Newmarket & Suffolk Real Tennis Club
Christmas Handicap Doubles Tournament!
Sunday 18 Dec 2011
Full competition report below the draw click here
| 1st Round Set to 7 |
Qtr Set to 6 |
Semi Set to 6 |
Final Set to 6 |
Winners! |
| Phillipa Wells Logan Crawford |
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| v (8:30am) | Phillipa Wells Logan Crawford |
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| Ian Lindsay Ed Williams |
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| v (11:30am) | Phillipa Wells Logan Crawford |
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| Helen Prandy Bary Peak |
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| v (9:15am) | Charlie Russell Henry Russell |
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| Charlie Russell Henry Russell |
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| v (12:30pm) | Phillipa Wells Logan Crawford |
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| Peter Hobbs Bill Rankine |
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| v (10:00am) | Trish Rolph John Rolph |
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| Trish Rolph John Rolph |
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| v (12 noon) | Charlie Wells James Wells |
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| David George Sheliagh Owens |
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| v (10:45) | Charlie Wells James Wells |
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| Charlie Wells James Wells |
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| v | Phillipa Wells Logan Crawford |
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| Eric Nutter Ken Smith |
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| v (1.00pm) | Eric Nutter Ken Smith |
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| Tim Collins Brian Eaton |
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| v (3:45pm) | Eric Nutter Ken Smith |
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| Peter Milner Louise Milner |
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| v (1:45pm) | Peter Milner Louise Milner |
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| Fred Barrelet Vincent Barrelet |
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| v (4:45pm) | Torkil Harrison Oli Harrison |
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| Tom Marriott Colin Clifton-Brown |
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| v (2:30pm) | Tom Marriott Colin Clifton-Brown |
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| John Burnett Chris Hollingsworth |
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| v (4:15pm) | Torkil Harrison Oli Harrison |
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| Torkil Harrison Oli Harrison |
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| v (3:15pm) | Torkil Harrison Oli Harrison |
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| John Kirpatrick Stuart Arrandale |
Hobbsy's full competition report!
After some serious pondering and a lot of tinkering with formats the Christmas Tournament was finally here!
The Grand day started with a fantastic number of 16 pairs 32 players that would grace the hallow Newmarket court for the prestigious Christmas Tournament title. The Mulled wine and mrs Hobbs mince pies were flowing and the matches were well under way. The 8.30am crew started proceedings with enthusiasm Logan Crawford and phillipa wells playing Ian Lindsay and Ed Williams this was a close encounter but the Phillipa wells lucky Christmas hat and shone through and they won 7/3 it looked like a slightly late start for the Crawford+wells pairing as they normally have played a five setter by 8.30am in the morning.
Next to grace the freezer on court was Helen prandy and Barry peek playing a very determined Charlie Russell and Henry Russell pairing, after the floods came through the roof of the icy tin there became a few chase the towels and a lot of mopping by our club professional, the pairing of the Russell's came through by a close 7/5 victory, I think this was enhanced by the smell of the freshly made mince pies flowing through the building with Charlie's serve dramatically getting quicker and quicker and with his son Henry may be dropping a few hints to try another serve this went in vain.
The morning session flowed with victories from Trish Rolph and John Rolph beating Peter Hobbs and Bill Rankine, even the back handers from the club pros dad couldn't change the course of the result may be a few too many fosters was the case for the formidable Hobbs Rankine partnership losing 7/4
Then the New blood of the club the dynamic duo and talented young partnership of Charlie wells and James wells dressed to match the name of the Christmas tournament and with the Santa hats and much more, played a experienced pairing of David George and Sheliagh Owens this was not going to be easy as they were looking for there first Christmas tournament trophy. The young lads played extremely well with under arm twists flowing from James wells, and the Charlie wells bomber flying down the penthouse in to the nick anyone would think they had been coached by a world champion!!!!! well as good as. They won there first competitive match in Real Tennis 7/1 it was great to see such a young paring taking part.
Results then were flooding in Phillipa wells lucky hat struck again with Logan and phillipa beating the The russels 6/5 then the dynamic duo Wells and Wells struck again knocking out the strong pairing of the Rolph household with a classic handicap of one serve banned the tambour 30 owe 15 30 owe30 I have to say I have never seen john hit the tambour so much! 6/4.
The first Semi Final awaited, Phillipa and Logan who as a doubles pair were looking very organised, with Logan consistency and phillpas sound shots and a lot of good calling and team work and the hat of course, this was not going to be easy for the young Wells partnership, and so it was a great effort for a slightly tired looking wells team by this point may be not enough Robinson's consumed! they put up a great fight but lost 6/4. Logan and Phillipa to the final!!!!!
After Lunch session. Well this was always going to be a tough session of tennis, with our Super number 1 doubles paring of the club, Eric Nutter+Ken Smith taking part and starting proceedings this was going to be tough for any pair in the country to come across and conquer on there home concrete, even the mighty Hobbs + Woodman would be slightly hesitant at this challenge of handicap. So who to take them on no other than Tim Collins and Brian Eaton the travelling partnership, both members of Newmarket and prested and keen supporters of the club and Real Tennis, lets make this clear they had not just come for the mince pies!!!!. This was a well fought game but as always with ezzer Nutter and the stalker strutting his serves around the place they cantered through the finish line 7/4.
Results again were tight with a very well contested battle between Fred Barrelet and Vincent barrelet and our ex squash and most improved and talented player of the year Peter Milner being partnered by his daughter Louise who lets just say sometimes puts David woodman's forcing to shame. This was a great game flowing back and forward, I recall seeing Vincent barrelet heart rate somewhat rising rapidly as at one point louise hit one towards the grill which he can only tell you if he saw it or not, I think he will be happy to be sitting at the Christmas table this year after that one. The Milner's pipped the barrelet partnership at the post and went through 7/5.
Then the Founder member winners and fearsome partnership of the Basher Burnett and Chris Hollingsworth pulled there rackets out of the bag to play no other than our Top National league team partnership and our best handicap club players Colin-Clifton-Brown and Tom Marriott before they started there was all sorts of talk of the pros Christmas box, depending on the result and also the old p45 from our new committee member CCB which surely should be a 15-0 lead a game! well this was always going to be a great game and it didn't leave anyone disappointed it was nip and Tuck all the way with Colin and Tom dashing the hopes of a first Christmas tournament title for the Burnett+Hollingsworth team.
Then the 45-55 category handicap singles champion from the Sunday before, looking I believe a little tired, but of course after his vigorous pre match warm up with a pack of Benson+Hedges Silvers John Kirkpatrick was ready to go. He was being partnered by no other than Stuart Arrandale who came into this match after a pretty impressive singles win the week before against, well I better not say who does 6-0 6-1 6-2 ring a bell anyone!! They were playing a very strong pairing of Torkil and Oli Harrison of course having jay Harrison as there father they would be no mugs with a tennis racket in there hand both playing of 65 handicap there good friend Vincent barrelet did at one point come and have a quiet word with the club pro I wont tell you exactly what he said!!! The boys started slowly with arrandale and Kirkpatrick slicking around the court to get to a 2-0 lead then the twins made in roads and fired games off one by one and came through 7/4.
Other matches were close with Nutter and Smith beating the Milner's 6/1, and Tom Marriott and CCB losing to the growing in confidence Harrison boys owe 40 rec 30 one serve, banned the tambour, cant breath,etc, 6/4. The semi finals was a well fought affair Between you said it Nutter+smith vs the Harrison boys, well of 30 owe 15 I thought the No1 seeds in my eyes were going through but the Harrison boys had there tails up now and were playing some great tennis and taking the mince pie rule by storm ask a player about that one, they knocked the experienced pair of nutter and smith straight to the boot pub which seemed like a good consolation prize!! 6/4
Well to the Final!! This was the most exciting match of the tournament for me, The Fingleton Cup champions of 2009-2010 Phillipa wells and Logan Crawford vs the on Fire Harrison boys with the match almost level in handicap (few!!!!!!) for the marker. They were ready to go. This was a great match with the mince pie rule in full flow ,and Logan and Phillipa which I must say after starting at 8.30 am in the morning still going strong, the rallies were endless would the lucky hat prevail or would the in the groove Harrison boys take the title the final was a set to eight. At 7-7 40/all Christmas tournament winning ball, lots of atmosphere and noise being heard from the dedans The Crawford partnership served ball flowing side to side, the Harrison's hit the tape of the net and Crowned were the Champions of the Christmas tournament 2011. LOGAN CRAWFORD AND PHILLIPA WELLS CHAMPIONS Congratulations and well done after the presentations on court!! of Champagne and Wine. A big thank you for all taking part, it was a really enjoyable day and great to see so many different faces on court, also thanks to my wife Mrs Hobbs for the food she done a grand Job. Kind Regards Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all HOBBSY
