T&RA Newsletter 2010 C

Dear Member This newsletter is to inform about what is happening here at the T&RA. Some of you might not know that we have a new Chairman in William Maltby, a new CEO in Chris Davies, a new Treasurer in Richard Dalzell and an enthusiastic new team in place to run many initiatives – some new and some old. There are still plenty of opportunities for additional voluntary support around the office and to impart the corporate message to the membership – please give Chris a call if you think you could spare some time.

Over recent years, many Tennis Clubs have begun to encourage junior Tennis and, thanks to the inspiration of Paul Weaver and Seacourt, more have joined in. This has been supported by Christopher Griffith-Jones and Mick Dean, together the T&RA, with the Schools initiative programme and there will be an annual tournament on 13 February (across four courts centred on Radley) and this continues to grow every year. This all works in conjunction with the Dedanist/T&RA elite programme including the Academy and Development Squad. Lastly Simon Marshall’s coordination of Universities, which culminates in a November tournament, completes the current ensemble.

A new joint initiative on youth tennis from the Dedanists and the T&RA At its Legends of Real Tennis dinner held at Queen’s Club last week, the Dedanists announced a new initiative to support the T&RA’s strategy of encouraging young people to take up real tennis. Over the last eight years, the Dedanists have raised money and developed training and other programmes to support elite youth tennis, notably the Development Squad and Academy programmes, which have helped young players like Claire Vigrass and Bryn Sayers to reach the top levels of the game.

Supporting open-access participation programmes aimed at young people will be a new departure for the Society, but one which is firmly in line with its objectives, and the proposal received overwhelming support from members at the Society’s recent AGM. It is proposed that a new charitable entity, the Dedanists’ Foundation, will be set up during the first half of 2011. The Foundation plans to raise money for and, working in participation with the T&RA and with tennis clubs around the country, to support the many excellent schemes already underway with schools and universities and to encourage the development of new initiatives to involve young people in playing tennis. Supporters of the Dedanists have already pledged £20,000 and it is anticipated that others will follow when the Foundation is launched in the New Year. Further information is available from John Farrall at john.farrall@blueyonder.co.uk or through the T&RA office.

In the Rackets world, the Public Schools Singles tournaments are being played out here at Queen’s this week so the whole Club is buzzing with young competitors, school masters, parents and professionals. Both courts are full and the galleries also.

Wall to wall Rackets – wonderful entertainment.

Most importantly the Rackets World Championship was decided with victory for the Champion. On Saturday 20 November 2010 James Stout completed a successful

defence of his World Championship at Queen’s Club. He lost a close first game to challenger Alex Titchener-Barrett, 14/17, but then took the second game 15/8. Having won the first leg at the New York Racquet & Tennis Club by four games to love, 15/11, 15/7, 15/6, 15/9 this gave him the one game he needed to claim overall victory by five games to one.

Alex won the spin and went into an early 4/0 lead in two hands before being put out

by Jamie’s superb backhand return of serve.

Once in the box Jamie made the most of his opportunity with a run of five points including 3 service aces. In his next three hands Jamie won eight points to Alex’s three to reach Championship point at 14/7.

There had only been one quality rally by this stage of the game and it seemed as though the packed gallery, who had not had much to cheer up to this point, were going to witness a rather short Match. The World Champion, serving for the Match, made his first unforced error of the day to allow the Challenger back in hand. Alex, presented with a chance, made no mistakes, catching up to 14-all in one hand including two aces and two great backhand kills to a perfect length. Jamie chose set to three, and as the game reached a thrilling climax Alex failed to score in his first service hand. However, Jamie made another unforced error, failed to score, and Alex took the set in his next two hands, playing his best rackets including a remarkable reflex shot which secured the game.

Alex started the second game in the same manner going to a 5/1 lead in two hands, then to 8/3. This passage of play contained some of the best rackets of the Match, both players hitting the ball down the walls leading to some remarkable gets and terrific rallies. Jamie then recalled that he was the World Champion, and coming in to serve at 3/8 down denied Alex any more points, having a run of 5 to level the game at 8 all. Although Alex got back in hand four more times he failed to score again, and his Challenge was over in just over an hour on court.

Over the course of the match Alex had served 12 aces to the 5 served by Jamie.

At his best the World Champion was too good, all aspects of his game being stronger than those of a Challenger who, when under any pressure, is still liable to rely on sheer pace and hitting the ball around the walls to get out of trouble. Alex was most successful when he hit to a good length and did not try to overpower his opponent. Long term sponsor John Prenn was on hand to present the prizes along with Tennis World Champion Rob Fahey.

The highlight of the Real Tennis Season was the 2010 Neptune British Open.

2010 was arguably the strongest draw in both Singles and Doubles for many years. Despite the late withdrawal of Camden Riviere, sadly removing the number 2 seed, the event produced the highest quality tennis. The qualifying events were held at Radley for the first time under the professional guidance of Chris Ronaldson a week before the event proper at The Queen’s Club – and standards were high.

The singles tournament produced some real tussles before the top four remaining seeds emerged in the semi-final. At this point the old guard came through yet again with Rob Fahey overcoming Ben Matthews and Steve Virgona beating Bryn Sayers.

Although both matches were resolved in straight sets, neither was as straightforward as the scores finally suggested. Both Ben and Bryn fought long hard matches, pushing their opponents all the way.

In the final, after a close fought match lasting over 3 hours, Rob won his eighth straight British Open Singles Title, his eleventh in total. The rallies were spectacular with the balls being returned from seemingly impossible positions by both Rob and Steve. Both players covered the court in majestic fashion, from their first opening rally right through the evening. The expectant supporters, packed into the Dedans and Galleries, were not disappointed.

High quality serving was matched by world class returns. Cheap points were not on offer - everything needed to be chased down and won - and even a 40love lead was clawed back on numerous occasions.

After an astonishing recovery by Steve in the third set, normal service was resumed in the fourth. In the end Rob retained his title - a worthy champion.

Rob and Steve capped a wonderful 2010 campaign by winning a hard fought match against Tim Chisholm and Conor Medlow. From the start the World Champions meant business and secured the first set 6-1, despite some spirited games from the challengers. However Tim and Conor dug deep in the next 2 sets and pushed many of the games to deuce. Amateur Conor looked very much at home amongst the three professionals and made a number of stunning interceptions; and Tim looked as if he had never been away from the game, drilling numerous shots towards the Dedans with awesome power. However, Rob and Steve were not to be denied and rallied strongly with breathtaking athleticism and court craft. There was no evidence of them spending three hours on court the previous evening engaged in their own gargantuan battle. In the end it was business as usual with Rob and Steve winning the spoils and magnums of Pol Roger - however Tim and Conor finished strongly after a superb tournament of

their own. Robin Geffen of Neptune, T&RA's generous sponsor, congratulated all players at the end of their respective matches and presented the prizes.

Be sure to support Real Tennis TV where you will see the first broadcast of an exhibition match between Claire Vigrass and Rob Fahey. Thanks to Frederika Adam and Paul Brown, we have this facility. The opportunity is here now and needs supporting and they are, of course, looking for sponsorship so if you wish to help, take a look at www.realtennis.tv and get in touch with them.

T&RAMCC – Looking towards the summer, please note if there are any tennis playing motorcyclists out there who’d like a tennis weekend at the Hyde and some wonderful riding in Dorset over a weekend to be arranged next summer, please contact Jamie Turner – jt@jtbiz.com. To partake, everyone must be a member of the T&RA so if you have tennis playing biking mates who wish to join us, be sure to get them to join online!

And so onward to 2011. Only the smallest handful of tournaments has been covered above – with a whole host of events ready for the membership early in the New Year.

Aggie and Jeanne will be typically busy in the office as we enter the second half of the season but always ready to welcome any visitors to our office at Queen’s.

The programme to develop new Real Tennis courts now includes long-term projects at Guildford and Harrogate, and an evolving opportunity in Sutton. Ten new courts in ten years – quite a challenge, but we need to start somewhere – and these are exciting times for the sport. The newly approved second Racket’s court at Tonbridge is a remarkable achievement and Malvern’s recent exposure on BBC Breakfast following the opening of the Ron Hughes court is great news see The Malvern View Newsletter.

Sponsorship is critical towards the future of both Tennis and Rackets. For over 30 years John Prenn has been more than generous in his support to Rackets, and now Neptune Investment Management have stepped in to cover both of our Games. It is early days but Rackets has significantly increased the entry to tournaments in the first half of the season, to achieve even more after Christmas is a noble target! Tennis tournaments have been equally as busy, with Nick Jones stepping up to the mark as the Tennis Fixtures Chairman, after long service by Sam Leigh. The programme has been busy with many clubs hosting very successful T&RA Tournaments. A word of congratulations to those who support our Junior programme - and the list is long. Paul Weaver’s Junior Open in August was the start of many good things to come. More recently Simon Marshall’s University Tournament and Mick Dean’s Inter School Singles are perfect examples of their dedication to the future of our game. For many years the Dedanists have selflessly supported the Academy and Development Squads –in conjunction with the T&RA – but now they are ready for the next step setting up a charitable Foundation and supporting the broader junior programme, to include Christopher Griffith-Jones’s work to encourage schools to play at Tennis Clubs – all under the auspices of the T&RA. I am also very grateful to Pol Roger and Grays who continue to quietly support both Tennis and Rackets, both on and off the court.

Season’s Greetings to all. CSD/JT December 2010