Annual Report 2020/21 International
Dutch Real Tennis Association By Theo Bollerman, President
D
espite the strange year we still had some memorable moments. The year started excellently in Melbourne for our Boomerang team The Dutch Courtiers; Huub & Kim van Boeckel, Paul, Lucie & Theo Bollerman and Stephanie Zaaijer, who took some time off her medical study to work as RMTC’s summer gappie. The team reached the last 8 under non playing captain Saskia.
talents visited Manchester and had the best of times thanks to the world famous hospitality of the Manchester Club members. Sadly enough, our yearly championships at Radley College had to be cancelled. Instead, we had a lawn tennis party and drinks for all the competitors at the Oranje Tennis Club. Saskia and Hugo van der Meer were just able to make a trip to visit the new Bordeaux court.
The Handicap Doubles trophy was lifted by Stephanie and Paul, who played very disciplined Tennis. Saskia made her Real Tennis comeback with Kate Leeming, but they lost the final of the Australian Open to the formidable Lumley mother-daughter combination.
But the biggest development of the year is in The Hague. Cees de Bondt, Niek van Wijk and Saskia Bollerman have done their utmost to get the sketch of a Real Tennis court into a plan of the city council of The Hague to build an omni-sport centre. They were very successful. A beautiful report has been formally presented to the The Hague Alderman of Sports.
The yearly meating of a Dutch group in Cambridge was played in the second week of January. They were once again very grateful for the warm reception. And last but not least, in February a team of eight younger Dutch
The architects and the president of the Olympic Committee are also very enthusiastic. But lots of hurdles need to be taken before any further steps can be made. Thumbs up for Niek, Cees and Saskia, and fingers crossed!
Irish Real Tennis Association By Ben North, Secretary
I
n common with most other clubs, the IRTA was not able to play its usual collection of friendly fixtures and also had to cancel its traditional two championship events. We are now looking forward to being able to play over the coming months, with the fixtures list building up again. We are deeply saddened to report the loss of IRTA cofounder and chairman, Mike Bolton. Mike was a consistent driving force behind the IRTA's work since its inception in 1998, as well as a keen and accomplished player of Real Tennis and other racket sports. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, both on and off court. There has been little to no development regarding the historic Dublin Real Tennis Court in the past year. We have repeatedly offered to the relevant state bodies our support and help in restoring the court to play, and continue to do so.
Mike Bolton (1934–2021), IRTA co-founder and dedicated Real Tennis player".
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