August 31, 2010
The third Quarterly Medal for 2010 was held at the Club last Saturday. A full field of 20 participants competed in the morning and afternoon sessions, with some great tennis being played and close matches being fought. Diane Rennard and a left-handed Brendan O’Brien were victorious in the morning, whilst Will Fowles and Alistair Hill triumphed in the afternoon.
Diane, Brendan, Will and Alistair are now eligible to compete in the Medal of Medallists competition on Finals Day in December.
The final Quarterly Medal for 2010 will be held on 16 October – make sure it’s in your diary!
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Posted by rmtcmelb
August 25, 2010
Last weekend a group of us went down to Hobart to play the President’s Cup and otherwise enjoy the Hobart Real Tennis Club. We played 12 matches on the Saturday and another 5 on Sunday and I am very pleased to be able to say that the RMTC were victorious by 11 rubbers to 6. Our team consisted of Richard Simpson, Richard Travers, Jeremy and Evelyn Howard, Tim Hurburgh, Paul Wheeler, Henry Turnbull, Iain Buchanan, Anabelle Guest and me with everyone enjoying at least one win. It was very nice to be accompanied by Isabelle Hurburgh, Libby Simpson, Denise Barratt, Helen Wheeler and Caroline Travers. Everyone had a few highlights but particular mentions go to Richard Simpson for his main wall winning gallery shot, Jeremy Howard for anchoring 3 matches with his wrong hand and to Evelyn Howard who was clearly best-on-court in each match she played.
It wasn’t all hard work for the team. On Saturday night we enjoyed what was an important night for the HRTC as we honoured Andrew Kemp in what was a celebration of his becoming an Honorary Life Member of the club. During the evening the past Presidents of the two clubs were asked to tell a story of their most embarrassing moments during their term. Amusing anecdotes were heard from Paul Wheeler, George Casimaty and Warren Boyles. Henry Turnbull claimed that his term was completely without incident but it was Richard Travers who won the Champagne for asking a man, who was playing tennis with a young girl he didn’t recognise, the name of his daughter only to be told that she was his second wife!
Alistair Curley gave a wonderful speech about Andrew Kemp and then Andrew spoke to his heart’s content ignoring first his wife and then his own wise words to keep it short. At one point he said he would like to finish with his regrets of which he had NONE – he then went to sit down before bouncing back up to continue for another 5 minutes. It was all good fun.
Andrew is the patron of the HRTC and on behalf of everyone at the RMTC we’d like to thank him for everything he’s done for the club in making it the generous and hospitable club that it is that so many of us have enjoyed visiting over the years. We would also like to thank John Ramsay (HRTC President) and Barry Toates for hosting and arranging a great weekend and to anyone heading down that way I recommend Sunday lunch at the Meadowbank vineyard on the way to the airport.
Owen Guest
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Posted by The Pros
August 15, 2010
This year’s Richmond Silver Racket (which is open to the top 16 players by handicap) was played over the weekend with players handicaps ranging from 12 to 34. There were a number of good performances including Nick Shelton’s back-to-back 3 set wins against first Jon Hamer and then Alistair Hill. However, in the top half of the draw it was Graeme Blundstone of the HRTC who starred defeating along the way Owen Guest and Andrew Gould before defeating Nick in the semi-final 6/3 6/2. In the bottom half of the draw Dan Williams did well to make the semi-final before he fell victim to James Gould 6/3 6/5.
The final was played with Graeme (22.3) giving James (24.9) Rec ½ 15. James played his ever improving left handed combination of rangy stroke play and youthful abandon and Graeme, who looks like an accomplished lawn tennis player, ran and retrieved like Georgie Lewis’s most recently adopted canine. It took James about an hour to defend the honour of the RMTC as he completed his victory 6/5 6/4 and once again it was his left handed railroad that gave him his edge.
The only disappointing aspect of the event was that the club’s leading players did not take part.
James Gould def. Graeme Blundstone
6/5 6/4
Owen Guest
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Posted by rmtcmelb
July 19, 2010
Local teams please take note, it’s now time to let us know your intensions. Would you please fill out the Expression of Interest Form which can be accessed via the link below.
Expression of Interest Form
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Posted by The Pros
July 18, 2010
The cold wet winter has brought out the best in RMTC social activity. On Wednesday, July 14 Bastille Day, Richard Travers delivered a wonderfully enlightening talk on two of the world’s older courts, Suze la Rousse and Pau. Out of the many tit-bits of information it was especially entertaining to hear that at the turn of the 19th century the junior pro at Pau was required to report to the committee any shenanigans the members daughters were getting up to in the Dedans – a requirement that has been passed down and still remains to this day. Afterwards everyone stayed for a feast of Beef Bourguignon and Chocolate Mousse.
On Friday night the club’s convivial atmosphere continued despite the occasion marking the departure of our professional Chris Chapman as he leaves us to take up a position at Hampton Court in England. Chris started work at the RMTC in September 2007 and in that time he has shown himself to be a gentleman and a first class professional. Chris’s game is improving rapidly because of both the support he has received and the work he has put in and so it comes as no surprise that he has been snapped up by an overseas club. We wish him all the best as he takes this next step in his real tennis journey. Over 70 people came to celebrate Chris’s time spent with us at the RMTC and a big thankyou goes out to Lizzie Brown, Helen Wheeler and Julie Baker for making the night the success it was.
Owen
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Posted by rmtcmelb
June 26, 2010
Last night, June 25th, the final of the Club Doubles Championship was played between reigning title holders Mike Happell/Bret Richardson and Kieren Booth/Daniel Williams. Despite it being nasty night outside, a good crowd gathered to watch what unfolded as an excellent exhibition for all concerned. Whilst it was no surprise that Mike and Bret were able to defend their title, Kieren showed that his comeback to the game is going at full steam and Dan, whose handicap is some 10+ handicap points higher than the others, looked like he belonged in the said company as he made almost every volley that came his way and defended the Grill and Tambour with courage and skill. Despite Kieren and Dan’s best efforts it was Mike and Bret who carried the day, or evening, and they remain the premier doubles combination in both the Club and country.
Final:
Happell/Richardson def. Booth/Williams 6/3 6/2 6/2
P.S. Barbara’s sausage rolls were a real treat and thankyou to Lizzie Brown and Fiona Hewson for your efforts on the night.
Owen
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Posted by rmtcmelb
June 26, 2010
On Monday 14th June we celebrated Queen Elizabeth II 84th birthday (actual birthday April 21) by playing round-robin handicap doubles. Good tennis interspersed by an Andrew Schnaider inspired lunch led to a jovial crowd staying on after their own tournaments were over to watch the finalists. It was fitting that the English pair of Nick Brodie and Steve Wood took out the event and it also marked the last time we shall see Nick Brodie for the time being as he has to go back to England. On behalf of the RMTC, Nick, bon voyage and we hope to see you back here as soon as possible.
Semi Finals:
Wayne Spring/Tim Hurburgh def. Sam Sandon/Julian Metzner
Nick Brodie/Steve Wood def. Kim Dudson/Mark Miller
Final:
Brodie/Wood def. Spring/Hurburgh 6/2
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Posted by rmtcmelb
June 17, 2010
Wednesday 14 July, 2010
The once and future courts – Suze-la-Rousse and Pau
Richard Travers
What better way to celebrate Bastille Day than to hear about these two tennis courts in southern France? The court in Suze is defunct, but the one in Pau, modelled on the courts in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, may yet free itself from trinquet, and be restored to a proper real tennis court – the members of the Cercle du jeu de paume de Navarre are quietly confident!
The talk will be from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm in the committee room, and will be followed by dinner for those who wish to stay on to celebrate le quatorze juillet. Please place your name on the signup sheet in the club.
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Posted by The Pros
June 12, 2010
Over 50s:
Wayne Spring/David Parker defeated Jon Hamer/Richard Hince
6/5 6/2
Over 60s:
Ted Cockram/Philip Barker defeated James Guest/Paul Wheeler
6/0 6/5
Over 70s:
John Hewson/Wheeler defeated Bob Malseed/Guest
6/2 6/0.
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Posted by rmtcmelb
June 12, 2010
Congratulations to D Special pennant winners:
Lancashire (Lesley O’Byrne, Stephanie Williams, Barry Johnson) defeated Hampshire (Lee Pessall, Fiona Hewson, Michelle O’Rorke).
And B Special pennant winners:
Hotham (Sarah Vigrass, Jonathan Buckley) defeated Mt Buller (Walter Cockram, Nick Brodie).
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Posted by rmtcmelb
