Wetherby Tennis Club celebrated its 120th year on Sunday with a double header event that featured the annual Club Finals Day. Blessed with good weather the morning kicked off with a social tournament featuring a number of players who mixed in during three rounds . Some close matches and after the scores were added Peter Seed won the mens event with ​​​​Fiona Chantrey taking the ladies. Well done to all who competed and hope our winners enjoyed their Chocolates! 

The crowds were gathering ahead of the afternoon Club Finals action and many enjoyed the BBQ ably managed by head chef  Mike Butterworth who did a tremendous job feeding the hoardes.

Play began at 1pm on the showcourt with a mouth watering Mens Doubles clash . Andy Jones and Fraser Cummings took on Rob Berry and Mike Graham.  This quartet have been very influencial during the summer helping our York and Leeds mens first teams to promotion as well as featuring prominently for our mixed first teams. Little between the pairs during an exciting opening set before Andy and Fraser sneaked home 7-5. This proved to be pivitel as the duo sensed blood and looked keen to finish their opponenets off. Mike was hitting some incredible double handed back hand winners whilst Rob was defending for his life. However Fraser was producing arguably his best tennis of the season and with some outstanding play turned up the tempo. Jones is extremly consistent and very astute and they ran out cosy 7-5, 6-1 winners to great delight. 

Brilliant performance from Andy Jones and Fraser Cummings saw them lift the Mens Doubles.

Rob Berry and Mike Graham still smiling after taking runners up 

On Court Two Lara Fawcett kindly stepped in for the striken Rachel Hill and she partnered Yvonne Mannall against Lucy Wright and youngster Evie Pakin in the Ladies doubles. Very close during the opening exchanges before Evie showed her class and hard hitting. With Lucy proving a great partner showing consistency and strong will the pair began to take control. Lara was certainly not overawed and made some eye catching winners whilst Yvonne is always strong. However Evie and Lucy looked determined and finally lifted the trophy 6-2,6-2.

Evie Parkin and Lucy Wright proved a strong duo and lifted the Ladies Doubles together

Lara Fawcett as colourful as ever along with Yvonne Mannall took home a consolation bottle of wine as runners up. 

Court Three featured Ralph Tate v Sam Duffy in the Boys U18 final and what a titanic marathon match this proved. The watching parents and friends thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment as this clash went all the way to the wire.  With both players giving everything Ralph finally prevailed 7-6, 1-6, 10-6 and a big well done to both. 

 Well done Ralph and Sam.

Court Four saw the Boys U14 final and once again a third set was needed to seperate the players. More long lung busting rallies and with the sun shining the players were certainly challenged.Edge of the seat stuff before Josh Turton ran out a 4-6, 6-1, 10-6 winner and once more many thanks lads for your considerable efforts. 

Top stuff from Josh Turton and Toby Duffy

It was great to see many familier faces and special mention to two of our long standing members . Ann Jones is still playing and competing in our teams whilst Ian Teasdale was chairman and ran several teams at Wetherby before retiring. Lovely to see the pair enjoying the action and reminiscing together.

Evie Parkin was back on court as she took on another youngster Maddy Patel in the Ladies Singles Final. Once again so many excellent rallies but Evie produced some awesome left handed winners that proved too good for a gallant Maddy who continues to improve and has made an impact at team level this summer. Well done girls and Evie collected her second trophy of the day 6-0,6-1.

Andy Jones had given so much in the Mens Doubles that his appearance in the Mens Final was in question. However after rest and treatment he passed his fitness test to take on reigning champion Richard Whaley. Richard had captained the York first team mens to the York League Division 2 title and is always a very tricky player to face. He is able to maintain long raillies often grinding opponents into submission with strong fitness. Jones knew he would have to produce a gameplan to combat this and with some eye catching serve and volly tactics took the opener 6-2. Richard was also nursing a toe injury and credit to the chaps for producing a mamoth effort in the second set. This really was one of the best mens singles finals we have witnessed as the chaps played through the pain barrior , neither willing to show the white flag. Finally after multiple match points Jones celebrated a 6-2, 7-5 success.

Our luck ran out with the weather during the Mixed Doubles Final. Mike Graham and Yvonne Mannall led Seb Lobley and Evie Parkin 6-4, 1-3, 30-0 when the heavens opened and with the courts unplayable we will resume this contest at a later date.  

Thanks to David Beaumont for polishing the trophies, never seen them looking so gleaming! 

 Thanks as always to Mike Triffitt for organisng the Club Tournaments. This season however a very big thanks and appreciation to Brad Triffitt who helped run, chauffeur me around, get the trophies engraved , arrange the prizes and generally prove a godsend whilst I was hobbling around!