Our eighth winter tournament with thirty-two of our members competing for the Bob Teasdale Trophy took place on the indoor courts at Graves on Sunday 5 January. The tournament has become one of our highlights of the year and is looked forward to by our members attracting a wide range of abilities. As well as the tennis we enjoy a buffet with everyone bringing something to share; after the tennis there is a presentation of trophies for our finalist from the tournament, our knockout tournaments played earlier in the year and any league wins.

Two groups of sixteen pairs based on ability competed against each other in timed rounds with the winners of each group making their way to the final where the original pairs were split, in an attempt to even things out for the final set. It was also decided to give Daryl and Sally an advantage of 15 every other game but it would seem tying Sof’s shoe laces together was maybe what was needed as he won the tournament for a second year, with James and Sof winning the final set 6-4.

The presentations by our Chairman Chas saw trophies being awarded to the day’s winners and runners up and to the finalists of the 2019 knockout tournaments.  There were also medals for our first team men who’d won Division 2 of the Sheffield and District Leagues, they also had the opportunity to hold the trophy originally presented in November at the Sheffield and District LTA dinner. Chas, who after nine years as our Chair was retiring from his position, was presented with a gift of appreciation, and the players showed their gratitude with flowers for Fay, who as always did a champion job ensuring the tournament ran smoothly.