The force of nature that is Pauline McFadden continued her extraordinary run of success at the club finals on Saturday 21 July.
With temperatures in the high twenties Pauline could be forgiven for taking it easy as she contested three finals - she didn't of course, and won all three of them!
Her marathon day began with what is becoming the traditional ladies singles final against Sally Platt - it's the fourth consecutive year that these two have contested the final. Pauline and Sally traded service breaks to tie the first set up at 3-3, but Pauline pulled away to take the set 6-3, though she had to stave off a break point in the final game.
The second set hinged on the fifth game when Pauline broke to take a 3-2 lead. From that point she never looked back, taking the next three games and the match 6-3,6-2 - her 16th singles title, and her 15th in the last 16 years. But there is some consolation for Sally - the five games she won are more than she'd managed in any of her previous three finals....keep going Sally - you're getting closer!
Pauline then had a welcome break, as did the healthy crowd of members and guests with the barbecue and bar in full swing, plus a popular tombola run by young Penny Mortlock. And before the next final there was a presentation of a new umpire's chair to mark the passing of Audrey Allison last year. Audrey and husband John were the lifeblood of the club for many years, and donated the honours board in the clubhouse. Their daughters Julie and Denise generously provided funds for the new chair, and were on hand for the presentation and the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Audrey and John.
The mixed doubles final pitted the new pairing of Joy Walley and Arran Reavley against Pauline and Dan Hockley. In an entertaining match, Joy and Arran led 4-2 only for Pauline and Dan to peg them back and force a tie break. Again Joy and Arran nudged ahead but let a 4-0 lead slip as Pauline and Dan fought back to take the breaker 7-5.
The second set was a more straightforward affair. Pauline and Dan always had their noses in front and saw out the match 7-6,6-2.
A delicious high tea followed that, but whether Pauline was able to enjoy it is debatable - she still had one more final to go...
Pauline and Margaret Bennett were bidding for a sixth doubles title in succession against Jenny Phillips and Mary-Anne Mackenzie. This was a first final for the sisters' pairing, though both had won the title before with different partners.
While Jenny had taken a professional approach to the match, keeping herself alert by sinking cans of Red Bull, Mary-Anne had preferred the red wine option! And perhaps she was a little too relaxed as Pauline and Margaret won the first set to love.
Things looked up for the sister act in the second set. Signs of improvement had been there at the end of the first, when Margaret had needed six deuces to get over the line. And when Jenny held serve in the first game of the second they were on the board at last.
It got better and the sisters were two points from levelling the match with Jenny serving at 5-3 and 30-love. But it's never easy to close out when Pauline is on the other side of the net. She and Margaret fought back to break and eventually force a tie break, which they won easily. So a 6-0, 7-6 win and a clean sweep of titles for Pauline.
It's worth digesting Pauline's numbers: 16 singles titles, 8 doubles titles, 5 mixed doubles titles - 29 in all. Remarkable...
While Pauline has been monopolising the honours board since 2003 there have been ten different men's singles champions in that time. This year saw James Philpott and Nic Mogford-Revess seeking to regain the title as both had won it twice before - and this was a rematch of the 2015 final won by James.
It was an eagerly anticipated encounter. However James chose a novel way of preparing for the final, spending the morning of the big match installing a bathroom and lugging around a cast iron bath! Not an approach that features in too many coaching manuals, and James saw his hopes disappearing down the plughole as Nic won the first set without dropping a game.
James got his act together in the second, leading 2-0 and 3-2. But an extremely determined - and noisy - Nic reeled off the next four games to win 6-0,6-3 and claim his first singles title since 2014.
In the men's doubles regular A team pairing Charlie Cade and Prav Reddy took on Dan Hockley and Gwil Flint Roberts. Dan and Gwil started strongly, took a 3-0 lead and saw out the first set 6-3. Charlie and Prav sniffed a comeback with Gwil serving at 3-1 up but love-40 down. But Gwil wriggled off the hook, held serve and he and Dan took the set and the match 6-3,6-3.
It was another hugely enjoyable day in perfect weather. Congratulations to all the finalists for providing such great entertainment, a big thank you to Paul Smith for organising the tournament, and to Club President Carole Lee for performing her Master (Mistress?) of Ceremonies duties so capably. And to everyone who helped before, during and after the event. It's amazing what you can achieve when people pitch up and muck in!
Neil Bowker
Onslow Village Lawn Tennis Club