On Monday Senior Men’s A was scheduled at Avenue C and on Tuesday the Senior Ladies was at Victoria Park. On Saturday the Ladies Doubles was at David Lloyd West End, the Men’s A at Totton, the Men’s B at home to Riverside and Men’s C was at Littleton. On Sunday the Girl’s 14s was at Compton & Shawford and the Boy’s 16s at home to Swanmore. Photo: Boy’s 16s at home to Swanmore.

As far as I know the Senior Men’s and Ladies matches were not played this week due to rather inclement weather. Of course I could be wrong but have nothing to prove this much the same as I have no way of proving they didn’t either. Damn, I am now totally confused… there are no results on the Tournament Software sites so assume they were not played.

I know for certain that the Men’s A-TEAM did not play on Saturday at Totton, presumably due to the weather. On the other hand I do know that the Ladies Doubles and the Men’s C team did play but might prefer if I didn’t tell you the results – but I will anyway.

The Ladies travelled to David Lloyd West End Southampton (Hampshire Club to you and me) where they were fed chips. Before that the depleted team enjoyed changeable weather but probably indoors. Dita Mezihorakova & Summer Colling roared through their first match 6-0, 6-0 but Janet Butler & Frankie Colling lost an exciting match 6-4, 1-6, 0-1 with no third pair available to us. Dita & Summer then lost 4-6, 5-7 and Janet & Frankie won 6-0, 6-0. Final round Dita & Summer won 6-1, 6-2 but Frankie & Janet lost 1-6, 2-6. So a loss 3-6 but it could have been so much better if the other pair had been available to us.

The Men’s C travelled to Littleton for a not unpleasant total blitzkrieg. Lindsey Ross & Mike Thornton lost 1-6, 6-7 in a tight rubber, Chris Osbourne & Jason Gauci lost 2-6, 0-6 and Steve Thompson & Stuart Ray lost 1-6, 0-6. Lindsey & Mike then lost 1-6, 2-6, Chris & Jason lost another tight rubber 2-6, 6-3, 0-1 and Steve & Stuart lost a tight rubber 1-6, 6-7. To close out a miserable afternoon in horrid conditions Lindsey & Mike lost 0-6, 1-6, Chris & Jason lost 2-6, 2-6 but Steve & Stuart won 7-5, 6-3. Apparently Littleton is the bogey team of the C-team and added to that our squad played far below their best on the day.

The B Team managed to access the courts at Thornden despite the football tournament but had little joy from their afternoon out. Paul Stavely & Sam Harris started badly losing 2-6, 3-6, Ashton Kerslake & Mike Fish lost 2-6, 0-6 and Dan Kwiatkowski & Sam Ardley lost 2-6, 0-6. Paul & SamH then lost 1-6, 3-6, Ashton & Mike lost 0-6, 2-6 and Dan & SamA lost 1-6, 1-6. In the last round Paul & SamH lost 2-6, 2-6, Ash & Mike lost 0-6, 0-6 and SamA & Dan lost 3-6, 2-6. So overall not one of their better days.

The Boy’s 16s met a strong Swanmore squad on Sunday morning attracting a bunch of Footballers to watch the doubles! Ashton Kerslake lost 0-6, 1-6, Tom Gibbs and James Hurlock were both destroyed 0-6, 0-6 but Sam Foster put up a good fight but lost 3-6, 2-6. In the doubles Ashton & Tom lost 1-6, 3-6 and James & Sam lost 1-6, 0-6. It means we finished second of three as we won the first match by default!

The Girls 14s travelled to Compton & Shawford and luckily it was a short journey! Anu Bamodu lost her singles 1-6, 1-6 and Ioanna Skiada (standing in for her sister who has severely damaged a ligament in her knee) lost 1-6, 3-6: both were creditable scores against strong girls. They then lost their doubles 1-6, 0-6 but it was great experience with a much weakened Thornden team. On to next season.

Next week: Wednesday 19th June Senior Men’s B at Waterside, Thursday 20th June Senior Men’s A at Salisbury B, Saturday 22nd June Apsley A away to David Lloyd West End, Sunday 23rd June Regional Men’s #1 Team Tennis away at Oxford Sports (we need to either win this or lose more than 4 matches and DL Gloucester win all their matches so we are almost there). On Friday Leon C and his band play at Kimbridge Barn from 16:30 to 18:00.

Title: Dr John (Malcolm John Rebbennack) 1973. For those of you who don’t know Dr John played ‎R&B‎, ‎rock,; ‎blues‎, ‎funk‎ and ‎boogie-woogie, hopefully not at the same time. He was very influential in his time.