Weekly Update!
Acle Tennis Club Madge Cup Tournament!
As has become a club tradition in recent years, the Madge Cup took place on the middle Sunday of Wimbledon and was competed between 6 teams in a Davis Cup format. On a very warm day, 6 teams of 4 played as a country with USA coming third with 43 games, Italy getting 44 and France winning with 46.
What was most important was that everyone had a great time and enjoyed not only tennis but also Flapjacks, cakes and strawberries. Many thanks to all the organisers who did a fantastic job and we were all delighted that Brian Madge could come down to present the Cup. Pictures are on the Facebook page, https://en-gb.facebook.com/pg/acletennisclubofficial/photos/?ref=page_internal
Match Reports!
Men’s Acle B v Easton A
It was a beautifully warm and clear evening as Acle B made the trip to Easton. However, the match took place indoors. The team fielded was Tom Blackburn, Ian Blackburn, Graham Tate and James Lillistone. The humidity of the bubble made for tough conditions but the team went into the halfway point 20-12 ahead. The first away win of the season was achieved after finishing the match 37-27.
Men’s Acle B v Taverham B
After the disastrous first match of the season away to Taverham B, the main priority was finishing the home fixture with 4 players. Tom Blackburn, Ian Blackburn, Graham Tate and James Lillistone made up the team and performed extremely well to win the match 35-29 holding a tight lead over Taverham throughout.
Men’s Acle C v Brooke A
Every morning at dawn I take my English springer spaniel for a long walk on the marshes. To get there you have to walk down a narrow country lane, at the same time as I enter the narrow country lane I meet a lady called Mrs Parisha Council. Mrs Parisha Council’s main purpose in life is to monitor the village dog owner’s dog bowel movements. I always nod enthusiastically in agreement as Mrs Parisha Council bemoans any evidence of said matter if spotted. Last week I met Mrs Parisha Council as usual and my dog always historically takes care of business in the long grass on the marshes far far away from Mrs Parisha Council which I then duly clear up. That morning my dog clearly had a greater sense of humour than me and decided to take care of business while I was walking with Mrs Parisha Council, I reached in my pocket for the bag and to my horror it was not there. I looked in every pocket and all I could find was a Sainsbury’s Double Nectar Rewards Voucher. Mrs Parisha Council stayed by my side throughout and what resulted was messy, ugly and smelly but also fast thinking, imaginative and resourceful and it got a result, so to speak.
What has all this got to do with the Acle C Team playing Brooke A - well everything. You take the request from the Brooke Captain for the re arrangement of the match knowing it is an excuse to get out their Big Boys, you take the fact one of their members is a prominent Coach and add to that the opposition are part of a well established club and the team are their A Team. Then you put out an Acle squad who know they are going to take a lot of what Mrs Parisha Council monitors and you ask them to deal with it and my word, my team certainly can deal with it.
Joseph Ketteringham and Luke Daine, the Captain got that selection just right. Joseph with bags of experience guided the talented Luke to produce some truly great tennis. Joseph had a cunning plan and executed it to perfection whilst staying strong and resolute allowing Luke to go for the big shots and Joseph playing a more percentage management game together it was tennis heaven - 10-6 9-7 Acle.
He’s been away, some said to Nick Bollettieri‘s, some said to Billy Butlin’s wherever it was he went as Sean Dunthorne and came back like Mr Boombastic, very fantastic. Sean covered every inch of the court playing some truly wonderful tennis, winning shots by just not being prepared to give up the chase. The Captain helped where he could but it was more vocal encouragement than tennis play related. Well done Sean 8-8 8-8.
It was a glorious result for the C team, we did not claim points and for that we won points. Joseph was shown not only to be a competent player but an excellent tactician and Mentor in assisting just one of the many Acle talented youngsters to produce some truly show stopping tennis he should be justly proud of , well done Luke.
However this day belonged to someone whose head had momentarily dropped but with time an understanding that City League tennis is very much a team game and it will allow Mr Boombastic to flourish once more.
The C Team has now got a reputation like my dear friend Mrs Parisha Council we just don’t take any ….
Congratulations to the C team, Paul Chase, Sean Dunthorne, Joseph Ketteringham and Luke Daine.
Acle Vets A v East Anglia A
The Vets A team have adopted an innovative new captain share policy with the captaincy being shared between Ian Blackburn and Ian Nichols. With the first match arranged for Friday 7th July there were a few communication issues with Ann Nichols finding out at the last minute from Shelley Long that she was in the team!
With the teams very evenly matched it was to prove a very long and hot and humid night of tennis. The Acle Mens and Ladies pairs both won their first sets only to lose the second sets to make it all square half way through.
Ian and Ann Nichols took the first set of their mixed 7-5, only for Ian and Shelley to lose their first set 6-4, to make it three sets all. With Ian and Ann losing a tight second set we were down 3-4 and all now rested on Ian B and Shelley. However, Ian B was having a mini meltdown and they looked well and truly sunk. Fortunately, their opponents didn’t seem to notice and carried on playing everything on Shelley who was playing some excellent tennis. As a comeback started to build Ian B’s form (and serve!) returned just in time to secure a 7-1 tiebreak win to secure the draw. Well done team!
Acle’s Ladies D v Cromer
A great victory v Cromer at home on Wednesday 5th July. Final score 41-
23 games in favour of Acle.
A young team of Holly, Victoria, Harrie and Lucy played with determination and consistently played the ball back. Acle ladies D team have now won 3 out of last 4 matches! Well done ladies.
Recreation Centre Car Park Reminder
Please be aware that as from Wednesday 12th July work will commence on the roofs at the Recreation Centre. There will therefore be some car parking restrictions in place during this time. The first row up from the Indoor Bowls will be out of use, this will be fenced off for the duration of the work.
Club Kit! NEW COLOURS AND STYLES!
There’s been a few changes to some of the colour and styles of designs available in our club kit so click on the link to have a look!
http://www.4sportskitshop.co.uk/category-s/1974.htm
Regular Weekly Timetable:
Adult Social Tennis
Monday
10am - Midday - Social Tennis
7pm Club Night
Tuesday
6pm-7pm - Cardio Tennis!
Wednesday
10am - Midday - Social Tennis
Friday
10am - Midday - Social Tennis Saturday Social Tennis 2-4pm
All sessions open to all ages and abilities. No need to book a place just turn up, pay and play. These are friendly relaxed groups, offering the chance to have fun while getting fit at the same time. We would love to see more members playing on a regular basis. Sessions often end with a well- earned drink in the social club.
Group Coaching
Tuesday
7.30pm-8.30pm Intermediate
For any information on the above, or to arrange an individual lesson please contact Ann Nicholls.
Other Bits & Bobs
▪Don't forget that you can buy new balls from the club. Please call Mike Lake on 01493750337 or see Ann Nicholls down at the courts.
▪Money in the safe: could all members please put a note with any money put into the safe detailing who the money is from and what it is for. Please also make sure the club room door locks properly when you leave.
▪Members with a guest: Reminder for members who attend the courts with a guest to kindly put the names on the form pinned to the Club Room wall and put a note with the payment before depositing it in the safe. There are pens, paper and bags provided.
Feedback & Suggestions
If you have any feedback or suggestions about the weekly update or the club itself please feel free to contact either Holly Hornagold at hornagoldh@gmail.com or Andrew Sherwood at Andrew.sherwood@talktalk.net.