Last played in 2019, the Mike Hillman Tournament returned to the Newman Collard Tennis Club in 2022. With five rounds played, the competition was open to all members of all abilities. The format paired competitors for four games, each player serving, with a killer deuce if required. After the quartet of games, players swapped partner for another set of four games. Each player recorded his or her own score, with three games played in each round. This year’s competition did not disappoint, in any way. With newer members, mixed with longer serving NCTC players, alongside some very capable junior players, the tournament has been a huge success.
With the best three scores, from the five rounds, added at the end to identify the winner, both Godric & Maria should be congratulated on being the two players who participated in all 5 rounds. And, therefore, it should be no surprise that both players, going into the last round, played on November 13th, should be in with a real shot at the silverware. At that stage, both players had 42 points as their best 3 scores.
Both had been quick out of the blocks, the first round, played back in March 2022, seeing Maria score a phenomenal 17, Godric an equally impressive 16. As always, a prize was available for the Ladies and Mens Winners of each round, maybe not as impressive as those to be won on Blankety Blank, but who needs an inflatable hot tub anyway!
May saw the second round of the tournament, which sadly only saw two sets played due to the rain. Thankfully that was probably the last of the rain for most of the rest of the summer. Piotr still scored a brilliant 13, Tansy a top class 11, and they took home the bounty for that day.
Maddie’s first foray into the wacky world of the Mike Hillman saw her on top of her game, 17 points superbly won by her, with George Newman on 16, as those top players for that round. Godric had been consistency personified in his three rounds to date and was ahead at this relatively early stage of proceedings.
Both nailed the penultimate round in September, Godric scoring 15, Maria and Sarah Cray 16, to be victorious on the day, leaving things ready for a nail-biting conclusion. And that came last Sunday, when the weather stayed kind, almost positively balmy for mid-November.
Sarah Cray scored 8 in her first set of matches, Lynda too. Could they come through and snatch the ultimate prize? Piotr too was playing some exceptional tennis, and a contender. Belying her younger years, Maria scored 15 points on the day. Not enough to be top lady, that accolade went to Lynda with the tournament’s top score of 18, with Mark Newman and Piotr level as top gents on 14.
Mark Newman and Sarah Cray finished the tournament on 41 as their best three scores, with runners up, Piotr & Godric on 42 points. But huge congratulations to one of the club’s rising stars, Maria, who won this year’s Mike Hillman Cup, with 48 points. Absolutely superb.