Swansea Tennis and Squash Club Club Champs 2024

2024 Report

In early July, the club's annual tennis championships kicked off, and once again, we went bigger and better! This year, we offered an impressive 31 events for members to enter, making sure there was truly something for everyone. From juniors to veterans, the diversity in age and ability made the 2024 Club Championships our most inclusive and dynamic competition yet.

Our youngest competitor, Huw (aged 5), brought boundless energy to the court, while our oldest participant, Cliff (87 years young), proved that tennis is a lifelong sport. It was heartwarming to see such a wide range of players come together to celebrate the sport we all love.

Just like last year, we added Plate, Bowl, Shield, and even Wooden Spoon events to the competition. This ensured that players of all levels had the chance to compete all the way to our famous Finals Day. The multiple tiers of competition gave everyone something to aim for, creating a sense of achievement for all participants.

The championships ran for a thrilling 8 weeks, and the excitement was palpable as big matches took place almost daily. The event created a real buzz around the club, with members, supporters, and families gathering to watch and cheer. Every match was played in great spirit, highlighting the camaraderie and sportsmanship that make this event so special.

What Was New in 2024?

After the success of last year’s championships, we asked our members for feedback on how we could make the competition even better. Thanks to their suggestions, we introduced several exciting improvements:

Due to the massive entry of 48 men this year, we introduced a Wooden Spoon draw for the first time. This gave players a fifth chance to compete, ensuring that everyone had more opportunities to play, even if they didn’t advance in the main draw. It added an extra level of excitement and allowed more players to stay involved throughout the tournament, keeping the competitive spirit alive for all participants.

110 Club: Our popular "100 Club" event was rebranded as the 110 Club, adding an extra layer of excitement and opportunities for even more members to participate.
New Trophy Display Cabinet: We unveiled a brand-new display cabinet to showcase the club’s trophies. This beautiful addition now holds a prominent place at the club, reminding us of the rich history and competitive spirit of our championships.
Additional Social Events: We added more fun social events to keep the community spirit alive, such as an Under-10 Parent and Child event and a lively Social American Doubles tournament. These events were a great way for families and players of all levels to come together and enjoy the sport in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Enhanced Finals Day: Finals day became even more of a celebration this year! With the BBQ in full swing, alongside traditional tennis treats like strawberries and cream and refreshing Pimm’s, it was the perfect way to enjoy top-quality tennis in a relaxed, social setting. The improved catering added to the festive feel and ensured spectators and players alike had a memorable experience.

2024 Club Championships Statistics -

290 Entries

31 Club Champions.

8 weeks of competitive tennis.

Over 500 matches completed.

65 members made it all the way to finals day.

104 took home trophies given out on finals day.

Finals Day- Saturday 14th 2024

We couldn’t have asked for better weather on Finals Day! The sun was shining brightly, and the club and its grounds looked spectacular. There’s no better venue in Wales for playing tennis on a beautiful summer day, and it truly showed.

The matches kicked off at 12:15 pm, and by 1 pm, the balcony and spectator areas were packed with competitors, friends, and family members, all eager to show their support. With an incredible 31 finals to be decided, the atmosphere was electric from start to finish. The last match wrapped up just before 8 pm, with the final point played under the lights, adding to the drama of the day.

It was wonderful to witness the club buzzing with energy, with everyone enjoying the sunshine, the tennis, and the camaraderie.

The tennis on show was simply outstanding. There’s no doubt that the level of play at the club is on the rise—the competition gets tougher each year. It’s becoming more difficult to make it to a final, as players are improving year on year, and the fierce competition is pushing everyone to bring their best to the court. The standard of play on this year’s Finals Day was a testament to the dedication and progress of all our members.

Pictures and video clips can be seen on the clubs social media pages. Please ‘like’, ‘share’ or ‘comment’.

Flagship Events: Men’s and Ladies' Singles Finals

The flagship events, the Men's and Ladies' Singles Finals, lived up to their billing, with both matches decided by thrilling championship tie-breaks.

In the Ladies' Final, Tesni edged out Jenny in a truly outstanding match that set the tone for the day. Both players brought their A-game, delivering some of the best tennis we've seen all season. The intensity and skill on display had the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the match.
The Men's Final was another spectacle, featuring 14-year-old Jacob taking on defending champion Henry. Henry started strong, cruising through the first set, and many spectators thought the match was over. But Jacob had other ideas. With remarkable determination, he fought back to push the match to a three-set tie-break. As champions do, Henry found that extra gear to see him over the line. It was a fantastic display of tennis and a clear sign that the future of the club is in good hands with these two talented players.

Notable Mentions

Gethin Morgan deserves special recognition. After making multiple finals over the years without a victory, this year was different. Gethin not only reached more finals than any other player—three in total—but he also walked away with three champion trophies! His perseverance and hard work finally paid off, making him one of the day’s most decorated players.
The junior finals were equally thrilling, with some truly inspired tennis on display. The Boys' Under-18 Doubles Final was a particular highlight, showcasing high-level play and intense competition. A star was born with young Theo, who dominated the Under-8 and Under-9 events, proving that the club’s future talent is already shining brightly.
The girls also stepped up, with Grace, Mahum, and Sara putting in incredible performances. Their dedication and skill were evident in every match, and they certainly made their mark on the day.
Special congratulations to our Under-18 Champions, Jack and Ella, who dominated their events with ease, showcasing their superior skills and earning their titles.

Thank You to Our Finals Day Heroes

Finals Day wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from our volunteers, staff, and players. We want to take a moment to recognize the contributions of several key people who helped make the day a massive success:

Phil Howells – PJH Estate Planning: We extend a huge thank you to Phil Howells from PJH Estate Planning, who very kindly agreed to sponsor this year’s Club Championships. We are incredibly grateful for Phil’s financial support, which helped elevate the event, as well as his ongoing commitment to supporting the club. Your contribution made a real difference—thank you, Phil!
Trophy Sponsorship: A huge thank you to Willows Dental Practice, Evolve Physiotherapy, and Ace Tennis Coaching for sponsoring our 7 new plates for this year’s championships. Your generosity has been instrumental in making the event special for all the winners!
Coaching Team: A special thank you to our amazing coaching team—Holly Reason, Rhys Meredith, Jack Farren, Jacob Davies, Zoe Parsell, Gethin Morgan, James Williams, James O’Brien, and Rhodri Lloyd. Not only did they volunteer to help run the junior events throughout the summer, but they were also on hand all day to ensure the event ran smoothly. You all smashed it once again!
Wendy Norris: Huge thanks to Wendy for taking care of engraving last year’s winners on the club’s trophies. It’s the small details like this that make a big difference. We appreciate all your hard work!
Kerry Bowen James and Nigel Lomas: A massive thank you to Kerry and Nigel for stepping up and elevating our catering offer on Finals Day. Their delightful strawberries and cream and refreshing Pimm’s were a hit with everyone and added that perfect summer touch to the day.
Michaela, Bernie, Heulwen, Michelle, Sue, and Kerry: A huge thank you to these wonderful ladies for stepping up and bringing along an array of delicious salads to complement the BBQ. Your contributions added a lovely touch to the day, and we can’t thank you enough!
Craig Jones: When it came to organizing this year’s catering, Craig really took the lead, arranging an incredible BBQ by Tuckers. This addition made a huge difference to the event, and we can’t thank you enough, Craig, for making it all happen.
Justin Nemeth: Justin deserves a huge pat on the back for his tireless effort behind the bar on Finals Day. He worked nearly 12 hours straight and didn’t stop once, ensuring everyone was well taken care of. You were a key part of why the day ran so smoothly, Justin—thank you from all of us! The club took nearly £1700 over the bar on the day which is just incredible.
Players and Finalists: The biggest thank you of all goes to everyone who entered this year’s competition. A special shout-out to the finalists who turned up and gave it their all on the day. Every match was fiercely contested but played with great sportsmanship and in a fun, friendly manner. You made the day unforgettable—thank you!

We didn’t just generate income from the bar—the club also made a modest profit of a few hundred pounds from entry fees alone, which is a great return. This profit was achieved even after investing in seven brand-new plates to expand our trophy collection. Now that our trophy cabinet is fully stocked, the club can proudly showcase our winners and look forward to hosting even more successful events in the future.

Club Tennis Championships 2025

We’re already making plans to improve next year’s Club Championships, and we’d love to hear from you! If you have any suggestions for enhancing the event, please feel free to email your ideas to David at david.acetennisacademy@yahoo.co.uk. Your feedback is invaluable, and we’re excited to make next year’s championships even better.

Here are a few suggestions we’ve already received and noted:

Additional Vets Events: Suggestions include adding Mixed Doubles and 50s Singles categories.
Online Roll of Honour: We’re considering introducing an online list of past winners and runners-up for everyone to view and celebrate.
New Social Events: Possible additions include a Chopper Grip event, a Pickleball event, or a Handicap Doubles event to encourage even more fun and participation.

End of Season Team Celebration

Finals Day ended on a high note with a small but heartfelt presentation led by our fabulous Tennis Lead, El Lightbody. All captains and players were recognized, and this season’s incredible achievements were celebrated. It was truly one for the books, and we couldn’t be prouder of our teams' accomplishments. Here are some of the standout moments:

Men’s 1 – Premier 3 Champions
Men’s 3 – League Champions
Men’s 4 – League Champions
Ladies 3 – League Champions

We also took the opportunity to celebrate seven special individuals who made remarkable contributions this season. Huge congratulations to all our award winners:

Jacob Pearson – Junior Tennis Player of the Year
Jacob Davies – Most Improved Junior
Theo Thompson – Most Promising Player
Judy Price – Ladies Tennis Player of the Year
William Spencer – Men’s Tennis Player of the Year
Zoe Parsell – Most Improved Player
James Williams – Clubman of the Year
Team of the Year – Ladies 2nd Team

Thank you to everyone who made this season unforgettable, and congratulations to all our players and teams. We’re already looking forward to the next season!

Tournament Referee/Organiser David Williams

I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who showed your support by taking part in this year’s event. I truly hope you all enjoyed it and are excited to compete again next year!

Three years ago, with the club’s support, I set out to re-establish the Club Championships, and the progress we’ve made together is incredible. We’re well on our way to having the best Club Championships in Wales, and that’s thanks to all of you.

One thing’s for certain—we aim bigger and better once again!

Let’s keep building this tradition, and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Club Championhsips 2024 Winners

Junior Events:

8 and Under Mixed – Finalists Theo T vs Theo R - Champion Theo T
9 and Under Mixed- Finalists Jacob vs Theo T- Champion Thoe T
11 and Under Mixed – Finalsists Roland vs Ollie- Champion Roland
12 and Under Boys – Finalists Cai vs Thomas - Champion Thomas
12 and Under Girls – Finalists Mahum vs Grace -Champion Grace
14 and Under Boys - Finalists Theo vs Cai -Champion Cai
14 and Under Girls – Finalists sara vs Mahum Champion Sara
18 and Under Boys – Dylan vs Jack Champion Jack
18 and Under Girls – Imogen vs Ella Champion Ella
18 and Under Boys Doubles – Dylan and Gethin Vs Evan and Jacob- Champion Dyland and Gethin
Parents and Child Cup 9 and Under – Will and Ben vs Rhodri and Joseph Champion Rhodri and Jo
Parent and Child Cup 10+ - Finalists Matthew and Jacob vs Anand and Gautam Champion Anand and Gautam

Adult Events:

Mens Doubles 110 Club Final- Max and Ian vs Paul and Pete - Champion Pete and Paul
Ladies Singles Final- Tesni vs Jenny -Champion Tesni
Ladies Singles Plate Final - Carys vs Steff- Champion Carys
Ladies 110 Plate Final - Wendy and Kerry vs Judy and Sandra - Champion Judy and Sandra
Ladies 110 Final - Jenny and Michelle vs Helen and Michaela - Champion Jenny and Michelle
Ladies Doubles Plate Final - Kim and Anastasia vs Ella and Steph - Champion Ella and Steph
Ladies Doubles Final - Tesni and Bec vs Jenny and Mia - Champion Jenny and Mia
Mens Singles Final - Henry vs Jacob - Champion Henry
Mens Plate Final - Dan vs James- Champion Dan
Mens Bowl Final - Pete vs Paul- Champion Pete
Mens Sheild Final - Mike vs Daff -Champion Daff
Mens Wooder Spoon - Ian vs Stuart - Champion Ian
Mens Doubles Final - Henry and Geoff vs John and Ben - Champion Ben and John
Mens Doubles Plate Final - Cam/Lewis vs Gethin and James - Champion Gethin and James
Mens 110 Club Plate - Rob and Mike vs Paul and Ben M- Champion Paul and Ben M
Mixed Doubles Final - Nick and Bec vs Nia and Jacob - Champion Nick and Bec
Mixed Doubles Plate Final - Gethin and Zoe vs Michelle and Mike- Champion Gethin and Zoe

American Doubles Social Players -Liz/Nigel/Mandy/Kim - Champion Nigel and Kim
American Doubles Team Players-Christian/Gareth H/James/ Rob Y - Champion Gareth and James