Taylor Tie Break Tens
For the second year running the Taylor Tie Break Tens was played in glorious sunshine at the Castletown Lawn Tennis Club, Malew Street courts. The tournament is held in memory of John Taylor who was a member at Castletown Lawn Tennis Club for many years.
The format could not be simpler in format with each match played as a tie break to ten. If the score reaches nine all you must win by two clear points.
The singles entry was slightly smaller than last year but certainly did not lack quality. Played in one large group with the two players with the most wins going through to a final to play for the hundred pound first prize very generously given by Aqua Café at the NSC.
There were many very close matches with lots of players tripping each other up along the way. Sean Drewry remained unbeaten throughout so it was a case of who would meet him in the final. In the end it was between Craig Blackwell and Neri Gricivicius who both ended up on the same wins. On countback it was Craig who went through having won 2 points more through the afternoon
In the final Sean proved to be the stronger winning 10-5 against Craig.
The doubles event which was played alongside the main singles event attracted a similar entry to last year but instead of being played in two groups was played in the same format as the singles, with everyone playing each other and the top two progressing to the final. The prize of fifty pounds for the winning pair was also donated by Aqua Café at the NSC. There were two pairs that just had an edge through the afternoon. Peter De Carte & Neil Watterson and father and son partnership of Chris & Ryan Holland. Both had won all but one match in the group stage it so was going to make for an interesting final.
It was to be Peter and Neil’s day after they got off to a rapid start they ran out 10-3 winners.
After nearly five hours play the awards were presented by John's wife Debbie. The runners-up in each event received medals. The winners received medals, silver salvers, cash prizes donated by Aqua Café at the NSC and shirts donated by ball supplier Mantis. Thanks go to Neil Ronan for running the tournament.