As predicted there was only one match this week and that was on Saturday with our Apsley B team away to Lymington. Photo: Apsley B (most of them) at Lymington.
I am still waiting for information from Christine although I do have the result of the match at Lymington. Interesting tennis in New York this week although the real stuff starts tomorrow. This won’t affect Taylor Swift who as you may have heard has decided to re-record all her hits. It is a bit like Andy replaying all those matches he lost but with a new result so his record turns out better! Remastering is one thing, re-mixing is another but re-recording somehow seems wrong to me.
Very amused this week by the school that put up a banner to congratulate its pupils on their results – but mis-spelt GCSE! Of course couldn’t have happened in our day as we did O-levels and the last thing anyone would have thought of was to congratulate “pupils” – nasty things pupils!!! In any case they could hardly get the spelling of O wrong could they.
Last week I told you of the potential marketing opportunity in Moscow: this week it is Australia where they have started selling Truffles to the world. Mind you they could be fossilised Dodo poop for all I know and probably taste the same. Truffle is after all only a hard mushroom that some chancer in France managed to create a demand by telling everyone what a very special flavour when added to your chicken stew.
So the Apsley B team did cross that verdant heath that is the New Forest to take on Lymington. As our team stand at the top of the league and Lymington near the bottom it looked like a one-way-ticket. The team of Christine Johnston, Julie Kelly, Ola Osuch (I think it was) and Estella Hurlock plus Steve Johnston, Alex Billingham, Pete Colling and Harry Thomas managed to pull off a 6-2 win despite Estella having to pull out from one of the ladies doubles due to sickness. So the Apsley B team did cross that verdant heath that is the New Forest to take on Lymington. As our team stand at the top of the league and Lymington near the bottom it looked like a one-way-ticket. The team of Christine Johnston, Julie Kelly, Ola Osuch (I think it was) and Estella Hurlock plus Steve Johnston, Alex Billingham, Pete Colling and Harry Thomas managed to pull off a 6-2 win despite Estella having to pull out from one of the ladies doubles due to sickness. Steve reports: “Crunch match for the Apsley B team as a win or draw at Lymington would ensure that for the first time ever we would retain our status in Div 1 for the next season, following promotion the previous season. Each previous occasion we have gone straight back down again. A bit of pre match panic in trying to find last minute replacements for Harry Thomas & Estella Hurlock who were injured/ill respectively. Trying to find replacements to go to Lymington on a very hot bank holiday Saturday is not easy. However, in the end both agreed to play, so we put them at 4th mixed pair together to hopefully help each other through. Good decision as they battled through to win 6-4, 6-3. Pete Colling & Ola Osuch playing at 1 had a mighty tussle with the Lymington 1's, eventually sneaking through 4-6, 6-1, 7-6. Steve & Christine Johnson playing at 2 had some very long games before succumbing to the Lymington 2's by 3-6, 3-6. Alex Billingham & Julie Kelly playing at 3 against the Lymington 3's romped away to win the first set 6-0 then held their nerve to see out the second set 6-4. In the Ladies doubles, Ola and Estella had to concede their rubber to the Lymington 1's as Estella was not well enough to continue. However, Christine and Julie playing at 2 had another titanic tussle against the Lymington 2's, eventually winning 2-6, 6-1, 7-6. In the Mens doubles, Harry bravely soldiered on, playing at 2 with Steve and beat the Lymington 2's 6-3, 7-6. Pete & Alex, playing at 1 then completed a more routine 6-1, 6-3 win against the Lymington 1's. So a decisive 6-2 overall win in the end and another season guaranteed next year in Div 1. A win in the last match on 7 September against Compton could even see us finish 3rd!”
One more thing to remember: entries for the Quiz will close soon so do contact our Chairperson lady and register your team. I will have some news on this after the next committee meeting which is imminent I believe. And remember to include FINAL’S DAY in your social calendar: Sunday 8th September – sooner than you think!
Finally, you may have noticed that from time to time Paul turns up at the club on his bike. I am quite concerned that he may be influenced by the cyclist who has just set a new speed record of 174 mph. Paul cycling up from Southampton at that speed might take only 3 minutes but speed limits apply to cyclists as well as tennis coaches so please do not try this at home
Next Week: Wednesday 28th August: Senior men’s B at home to Portswood. Saturday 31st August: Apsley A away to Winchester A. Sunday 8th September: FINAL’S DAY and end of season party all day at the club!
Title: Booba: 2005 (a French Rapper who was shot at this week).