hadley and his partner Timur Shadiev (Great Britain Team) and from Russia, successfully defended their

British National 45's

Lynette Duncan will be playing as part of an Australasian IC team in Several other members have won titles overseas South Africa in May. recently including John Lawrence and Phillip This will be in the Sun City inaugural Celebratory “Legends” event, and Seeman. Congratulations to them. their 70th Anniversary .

Morning and Afternoon Teas during the January Tournaments All members were sent 2 emails about this and Angela is working with Tennis Auckland to arrange the seats they are giving our members for either the 6th or 13th January. The date to receive your requests is well past and we are pleased to have very good numbers. HOT OFF THE PRESS !! We look forward to catching up with you. It has just been announced that a 4th Top 10 player The ASB Women’s Week play does not start until will be coming back to the January ASB Classic . 3pm, for a twilight session so that will be an Afternoon Russian World No 8 will join Tea. The following Monday will be the Morning Tea. Thanks to Jill Bignell who is liaising with the caterers Danil Medvedev in the Men’s Week draw. to arrange these. The top women are last year’s finalist and who fought for Those who replied will receive their tickets and passes by mid December. the US Open title in September.

10 Drop Shots Four-time major champion is set to come out of retirement and return to the WTA Tour in 2020. The 36-year-old Belgian, who retired after the 2012 US Open, announced last month. "I don't really feel like I want to prove something," Clijsters said on the WTA Insider Podcast. "I think for me it's the challenge. I have friends who would say, I want to run the Marathon before I turn 50. For me, I still love to play tennis. Whenever I'm at a playing the Legends, if somebody asked me hey, do you want to hit some balls, I'm the first one to be like I'll hit. I'll be the hitting partner for your practice today. I still love playing tennis. "The love for the sport is obviously still there. But the question still is, am I capable of bringing it to a level where I would like it to be at and where I want it to be at before I want to play at a high level of one of the best women's sports in the world. I don't feel like I need to prove anything, but I want to challenge myself and I want to be strong again. This is my marathon. This is where I'm saying OK, let's try this.” So it will be a big challenge, but she seems like she's looking forward to it. The WTA have said that Kim will be eligible for unlimited wildcards at tournaments as a former world No.1. She, however does need to play 3 tournaments or earn 10 ranking points to re-establish a WTA ranking.

ICNZ Member was asked about how it felt to play in the doubles at Wimbledon for the second time Current Touring players after qualifying last year. This year there was no qualifying Congratulations to who has, for the event played, so she and took a chance 3rd year qualified to play in the prestigious end of ….. Heartbreakingly they lost in 3 sets after having match year ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in . points in the second set. This week in Paris at the Masters both and with their respective “When Maddy and I found out we were getting to play in the draw, we were beyond excited! I came to London partners have won their first round doubles thinking that it probably wasn’t going to happen, and I matches…. Marcus at Michael’s expense…after being would just use it as a training week with all the players the last direct entry, and Artem in a similar way to there to practice with. But with 3 withdrawals, we got the last year has won the first round after getting in as opportunity to play. On Thursday, we were first up at 11. an alternate last minute entry. It was a good match, we played well and competed hard. Of course the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for, and the competitor in me was massively disappointed. It took a few days to get over, but having a tough loss was much better than not getting to play at all”

The Fed Cup final between Australia and France will be played in on November 9th -10th. This will be shown live on Sky Sport at a good afternoon time for NZ viewers if you are interested. Rafa Nadal and Maria ‘Xisca’ Perello were married last month in Mallorca.

11 The 64th AGM and Dinner of ICNZ will be held in Auckland on Sunday May 17th 2020. Please make a note of the date now and plan to join us.

Meeting the 2 Frank Sedgman and Ken Rosewall (and their lovely wives Jean and Wilma ) was one of the highlights for our IC Team. Just to remind our current members here are quick bio’s of both men. Frank Sedgman AO is now 92. He was so dominant in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s it only took him 4 years to amass 22 major titles: singles, doubles and mixed . He was shunned when he had the courage in 1953 to turn professional and join ’s group. This meant he could no longer play in Grand Slam tournaments or in the Davis Cup. Frank has given our IC a copy of the book ‘Game SEDGE and Match ‘ written in 2014 which our members can pass around to read. His 22 majors included 5 Grand Slam Singles (the French was the only one to elude him as he was runner up in 1952) and 9 Doubles and 8 Mixed Doubles.. He and Ken McGregor were the only men’s doubles team to win the Grand Slam in a single year …1951, then they won the first 3 in 1952 before losing at the US Championships, so 7 in a row! Frank continued The players were joined by our other IC Members for the to play professionally until 1976 . His last appearance at the photo on the Saturday BBQ evening. Australian Championships men’s singles before retiring was 1976, 30 years after his first appearance …a record which will be hard to beat. Ken Rosewall AM MBE will be 85 in early November . He won a record 23 tennis Majors including 8 Grand Slam Singles. He is another top player who was prevented from playing in the 4 Grand Slam events while they were still for amateurs only. Before the Open era Ken won 15 Pro Slam titles and overall reached 35 Major Finals. The span of his Wimbledon finals, the only Grand Slam singles he didn’t win, although a 4 times finalist, was an amazing 20 years, 1954-1974. He was also runner up in 1956 and 1970.

I don’t like to add too many links, but this one will remind us of a very memorable July day in London and ALL NIGHT viewing in NZ. I wonder how many others, like me, did not go to bed that night…..glued to the TV to watch 2 amazing finals. Read this article from the Morning Herald to relive that drama . The best of both worlds on one perfect day in London “For as the shadows started to lengthen on the day, both Wimbledon and the World Cup final were simultaneously moving into climactic territory the likes of which neither event had ever seen before.”

News and photos from Members are always welcome for these occasional newsletters. If you want to read previous Newsletters find them on the NZ page on the IC Council website. Just click on the NZ flag on the Home page to read the Noticeboard. For the committee, Cecilie

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