Having been demoted last year, the Mixed B team have won promotion back to Division 3 next year. This is after finishing top of Division 4.
Well done to the team of Babs, Linda, Vernon and Chris, and the super-subs who played a very important part.
Blog
Tennis4Nepal 24 Hour Tennis
On Saturday 13th June two ex members of our club started playing tennis for 24 hours to raise money for the Nepal Earthquake appeal at their new club in Rothley, Leicestershire. Im pleased to say that Mary George and Kevin Shepherd (Shep) completed the challenge and so far have raised over £3,000.
On the morning(!) of Sunday 14th Chris, Andrew and Alex joined Mary and Shep at 3:00 to add their support. Despite Mary and Shep being a bit tired (they had only played for 13 hours by then!) a competitive match ensued with Hemingfords obviously coming out on top.
Well done to the pair of them for a tremendous achievement. If you want to know more please visit their Just Giving page or read their story in their local paper.
Thomas Cup
After a hard fought and tight competition Rob Youngs managed to emerge victorious.
David Johns reluctantly handed over the trophy having not been able to defend the title due to work commitments. However, he said he would ensure he was back on court for next years tournament to ensure he was only 'lending' the trophy for one year.
Junior Open Morning
Over 60 juniors turned up to our Junior Open Morning.
Games mixed in with coaching resulted in lots of smiling faces. A great time seemed to be had by all (including our younger coaches) and we are looking forward to a fun season seeing everyone on a Saturday morning. More details can be found on our Junior Coaching page.
March Spring Clean
At 10am on Saturday morning (28th March), six of us (yes, only six of us) turned up to give the clubhouse, grounds and courts a spring clean to get ready for the new season.
With only a couple of hours work, and aided by Max Rory and Cayden, the site is looking good, and ready for another season.
We are hoping to have another clean up in a few weeks time. It would be good to see a few more members. We have a wonderful setting and if we all help we can ensure we keep it this way and even improve what we have.
Merril was more than happy to stay in the clubhouse. But maybe we should have let her out for Christmas!
Wimbledon Tickets
We have 9 pairs of tickets to distribute this year. Remember, if your name is pulled out it gives you the right to purchase the tickets, they are not free! The first name pulled out gets first choice, the second gets second choice, etc. We also pull out a couple of reserves in case not all tickets are taken up.
Place your name on the form in our clubhouse or contact 01480 382382 to be entered in the draw. The draw will take place on Sunday April 26th during the Friendly Tournament (you don’t need to be there to have your name pulled out but it does need to be on the list by that date).
Paid up club and LTA members who are affiliated to our club through the LTA website at 1:00pm on Saturday 25th April (24 hours before the draw), and who are opted in to our Wimbledon ticket ballot on the LTA website at that time, are eligible. We will have a list of those members so can check for you if you wish prior to that date.
Bergen Trophy
This years ladies doubles trophy was competed for on 27th September and was a close competition with Linda Dingle and Helena Champion victorious over Bridget Flanagan and Catherine Turner
Allington Trophy
This years Allington Trophy for mixed doubles was won by Rebecca Pluke and Howie Pether.
Summer coaching finishes on a high for George
This seasons summer coaching finished well for George. After a summer of lessons from our coach Howie Pether and many sessions playing with his dad, Howie decided he deserved the trophy for most improved junior this year.
Rothley Challenge - return match
On Saturday 23rd August 4 of us travelled to Rothley for the return match in this annual challenge. The afternoon started a little overcast but as the afternoon progressed the weather improved and so did the tennis. Unfortunately, the tennis didnt improved significantly enough for the away side and so it was another victory for the Rothley club.
Once again all the participants congregated for a BBQ in the evening and a very enjoyable time was had by all.
Another 'legendary' Stella Tournament
After some close fought matches (and some not so close!) this years tournament was won by Vernon Reuter and Kevin Shepherd. It has to be said that I don't think we will see a tournament winner so happy for quite some time as Shep that day. A great day was had by all, only some of it due to the Stella that was quaffed during the tournament.
The evenings BBQ was also enjoyed by many. However, the food was perhaps overshadowed by the many a side tennis match featuring adults and juniors using red balls (in the dark!!!)
Next years tournament is already being hotly anticipated!
Thomas Cup
After a number of years without being competed for, the mens singles tournament was added back on to the calendar.
A glorious afternoon greeted the six competitors for the trophy, and after five full sets of tennis each David Johns won the trophy after last winning it over two decades ago.
Primett Cup
This years Primett cup was won by Howie Pether and Rebecca Pluke. Rebecca managed to win in 'normal time', but Howie needed a play off against Chris Young to gain his first trophy of the season.
Mike Hale Cup
On 28th June the Mike Hale Cup, mens doubles, was played for.
As we had nine men wishing to compete for the cup, we convinced one of our up and coming junior members - Harrison Kemp, to make up the fifth pairing.
After a very competitive afternoon Chris Young and Harrison Kemp won.
Strawberry Tea
This years Strawberry Tea took place on Sunday 15th June. Unfortunately, not many of our members turned out, perhaps because it was Fathers Day. However, those that did had a very enjoyable afternoons tennis as well as lovely fresh strawberrys & cream and home made cakes. We also raised £48 for the Rally for Bally charity.
Rothley Challenge
Following the departure of two of our 'formidable' members to a new club in Leicestershire it was decided to hold an annual home and away tournament against them and their new club.
On Saturday 31st May four mixed pairs came across from Rothley Ivanhoe Tennis Club to challenge four of our pairs for the soon to be infamous trophy:
Following an afternoon of very enjoyable and amicably competitive tennis the home team were narrowly defeated. We therefore retired to the chairman's home for an evening BBQ as well as drinks and some 'friendly' games of table tennis.
We are now looking forward to the return match at Rothley at the end of August.
Junior coaching
We will be running our junior coaching courses again this year. These are three 5 week sessions on a Saturday lunchtime. Once we finalise the dates they will go up on this website.
Tournaments
The dates for this years tournaments are now on the Events page. Details will go up in the clubhouse a couple of weeks before each tournament. If you would like to play in the tournament please sign-up beforehand so that organisation can run as smoothly as possible on the day. However, if you haven't signed up beforehand you can still turn up on the day and play.
League fixtures
The league fixtures for the Huntingdon and Peterborough League are now posted on their website www.hptennis.org.uk.
Bergen Trophy
8 ladies played out the final tournament of the season.
Congratulations go to Bridget Flanagan and Helen Kemp repeating their victory of 4 years ago.