Crowthorne Tennis Club

Wimbledon Ticket Draw Winners

Mike — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:00:43 +0000

The following members were successful in the Wimbledon ticket ballot…

Annie Atkins, Chris Dexter, Paul Gardner, Halliday-Vargas, Harry Lardner, Mark Nicholson, Ravinder Norman, Emma Pattinson, Melissa Pearce, James Sillitoe, David Stone

Great start for Over-55 Men

Mike — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:59:42 +0000

The first match for our first ever Over-55 Men’s Veterans team was at home against Twyford in Division 2. Jim Hawes & Andy Stone had a battle against the visitors’ first pair Lloyd-Williams & Winston but took the rubber in a deciding tie-break. Andy Becher & Vince Brooks had a much easier time cruising through 6-0 6-2 against Hawkins & Petersen but in the second round they also had to go to a deciding tie-break against the strong Twyford first pair. By this time, however, Hawes & Stone had already clinched the 3 points with a clinical 0 and 1 win over the Twyford seconds.

The team’s second match was away at Phyllis Court in Henley, a venue made famous a couple of years ago when our over-45 B team visited them and came away having lost but eulogising over their post-match supper! Jim Hawes & Mike Smith started with a fairly straightforward 6-3 6-1 win over Phil Wills & Dale Thomas while Andy Johns & Vince Brooks were winning 6-2 6-3 against Graham Reid & Martin Seligman. Hawes & Smith ensured the win with a 6-2 6-1 win over Reid & Seligman but Johns & Brooks relaxed too much after winning the first set 6-0 against Wills & Thomas and found themselves in a deciding tie-break after losing the second set 3-6. However, the recovered their composure to win the tie-break to make it a second 4-0 win for the team.

Win for Crows in AEGON thriller

Mike — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:57:37 +0000

Crowthorne’s Men’s recorded their first win of the season on Sunday in Division 2 of the AEGON league against Caversham 3 when they reached 3 rubbers all and won the deciding shoot-out. Having been outclassed in their first two matches, it was particularly satisfying to get some points at last.

James Brennan won a close singles match 3-6 7-6 1-0 against the higher ranked Sean Carson while Russell Finch cruised through 6-2 6-0 against Howard Willis. Matt Paxton lost 2-6 0-6 against Christian Siegmund but Chris Torkington put the Crows in pole position with an efficient 6-1 6-1 win over Alexander Sayer.

In the doubles, Caversham’s Carson & Willis fought back well against Brennan & Torkington to win the deciding tie-break with the scores even at 6-4 4-6 and, in another close match, Caversham levelled the match score when Sayer & Siegmund beat Finch & Paxton 7-5 6-4.

So the winner now had to be decided on a shoot-out consisting of two singles and a doubles champions tie-breaks.

Paxton & Finch took their doubles tie-break 11-9 against Willis & Sayer and Torkington won his singles 10-6 against Siegmund to secure victory. Not knowing the result, Brennan kept battling against Carson, eventually winning 14-12 to put the icing on the cake of a hard-fought 7-6 win which will at le3ast take them off the bottom of the table.

The Boodles Tennis Challenge at Stoke Park – 19-23 June 2012

Mike — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:28:49 +0000

The Boodles Tennis Challenge will this year return to Stoke Park for the 11^th year running. The unique mix of an intimate English garden party and a select field of the world’s top tennis pro’s creates a viewing and entertainment experience that the big tournaments just can’t match.

Set within the tranquil gardens of Stoke Park’s 350 acre parkland estate, The Boodles allows the world’s best players to complete on grass in the week leading up to The Championships at Wimbledon.

Guests at The Boodles will view world class players, while experiencing sumptuous luxury and 5* catering without the crowds and queues of the Grand Slams. Within The Boodles arena, no seat is further than eight metres from the court and lunch can be found by taking a leisurely stroll through Stoke Park’s immaculate private gardens.

With guests returning year after year The Boodles might still be the best kept secret on the international tennis circuit. After 11 years the word is getting out so please book up today to avoid disappointment!

As a member of Berkshire LTA, we are pleased to offer you a special offer of “4 stadium tickets for the price of 3” on Tuesday the 19^th, Wednesday the 20^th and Thursday the 21^st of June.

Should you be interested in entertaining clients, we are can also offer “12 places for the price of 10” within the Players Enclosure on Tuesday the 19^th, Wednesday the 20^th or Saturday the 23^rd of June.

Please call The Boodles booking line on 020 7384 4877 and quote “Berkshire LTA” or visit www.theboodles.com for more details.

Club Tournament Draw now available

Mike — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:16:13 +0000

The draw for the Annual Club Championships is now available on the website and will shortly be posted on the noticeboard in the Clubhouse. Because there were fewer than 6 entries in the Ladies’ Singles and Ladies’ Doubles, both of these events will be run as Round Robins. Click here for the draw.

Please try to play your matches by the date stated – in the Round Robins dates are shown by which you should have played your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., matches. When you have fixed adate for a match, please let the organiser know, either by email or when you use the On-line Court Booking System by entering match details in the optional Details box. The organiser will then put the date and time in the draw to inform the other competitors that the match is scheduled. This is particularly important if the match is overdue or to be played after the due date.

Ladies lose in two marathon battles

Mike — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:11:12 +0000

On Saturday, Crows’ 1st Ladies team travelled to Oxfordshire to play against Portcullis in Division 3A of the Berkshire Summer League and didn’t get back until after 7pm, despite a 1:30 start. They lost the match but gained a valuable point from a 2-2 result. Cath Sillitoe & Emma Pattinson came back to win in three sets despite losing the first 6-7 against Jill Lloyd & Norah Laurie while Ravinder Norman & Lorraine Fowler were unlucky to lose another 3-setter 5-7 in the third set against Ces Wheeler & Liz Bowles. With the home side ahead by a game at the half-way stage the odds were on a home win and so it proved to be with Sillitoe & Pattinson dropping a set against Wheeler & Bowles and Fowler & Norman going down in straight sets against Lloyd & Laurie to make it a 6 sets to 5 and 56 games to 50 win for Portcullis with the rubbers equal.

Meanwhile the 2nd team were playing Windsor 4 at home in Division 4B and their match was even longer as they lost 1-3 with the game score 51-61, the match finishing at 6:40pm! Maggie Ingham & Jenny Sheppard lost a close match against the visitor’s 1st pair, Ali Hill & Hilary Kolcular, 4-6 6-3 5-7 while Alison Nicholson & Melissa Pearce ground out a win 7-5 4-6 6-4 against Judith Munro & Narinder Hunjun. However, in the second round, Ingham & Sheppard were unable to make any impact against the Windsor 2nd pair, losing in straight sets, while Nicholson & Pearce had another 3 set battle but lost out in a 6-7 final set against Hill & Kolcular.

So no lack of effort on the part of our Ladies who did the club proud over 5 hours of play and 218 games but finished with just one point!

Men win 2

Mike — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:50:54 +0000

On Saturday all three Men’s teams were away from home, two of them returning with wins.

In Division 3A the 1st team faced Windsor 3 and Crows’ Dominic Evan-Hart & James Brennan gave their opponents Christopher Hewlett & Ollie Tregelles no chance while winning 6-1 6-2. Matt Paxton & Andrew Howells found it a bit tougher against the Windsor 2nd pair David Stephens & Pierre Fourie but still won 6-4 6-4 to lead 2-0 at the halfway point. In the second round Evan-Hart & Brennan were again too strong for Stephens & Fourie, winning 6-2 6-0 but the match of the day was between Paxton & Howells and Hewlett & Tregelles with the Crowthorne pair prevailing 5-7 7-5 7-6 to make it a clean sweep.

The second team were away to Caversham Park 1 in Division 3B and, with some players missing, this was always going to be a tough task. Following their excellent performance together against Caversham Park 2 in the winter league, Andy Becher & Stephen Minshull-Beech played as Crowthorne’s 1st pair but were unable to make much impression against the home 1st pair, Vincent Panel & Jed Ellerby, who took the rubber 6-1 6-3. Meanwhile, Mike Smith & Vince Brooks battled against Mark Bromley & Jed Ellerby, matching them to 5-5 in the first set but it was Ellerby’s consistently hard forehand that always had the last say and they lost it 5-7. It was a similar story in the second set which they lost 4-6. In the second round it looked to be all over as rain forced the players off with Smith & Brooks trailing 0-4 against the home second pair but, on resumption of play the Crowthorne pair rallied well to get to 5-5 at which point the home pair upped their game to take the set 7-5. After taking the first game of the 2nd set, the Crows’ pair didn’t get a look in as Panel & Ellerby were now playing at a higher level and took the set 6-1. Meanwhile Becher & Minshull-Beech were losing 4-6 1-6 to make it 0-4 in the first of what could be a series of difficult matches in this division for the 2nd team.

Finally, Crows’ 3rd team were playing away against Purley 1 in Division 5A and, with two of the team playing their first ever league match, they were delighted to come away with a 3-1 win. First pair Mark Callaghan & Steve Stow narrowly lost their first rubber 6-7 4-6 to John Campbell & Mike Sheppard but Paul Garner & Tom King looked to be in control against Trevor Plowman & Martin Dickens until the home pair rallied only to concede the set 5-7 to the Crowthorne pair who went on to take the 2nd set 6-2. In the second round both Crowthorne pairs were always in control, Callaghan & Stow winning 6-2 6-4 and Gardner & King winning 6-3 6-4 to make it an unexpected 3-1 win for Crowthorne.

Ladies start off with a win

Mike — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:49:06 +0000

Crowthorne’s Ladies 1st team started off the season with a win away against Maidenhead 4 in Division 3A of the Berkshire Summer League. The win by 3 rubbers to 1, 6 sets to 3 and 48 games to 32 was set up by two efficient 2-set victories by Cath Sillitoe & Emma Pattinson but it was the gritty 3-set win by Lorraine Fowler & Ravinder Norman in the first round that ensured all 3 points went to Crowthorne. With Sillitoe & Pattinson cruising through 6-2 6-2 against Rosie Morton & Vanessa Russell, there was a long wait before Fowler & Norman completed their marathon against Jan Price & Irene Parris. Having lost the first set 4-6, they went on to win the next two 6-2 7-5. In the second round Sillitoe & Pattinson beat Price & Parris 6-2 6-1 and Fowler & Norman lost 4-6 1-6 to Morton & Russell, but by now all three points were in the bag!

Ladies 2 were less successful, however, at home against Wargrave 2 in division 4B. The tightly fought match finished all square on rubbers and games but Jenny Sheppard & Maggie Ingham with Jenny Partridge & Pauline Snell lost by 30 games to 32, at least starting off with a point.

Club Championships & Wimbledon Ballot. ENTRIES CLOSED

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:35:04 +0000

The Club Championships and Wimbledon Ballot are now closed for new entries. Please check that your name is listed below if you believe you have entered. Telephone the club secretary before midday Tuesday 8th if you think your entry has been left out.

Club Championship Entries

Ladies’ Singles
Lorraine Fowler
Lauren Minshull-Beech
Jenny Partridge
Maggie Woolley

Men’s Singles
Andy Becher
James Brennan
Vince Brooks
Mark Callaghan
Chris Dexter
Dom Evan-Hart
Russell Finch
Fred Friedman
Jim Hawes
Andrew Howells
Rob Hughes
Andy Johns
Ray Loades-Bannon
Christien Lomas
Stephen Minshull-Beech
Matt Paxton
Tony Pillai
David Smith
Andy Stone
Steve Stow
Simon Syed
Chris Torkington

Ladies’ Doubles
Maggie Ingham & Jenny Sheppard
Alison Nicholson & Melissa Pearce
Cath Sillitoe & Emma Pattinson
Ravinder Norman & Lorraine Fowler
Jenny Partridge & Lauren Minshull-Beech

Men’s Doubles
Andy Becher & Stephen Minshull-Beech
Mark Callaghan & David Stone
Chris Dexter & Russell Finch
Dom Evan-Hart & James Brennan
Paul Gardner & Vince Brooks
Mike Goddard & Ray Loades-Bannon
Andrew Howells & Simon Syed
Rob Hughes & Andy Stone
Andy Johns & Mark Lardner
Richard Lewis & Gordon Halliday-Vargas
Christien Lomas & Fred Friedman
Matt Paxton & Jim Hawes
Simon Pestell & Mike Smith
Tony Pillai & Steve Stow
David Smith & Chris Torkington
Mark Wilson & David Salter

Mixed Doubles
Andy Becher & Jenny Partridge
James Brennan & Emma Pattinson
Vince Brooks & Ravinder Norman
Mark Callaghan & Alison Nicholson
Paul Gardner & Jenny Sheppard
Dom Evan-Hart & Cath Sillitoe
Jim Hawes & Melissa Pearce
Stephen & Lauren Minshull-Beech
David Smith & Lorraine Fowler
David Stone & Maggie Ingham
Steve Stow & Annie Atkins
Simon Syed & Maggie Woolley
Rob Hughes & ??
Mark Lardner & ??

Wimbledon Ticket Ballot Entries
Annie Atkins
Charlotte Atkins
James Brennan
Vince Brooks
Mark Callaghan
Richard Coombes
Chris Dexter
Samuel Dexter
Dom Evan-Hart
Russell Finch
John Forster
Lorraine Fowler
Fred Friedman
Paul Gardner
Emily Goddard
Mike Goddard
Adam Gozzard
Paul Gozzard
Gordon Halliday-Vargas
Kaysha Halliday-Vargas
Nathan Halliday-Vargas
David Haves
Andrew Howells
Rob Hughes
Maggie Ingham
Andy Johns
David Jubb
Harry Lardner
Mark Lardner
Amy Little
Ellie Little
Jane Little
Steve Little
Christien Lomas
Ben Martin
Katie Martin
Lauren Minshull-Beech
Stephen Minshull-Beech
Alison Nicholson
Mark Nicholson
Ravinder Norman
Jenny Partridge
Emma Pattinson
Matt Paxton
Melissa Pearce
Keir Phillips
Sam Reilly
David Salter
Cath Sillitoe
James Sillitoe
David Smith
Gill Smith
Karen Smith
Mike Smith
Teia-Lee Smith
Andy Stone
David Stone
Steve Stow
Mark Tims
Neil Tims
Mark Wilson

Summer Coaching Courses

Mike — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:32:56 +0000

The Saturday morning Summer coaching courses start on 14th April. The Monday evening courses start on 16th April. There are 12 lessons in each course and you can get a substantial discount if you register in advance for at least 9 lessons. Click here to download a registration form and full details of dates and prices. Non-members pay an extra £1 for each lesson so it may be worth your while becoming a member if you haven’t already joined. Click here for details of subscriptions.