The week must be overshadowed by the wonderful Final’s Day we enjoyed on Sunday but there was a bit of action on Saturday too. Photo: A couple of Finalists in one event at Final’s Day because Apsley B didn’t take one!
Straight to the action on Sunday when, after frantic activity by a range of volunteers to ensure everything was ready for the players three matches started at 0930. Straight into action were Kabir Patwardhan and Marcin Kornijczuk who enjoyed a good hour of tennis before Marcin’s hours of practice with big sister Magda resulted in a 4-0, 4-0 win in the Boy’s 12 & under. Meanwhile Sam Ardley was engaged with Ashton Kerslake, Ashton putting up solid resistance against a stronger opponent but Sam’s experience won through for a 6-0, 6-3 win. Next door was Freddie Swain playing the gallant Tom Gibbs who found himself in the final due to the withdrawal of his semi-final opponent. He had enjoyed his road to the final and did win some points but Freddie’s quality shone though for a 6-0, 6-0 victory. The story of the morning was on Court 4 where Anu Bamodu was playing Jemma Chapman in the Girl’s Challenge (for the less experienced girls). On paper Anu should have won but found herself playing second fiddle to Jemma in the first set losing 6-3. Anu came back strongly in the second to lead 5-0 at which point we were all expecting a tie-break. Fifteen minutes later Jemma tied up the match 6-3, 7-5 - every player will have experienced such a meltdown so Anu must not feel down about it happening. It was all down to Jemma who found confidence to impose her will on the match – she will not be playing for this trophy next year so you will have a chance then Anu.
While all this was going on the Green ball timed-tennis event was being played out on the Theatre Courts. Joshua Cutmore, Deane Hughes, Charlie Chambers, Thomas Randall-Coles, Daniel Scott and Luca Chmarny battled for two hours from which Thomas Randall-Coles emerged the winner by one game over Charlie Chambers with Deane Hughes third. Great competition admirably supervised by Leon. On the Mini courts the Reds played a 10 point tie-break Round-Robin. Mayo Bamodu, Arthur Chin-O’Neill, Benjamin Shore and Benjamin Lax had great fun but there had to be a winner and ben Lax came out top with Mayo Bamodu in runner up slot. Six year-old Arthur was playing his first competition but had a great time and by his second match started to win some points! This was wonderfully organised by Johan Van Zyl Smit who as volunteered to help me over the next couple of years (and more I hope).
Back on court the Preliminary Men’s final was under way with Lindsay Ross taking on Stuart Ray in a very tactical match. They seemed to be out there for ages and the lunchtime finalists were warming up by the time they came off court with Stuart taking the honours 6-0, 6-2. Everything went smoothly during the presentations if you excuse my senior block referring to Kees de Groot as the runner-up: Kees was somewhat aghast at the mention of his name but it did create a memorable moment – for the rest of us anyway!
The main events suddenly arrived. Steve & Christine Johnston had switched from serving breakfast bacon butties to hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream – the first two between bread. We managed to tear Kees away from the food long enough to play the Intermediate men’s Final against Jon Francis which despite some stern resistance from Jon was won by Kees (or was it Lindsay?) 6-2, 6-1. On the next court was the Men’s Championship Final which was a repeat of the Consolation at the Hampshire Open Championship the week before last. This time it was Mats Colling, nursing a bruised knee, who came out top beating James Ardley 6-2, 6-2 in a pulsating and riveting match. On court 4 Anna Vinnell was after her first Girl’s Open Win against Nakshatra Sridhar who was coming back from a recent injury. Why is it that despite every effort organisers always get the court allocation wrong because this was an unbelievable contest. Anna took the first set 6-2 but Nakshatra came back in the second to win it 6-3. The tennis was superb and it continued into the match tie-break where Anna eventually came out on top 11-9! Anna has been waiting tow in the trophy for four years but either Magda or Martina has always got there first. John Vinnell was hiding in the car park avoiding the stress of the moment. Nakshatra was determined not to give up and kept Anna at her limits right to the end. Just to enhance this feats of top tennis Sam Ardley and Freddie Swain played out a Year 9/ Year 11 challenge: if you remember they played out a three-set thriller last year in the Year 9 final which Freddie won. This year Sam was taking no prisoners but again a three set thriller with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 10-8: every match they play is the same so we can look forward to next year’s Boy’s Year 11 final: sounds like an opportunity for a sweepstake!
Shall I finish off now or tell you about the other lunchtime action? Adult –Child contest was played out on the Mini-courts: if you have time next year come and watch as huge great parents and tiny (in comparison) children squeeze into the limited space. Peter & Josh Cutmore, Ben & Matt Lax, Marcin & Slavek Kornijczuk, Jamie & Matt Pitman and Nicolaas & Johan Van Zyl Smit. Leon managed to make sense of this chaos from which the Pitmans came out winners, Kornijczuks came second and Laxes came third. Not that it really mattered especially as we managed to lose the prizes!
The afternoon arrived by which time all the sausages had vanished and the burgers were almost sold out. The food in the pavilion looked as if vultures had visited (or my dog) so there was only washing up and little food waste. The Men’s Doubles featured Kees de Groot & Mark Wellby playing Justin Turner & Greg Cheeseborough who objected to being chased onto court because he was still eating his hamburger. Kees & Mark proved to be pretty dominant but in an entertaining match they came out winners 6-3, 6-0. Magda and Summers played an exhibition match which had no result and there was a Mixed Doubles timed-tennis round robin on the Theatre Courts that nobody won apparently: it was a draw (or they couldn’t work out a result). Looked a lot of fun though.
Johan meanwhile was supervising the Orange Ball Round-robin on courts 3 and 4. Guru Nagarajan, Henry Chin-O’Neill, Ingrid Van Zyl Smit and Oliver Coles had a lot of fun from which Guru emerged with a clean sheet, Henry (who was a guest) was runner-up and the other two had a good learning experience. Thanks again Johan for your efforts and generous time.
I have to also say thanks to everyone who came down to support their child, spouse, partner, grandchild or friends – you all helped make this a special day for me and everyone participating and volunteering their time. Thanks to the Chairperson lady, the coaches and Johan who gave up their time – oh and to Steve who’s backhand and forehand burger flip gets better every year. We also need to say thanks to the BBC for arranging a lovely day for us even if it was a bit chilly when we all arrived! I am assured there were about 70 people who attended (!), 40 burgers, 36 hotdogs, 50 bacon rolls and a mountain of sandwiches consumed! GREAT STUFF by any measure.
I suppose I should tell you that the Apsley B played Compton & Shawford at home on Saturday even though it wasn’t a great day for the team. Harry Thomas & Connie Allen lost 2-6, 2-6, Pete Colling & Ola Osuch lost 6-7, 1-6Mark Wellby & Estella Hurlock won 6-3, 6-3 and Steve Johnston & June Kelly lost 2-6, 1-6. If you do not want to suffer more trauma look away now! Then Connie & Estella lost 1-6, 1-6, Harry & Pete lost 0-6, 1-6 but Ola & Julie pulled off a 6-4, 6-2 win and Mark & Steve won 5-7, 6-4, 7-6. A 3-6 loss to our nearest rival teams that includes the Mum of one of our junior finalists!
Next week: Saturday 14th September: Apsley A at home to Riverside. Last match of the season but there will be a report the week after – you cannot escape that easily!
Title: written by LeShawn Daniel, 2012. A young songwriter who sadly passed away last week.