March 9, 2010
In addition to the AUS Amateur Doubles the RMTC played host to the Hobart Real Tennis Club as the two clubs battled it out over nine matches for the right to be crowned Percy Finch winners. Hobart challenged us by presenting a strong team consisting of Kieren Booth, Al. Ramsay, Hilton Booth, Al. Curley, Graeme Bradfield and Jeremy Rackham. Most of the matches were close but the RMTC’s nine man team defended its turf convincingly by a margin of 8 rubbers to 1. The matches went as follows:
Singles
Julian. Snow (RMTC) lost to K. Booth (HRTC)
Mike. Happell defeated Al. Ramsay
Bret. Richardson defeated H. Booth
Dan Williams defeated Al. Curley
Richard Hince defeated G. Bradfield
Jon Hamer defeated J. Rackham
Doubles
Happell/Hamer defeated K. Booth/Rackham
Chris Sievers/Owen Guest defeated H. Booth/Curley
Andrew Gould/Williams defeated Bradfield/Ramsay
All the matches are played as best of 3 sets and everyone managed to bring their best game with them. With the Hobart lads in town it meant that, Melbourne freak storms notwithstanding, the evenings became party time. With the Saturday BBQ abandoned due to bad weather we were entertained by Lebanese food and Belly Dancers at Kanzaman. During the evening Merel Hince showed the belly dancer a move or two and Dan Williams claimed it was his birthday (it wasn’t, but it worked). As always it was great to see the Hobart contingent in the club and everyone who joined in had a great time. Thankyou for being here Hobart. And finally, thankyou to everyone who dropped in to show their support over the long weekend.
Regards
Owen
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Posted by rmtcmelb
February 10, 2010
On behalf of the RMTC I’d like to report that we were all privileged to witness a wonderful match between Ruaraidh Gunn and Camden Riviere in the first leg of the 2010 Eliminator series last night on February 9. In what is shaping up as a very tight World Championship Challenge the first match was watched by 213 people in 30° plus heat and just as occurred in 2008, Camden emerged victorious in 5 sets.
The match was as much a war of attrition as it was a showcase of skill and power hitting. When Ruaraidh led the match 2 sets to 1 it looked like his combined speed and rugged floor game would prevail in the oppressive match conditions (truth be told, the players looked like they were coping with the heat far better than the spectators, it can get very hot in the side galleries you know ). However, Camden’s seemingly contained on court persona masks not only his competitiveness but also his tactical awareness. Time and again Ruaraidh placed Camden under immense pressure in rallies, particularly to his forehand (remember Camden is left handed), as he both retrieved and forced to an awkward length only for Camden to blunt the pace and somehow manage to move Ruaraidh from side to side. Often the rallies would end with Camden making a seemingly simple shot into a hazard or winning gallery. The serves employed by each player were also contrasting, Ruaraidh mixed Railroads and Giraffes whereas Camden used an occasional Drag to complement his Railroad although neither player had a clear advantage in this department. Obviously the margin between these two players is small but if Camden has an edge it must his ability to dictate the pace of the match in the early and mid stages before opening up his game with more aggression later.
We wish both players all the best for the remainder of their respective World Championship Challenges and also to the other clubs hosting matches in this series, Aitken, Philadelphia, Seacort and Tuxedo we hope you are also treated just as we were last night.
Camden Riviere defeated Ruaraidh Gunn
4/6 6/2 5/6 6/0 6/2
Regards
Owen Guest
Vice President
RMTC
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Posted by rmtcmelb
August 30, 2009
Congratulations to Ed Hamer, Claire Heughan, Jacob Davey & Lee Pessall, who were the pool winners at yesterday’s Quarterly Medal.
Ed, Claire, Jacob & Lee have all now qualified to compete in the “Medal of Medallists” knockout tournament to be held on Finals Day on 6 December.
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Posted by rmtcmelb
August 21, 2009
The third Quarterly Medal Competition of 2009 will be played on Saturday 29 August. As before, it will be a round-robin, handicap singles event played on the clock in morning and afternoon groups. Morning and afternoon tea and a light lunch is included. Most importantly, winners of the Quarterly Medal competitions qualify to compete in the Medal of Medallists knockout tournament on Finals Day on 7 December.
To enter this competition, please contact the pros on 9429 8744 or email pros@rmtc.com.au Don’t forget to let them know whether you want to play in the morning or afternoon competition. There is also a sign-up sheet at the club. Places are limited, so don’t delay.
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Posted by rmtcmelb
August 21, 2009
Do you have any friends or colleagues that are interested in real tennis and are potential future members of the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club? If so, we will be holding Introduction Nights on Friday, September 4th and Monday, September 7th. The night will involve a tour of the Club and its facilities, a talk on real tennis and an exhibition by the Pros, as well as an opportunity for people to get on court to experience the game. Finger food will also be provided, and drinks available for purchase from the bar. Apart from drinks, there will be no cost for the evening. Guests should be instructed to wear (preferably white) tennis clothing & non-marking shoes, and club rackets will of course be available.
This is a great opportunity for potential new members to see the game played at a high standard and to give it a go for themselves. If you have a friend or colleague who you’d like to bring along, please call the pros on 9429 8744 or email pros@rmtc.com.au to let them know which evening you’d like to attend and the name(s) of the person/people you’ll be bringing along. There is also a sign-up sheet for these evenings at the club.
Please get in early to confirm your attendance, as these evenings have proven extremely popular in the past.
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Posted by rmtcmelb
August 12, 2009
Chris, Julian and Winner Paul Rosedale
Sixteen of the club’s leading players, three professional and thirteen amateur, participated in the Richmond Silver Racket over the week-end for open handicap singles, with best of three set matches.
I make no apology for once again highlighting the encouraging fact that this event was also dominated by the younger generation: the four semi-finalists were aged 20, 21, 23, and Richard Allen. One such young Turk gleefully pointed out to me that every first round match bar one (ignoring the indeterminate match between the Welch twins) had been won by the younger player.
The tournament winner was Paul Rosedale, as old as his handicap of 20, who defeated Chris Chapman in the final 6/1, 6/4. Both players had earlier overcome determined semi-final opponents (Daniel Williams and Richard Allen, respectively) by an identical margin of 6/4 in the third set.
The final was a fluent match full of sparkling stroke play, but Chris was always struggling to give ½ 30, owe 30 to such a dangerous opponent. There were many games when Chris would graft manfully to achieve 30 all, for example, before Paul would blithely unleash a couple of rockets to the openings. Paul plays the perfect game for a player getting a big start, which allowed him to win relatively comfortably. There is no doubt that Paul’s tennis has improved following his recent trip to the UK and US, as has that of fellow tourists Simon Carr and Daniel Williams, each of whom lost only narrowly to Paul himself. All of them will be A-Grade players very soon.
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Posted by rmtcmelb
June 12, 2009
Come in and watch the club doubles final this Monday at 6pm and at the same time take the opportunity to introduce a friend or two to the club. The match should be brilliant as assuming everything goes according to the seedings it will be a Snow/Heughan v. Happell/Richardson final.
See you Monday.
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Posted by rmtcmelb
In addition to the AUS Amateur Doubles the RMTC played host to the Hobart Real Tennis Club as the two clubs battled it out over nine matches for the right to be crowned Percy Finch winners. Hobart challenged us by presenting a strong team consisting of Kieren Booth, Al. Ramsay, Hilton Booth, Al. Curley, Graeme Bradfield and Jeremy Rackham. Most of the matches were close but the RMTC’s nine man team defended its turf convincingly by a margin of 8 rubbers to 1. The matches went as follows:
