Dear Member,
The 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held in the Bretten Room at the club on Wednesday 1st May, starting at 6.30pm, and I look forward to seeing you there. Wine and canapés will be served afterwards, followed by a new style tennis challenge for everyone or possibly an Exhibition Match with a difference. Nomination Forms to join the Management Committee were sent out with the Notice, so please, please think about filling one in and sending it to the Hon Secretary.
Tennis Matters
Inter Club Match and Tournament Results
There was one inter club match at the end of March, when BRTC hosted the Brigands, a peripatetic group of real tennis enthusiasts. After several very hard fought matches BRTC managed to creep home the winners at 3-2.
Then on 30th March, three of our juniors took on Seacourt at home in the next round of the Peter Luck-Hille Cup. Dominic and Henry are now very familiar with the format but Nell found it all rather daunting, as this was her first ever formal match. The Bristol team is coming on well but, in spite best endeavours, Seacourt proved too strong on the day and were worthy winners.
At the beginning of April BRTC hosted Hatfield House for another great day of tennis. It was level pegging at 2-2 before Hatfield increased the pressure and won the two remaining matches.
The Club Open Singles and the Club Open Doubles played in parallel over the weekend of 13th and 14th April, with the semi-finals of the singles and both finals being played on the Sunday. This meant that two of the contenders in the finals had to play three hard fought matches on the day!
Those who came to watch in the dedans were treated to some fantastic tennis. Tom Lewis was on top form and took the singles title for yet another year! He and Ben Coleman then teamed up to take on Hamish and James Dron in the doubles final. The Drons put up a tremendous fight but Tom and Ben proved unstoppable.
Bee Barford came all the way from Sidmouth to present the Barford Salver for the singles and Charlotte Wilsher (nee Bretten) presented the Bretten Bowl for the doubles.
Forthcoming Matches and Tournaments
There is still time to sign up or come along to socialise with the Irish Real Tennis Association over the forthcoming weekend. As founder members of the IRTA,
Bob and I are down to play for the opposition!
The main event in May is the Club Ladies Open Singles for the Ron Brown Trophy and the Club Ladies Handicap Singles for the Val Probyn Long Trophy. These will be played in parallel over the weekend of Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May. So come along ladies and enjoy some good tennis. Friends, spouses and partners are also encouraged to come along and support!
PLEASE LET KK or BEN KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART
IN ANY OF THESE MATCHES
Other tennis events
There is a taster session scheduled for Saturday 4th May and there are plenty of other opportunities for individual or group tasters session linked to the membership initiative. These can be arranged with KK and Ben as required, providing the court is free.
Then there are singles medal days on Sunday 5th May for 41-50 Handicaps; Saturday 11th May for 51-60 Handicaps; and Sunday 12th May for 61-70 Handicaps.
We also have a Chairman’s Doubles with lunch on Sunday 26th May, plus the regular Monday and Wednesday Club nights – please book in with KK or Ben if you want to play. So there is plenty of tennis to look forward to!
Social Events
There are no official Club social events scheduled for May – but fast forward to September 4th, when Jan and Bob will be holding an Andalucian evening with sherry and tapas. Numbers will be limited to 16, so if you are interested please let either Jan or Bob know as soon as possible.
With best wishes,
Claire