Royal Melbourne Tennis Club

The first Quarterly Medal for 2010 was held at the Club on Saturday, 27th February. A full field of 20 players competed in the morning and afternoon competitions, with some excellent tennis and close matches played.

The winners on the day – and all undefeated in their four matches – were:

Brigitte Claney
Greg Moran
Ed Welch
Charles Foster

Brigitte, Greg, Ed and Charles are now eligible to compete in the Medal of Medallists competition on Finals Day on 5 December.

The next Quarterly Medal competition will be played on Saturday, 29th May.

James Gould won the Jim Bailey Cup for the second time on Saturday. In a tournament of wholly round-robin format, he won all 4 of his matches. The other competitors – Tom Cross, Jacob Davey, Michael Williams, & Paul Rosedale – all played well, but were unable to stop James, who maintained a positive and purposeful style of play throughout. Tom showed decent form for one who is very new to the game. Jacob, newly with us in Melbourne from Hobart, has a very mature game for a youngster and volleyed especially well. Michael, recently cut to 26 handicap, hit some powerful winners as ever, but also gave up rather more errors than usual. Paul has a game better suited to receiving odds rather than giving a big start as he often had to, but has sufficient class to be able to win 2 matches nonetheless. But they all succumbed to James’ assertive play, which combined an encouraging mix of forehand forces and floor shots off both wings.

In the level event for the Ford Strachan Trophy, Paul Rosedale, freed from the shackles of giving big odds, qualified to play Simon Carr on Finals Day.

The RMTC has just expanded its range of club polo shirts. The new shirt has a new look logo (designed by Josef Brunhuber) and is made from new technology “Dri-Sporte” material. Come in and inspect the new range. All short-sleeve polos, new and old, can be purchased with just one easy $45 debit on your bill.

 

Mark started work in the Pro Shop this week; he will be with us for at least 3 months and probably more like 6-9 months. He comes from Lord’s (MCC) in London with excellent references, and is approximately 12 handicap. Mark is working in an unpaid capacity in order to retain his amateur status.

Keith Watkins and family are kindly hosting Mark for the first few weeks of his stay. Thereafter, he will looking for further billet(s). Any member who would be happy to put him up for a portion of his time in Melbourne is encouraged to contact Frank Filippelli or Julian Snow, or to speak directly with Mark.

Please make him welcome

The 2009 North African Tournament.

The 2009 iteration of the North African Tournament took place on the 211th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Nile, which, through the mists of time, must have been divined to be a sufficiently fruity occasion which to commemorate with what has become one of the Club’s more eccentric tournaments.

A small, but – to borrow from Sir Max Beerbohm – “perfectly formed” field of six pairs commenced the first of five round-robin matches at the leisurely hour of 10:30 a.m.

The Bros. Norton appeared to be the early favourites, particularly given that neither of their opposing pair of Fiona Hewson and Michelle O’Rorke was on court at 10:30. In the spirit of the day no games were docked and the Nortons in any event proceeded to win their opening match.

Chris Webb flew in from Dubai to be paired with the veteran beginner Charles Wright. Playing together for the first time, they suffered a number of losses before improving late.

The evergreen combination of Jon. Sear and R. McCahey as always combined well, though not quite well enough to qualify for the final. Jonathan’s usual ebullience was on display in his devilish Farouking, while Rob’s cunning serving produced a number of aces.

The combination of Jeffrey Bird’s genteel stroke play and Tony John’s vigorous forcing claimed many victims throughout the day. Looking a certainty to qualify for the final, this charming duo inexplicably lost 7/3 in the last of their round robin matches allowing Lizzie Brown and Andrew Schnaider to sneak into the final by the narrowest of margins. Lizzie (or “Zizzee” as she was known on the day) had early that morning secured some industrial strength theatrical make-up. She applied it liberally; so much so that she emerged from the taxi which conveyed her to the Club several shades darker than her subcontinental driver. Some of the banter which was caused by Zizzee’s appearance cannot be published on this web site.

The experienced combination of Hewson and O’Rorke improved as the day wore on but graciously allowed Schnaider and Zizzee to beat them in the final match. Bird and John and Sear and McCahey missed out on qualifying by no more than an individual game.

In the final (timed, as all the matches, to 27 minutes), between the Nortons (owe 30) and Brown/Schnaider (rec ½ 30), the former were heavily favoured, having won all but one of their round robin matches. However, the receivers were off to a quick start, establishing a four-nil lead before a stunned audience in the dedans. According to the modified rules the Nortons gained both a Farouk in every game and an adjustment in handicap (Owe half 30 Rec 15). They quickly won the following two games, but Brown and Schnaider, now on song, re-established a 6/2 ascendancy with not many minutes left. The Nortons were not yet done and set about a rapid and ruthless comeback, serving accurately and laying short chases. The match stood at 5-6 and love-thirty in favour of Brown and Schnaider when the bell finally went. A few more minutes may have made for a different result.

Twenty-two players and friends came to dinner, magnificently catered by Ed Dixon. Lizzie Brown, by now back to her natural colour, won the best-dressed lady, judged by Sear and McCahey, in a “hoolahoop-off” from Kate Leeming and Judith Sear. Charles “Ali Baba” Wright was presented with the prize for the best-dressed gentleman, judged by Kate Leeming and Helen Wheeler. Jeffrey Bird introduced in verse a few well-chosen and entirely plausible remarks about the history of the tournament by Jonathan Sear. The night ended in the wee hours with much profit for the bar.