THE ROYAL TENNIS COURT Hampton Court Palace WARM HOSTS? THE COLDEST MARCH IN MEMORY TESTED THE METTLE OF COMPETITORS IN THE LADIES’ MASTERS See page 5 The Spring Newsletter 2013 Number 103 020 8977 3015 u [email protected] u www.royaltenniscourt.com chairman’s chat TC has been privileged to host two major events in or the first time, the Royal Rrecent weeks: first the Pol Roger Trophy final, in FTennis Court is to host a which MCC narrowly gained revenge over Queen’s for Grand Wine Tasting on the its defeat in last year’s final, and more recently the evening of Thursday 23 May. Ladies’ Masters, which we have supported for the past The court is to be turned over to three years. Unfortunately our own Sue Haswell was a selection of wine merchants, unable to defend her title due to injury, but fellow RTC all of whom are members of the member Elvira Campione stepped up and advanced all real tennis community and will the way to an entertaining final against former world be bringing an interesting champion Penny Lumley. The LRTA were grateful to the selection of individual wines. These will be available to professionals for marking and also thanked Linda taste on the evening and then orders can be placed for Sheraton-Davis for assisting with the event and delivery or collection at a later date. See page 7 for more organising lunches and the dinner. information. s we went to press, the RTC team of Nick Wood and embers will have noticed the new interpretation AChris Chapman were still involved in the IRTPA Mdisplays which now adorn the tennis court corridor. National League Premier Division playoffs, facing a final This has involved close co-operation between the eliminator away against Hatfield House on 18 April for professionals and the Palace staff and I’m sure everyone the honour of playing Prested Hall in the final back at will agree this is a huge improvement not only for the Hampton Court on 24 April. benefit of visitors but also for the club itself. Congratulations to all concerned. etails of the Summer Barbecue, to be held on DSaturday 29 June, are announced at the bottom of inally, I would like to remind members that the AGM this page. Please make a note of the date and bring along Fwill be held on Sunday 19 May at 11.30am. The friends and family to support this event. I would also board has decided to revert to a weekend date to improve remind members that the Summer Handicap Doubles, attendance, so please do come along. perhaps the most sociable of all the club competitions, is being held on the weekend of 21–23 June. Paddy Sweetnam Henley? Wimbledon? No, the COMING UP hottest ticket in town this summer is the Royal Tennis Court... RTC 24 April: National League Premier Division final 27-28 April: Barker Camm Cup Grade A weekend SUMMER BARBECUE 27 April: National League Div 5 semi-final: RTC v Oxford 5 May: National League Div 2 final: RTC v Seacourt 19 May: Annual General Meeting (11.30am) 23 May: Wines of the World tasting evening 2 June: RTC v Jesters (social match) 21-23 June: Kings Goblet Summer Handicap Doubles 29 June: Summer Barbecue 24 July-2 Aug: Junior Development Programme coaching course ELSEWHERE 6-14 May: Australian Open (Melbourne) 13-26 May: Over-50s/60s/70s Masters events (New York) 31 May-2 June: Over-40s British Open Singles Championship (Seacourt) SATURDAY 29 JUNE, 4–10pm 2-9 June: US Pro Singles (Newport) 6-9 June: LRTA Handicap Mixed Doubles (Seacourt) Tickets: £20 adults, £10 under-16s 14-16 June: Ladies’ US Open (Tuxedo) (from the professionals) Premium-quality food From 17-29 June, Middlesex University will be hosting the British Challenge, a brand-new event for the best Entertainment including live music eight players who are either British citizens, amateur or professional, or non-British pros who are working full-time Keep an eye out for more details at a club in the UK (such as Chris Chapman). The final nearer the date itself will be a best-of-13-sets affair spread over three days. 2 The only winner is Essex Prested Hall completed a stunning charge to top the National League table TC’s Premier Division pairing of crowd with a series of through-the-legs retrieving from Chris, the set also went Nick Wood and Chris Chapman and behind-the-back trick shots, but it to 5-5. After spurning the first of his R were beaten by Prested Hall by was Smith who found more consistency match points, Chris nonchalantly took the narrowest of margins in the final and made fewer unforced errors. the second with a clipped shot into group game of the National League’s In the second set Nick eliminated the winning gallery (one of many on the Premier Division. unforced errors and led 5-4. However, night) to secure a 6-5 6-5 win. The result meant that Prested Hall the Essex boy held his nerve to take the In a frenetic deciding doubles match, leapt to the top of the league table and final two games and win 6-1 6-5. the momentum swung back and forth, thus advanced directly to the final back In the first-string match, Chris was up going to 5-5, then 6-6 , then 7-7. In the at RTC, while Nick and Chris had to against Petworth pro Tom Durack. deciding 15th game, RTC took the travel to Hatfield House five days later Despite nursing a heavy cold, Chris initiative and had two match points, but for a play-off to determine the second raced into a 5-2 lead, employing much they ran out of steam as Prested Hall finalist (the result of which will be more boasting than normal. Struggling won four points in a row to take it 8-7. known by the time you read this). to find a good length on his railroad If you happen to be reading this Nick was up against a spirited serve, though, he let Durack pull back before 24 April, the Premier Division Ricardo Smith, who took control of the to 5-5, and the home man had to save a final is at RTC on Wednesday 24th. first set and ran away 6-1 winner. Smith set point with a fierce cut volley return Come and support the boys – or if they kept hitting his targets, while Nick’s of serve. Chris then immediately took don’t make it past Hatfield, come and tactic of going for the forehand corner his first set point by forcing an error. watch some world-class tennis and see from the service end rather than the In the second set both players changed how prodigal son Ben Matthews – the tambour didn’t bring much reward. to a backhand drag serve with good division’s ‘MVP’ – gets on. Both players delighted the 50-plus effect. Following some phenomenal Owen Saunders l NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF BOOMERANG Barker Camm Cup Bartley, Peter Mather, David Best and CUP 2014 Soon we will know the finalists in Larry Furness have reached the the club championship, with the quarter-finals, while holder John (Melbourne, 9-23 January) earlier rounds of Grade A being Mather was also still going as we The Boomerang Cup is a wonderful played on the weekend of 27-28 went to press. Watch out for the two-week festival of tennis, the main April. Peter Wright defends his title. improving Bartley, who has won 27 event being a team doubles handicap In Grade B, Robert Frost pulled off games and lost just three in winning event. There are plenty of social one of the great upsets of the season. Grade B while reducing his handicap events laid on at prestigious Having sprained his wrist in a by nine points. Melbourne venues, and opportunities motorbike accident, he was forced to to see the sights, watch the use his weaker left hand for his semi- Seal Salver 2011-12 Australian Open lawn tennis and see final against Fred Satow – only it’s David Watson sprinted into the final Australia v England at the Melbourne not as weak as you might think, and in his debut Seal Salver campaign Cricket Ground. Costs are reduced incredibly Robert defeated Fred 6-5 with a 9-0 crushing of Graham Prain. by local members offering to billet in the third set! Even though Simon He will be up against Mike Seymour, overseas guests, often leading to Edmond defeated him 6-2 6-1 in the who beat John East in his semi-final. long-term friendships. final, getting that far still means RTC is normally keenly Robert qualifies to take part in Ladies’ British Open represented and hopes to be so Grade A... in which he may well Claire Vigrass continued her again in 2014. The event is open to make use of both hands. dominance of the women’s game all players, regardless of handicap. with another double at Seacourt. In The only requirements are a Harris Watson Trophy the singles final she beat her sister willingness to travel, an enjoyment The top seeds have eased into the Sarah, before they teamed up to add of competitive tennis, and an ability final of the doubles club the doubles title. Sadly, Karen Hird to commit fully to the trip over six championship. David and James had to withdraw in an earlier round months in advance.