October 15, 2019
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CURTC visit Hatfield House in the East Anglia Pennant
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Yesterday’s visit to Hatfield House Tennis Club was very successful! We can agree that they were a very hospitable and friendly team, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
First up was Andrew Barker who won 6-0 with the benefit of a generous handicap. Next up was Sonja Badenhorst who also convincingly won. We then had Alan Sharpe playing who narrowly suffered the only defeat of the evening. Finally, Richard Jones came out on top in a thrilling contest; gaining a third win for the Club out of 4 matches.
Just when we thought that the evening could not get any better, our double games commenced with Alan and Andrew winning 8-4 comfortably. Sonja and Richard matched this result 8-4.
Well done again!
Andrew, captain for the night
Andrew Barker
Photo credits Alan Sharpe
Green Court
Some more shots of the volunteers involved in the Green Court transformation. Apologies to Simon (especially), John R, Val, Louise, Vix and Bella who evaded the camera’s gaze…
Green Court Heroes
Green Still Green
The CURTC interior design team turned its attention to the Green Court over the Bank holiday and I’m sure that everyone will be pleased to know that the Green Court is still very much Green. In addition, the Penthouse planks now have ~700 more fasteners holding them in place, and the Penthouse, Galleries, Bandeau, Net Post, Grille and Chase lines have been refreshed.
After: The first game on the new Green Court
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And During:
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Special thanks to Kees and Simon who drove the whole process and the numerous volunteers who gave up their time.
The Wanderers…
…are a touring team from Down-Under and based in Ballarat (marker Kees’ alma-mater) but with representation from all-over Oz. They have returned to the UK this year to take in the East having swept through the West in 2016.
The Wanderers wandered in to the Home of Real Tennis last Saturday for a splendid afternoon of Tennis and trying to avoid (in my case) watching the drama unfolding at Headingley. “Don’t mention the cricket” was my pained request as we got underway at 1pm. for 6 Singles at 4 Doubles. The early going went in CURTC’s favour but helped by ‘Wanderer for the Day’ Ben from Adelaide, our visitors clawed back through a back and forth 8-7 win in the 2nd Doubles after we had finally got our nose in front to lead 7-6…
The denouement proved to be the final Doubles on the candy striped ‘Green’ Court with the match score tied at 4-all. The Wanderers took an early lead as the Cambridge pair refined their calling technique after a couple of shots fell uncontested down the middle of the Court. One point saw both pairs impressively switch positions mid rally and the marker very nearly lose it. Again the Cambridge pair (TK and Fiona Brown) led for the first time at 7-6 before Ben & Cora Trevarthen cranked it up a notch to take the set and our give our visitors a 5-4 win. Matters on Court concluded it was time to return to the Clubroom to thank Kees and hope that there was some Rosé left (there was) and the cricket was still not being talked about (the sound had been muted so I guess that was good enough)
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And then Sunday dawned, but I did promise not to mention the cricket…
Red, Green & Blue
When you next go to the club be prepared for a bit of surprise. (Assuming that Grange Road has reopened following the visit of a monstrous crane today.) The Car Park has lost its Green and the Blue Court is no longer as Red. On Saturday there was no Time for Questions as the CURTC Gardeners arrived with an astonishing assortment of hi- (and lo-) tech hoes, rakes, spades and forks. Within an hour or so the Green bins were full and Mark Hobbs was trying (once again) to get me to hit the ball over the Green Court net at least twice… Meanwhile the Blue Court continued its transformation into a hessian-free, brightly-painted and not-so-Red Court at the Home of Real Tennis. Everything is on track and the Court should be back to doing what it does best on Monday evening.
Many thanks to all who helped out, you can spot most of them* in the pictures below (click for larger versions).
 Blue Court, 10/8/19 |
 Terry and Other Gardeners… |
*missing are Photographer & Painter Kees, President & Painter Vix and Sustenance Provider Louise
Monster Alert
This monster has been spotted prowling up and down the Blue Court. The Gallery wall is being cleaned up and the remaining hessian removed by our valiant (and brave) tower crew of Simon & Kees. Then the painters will get started…
It looks like we are going to be in for a change of colour!
Jesmond Dene
They came from all parts, Nottingham, Hitchin, Hills Road and, yes, Newcastle by car, by bike, by rail although I don’t think anyone walked. But come they did for an entertaining day of Tennis and, dare I say it, Lunch. Of course, it would be churlish to travel all these different ways and win so our visitors were polite enough to leave the match tied at 3 apiece at the end of the regulation 50 overs. There was talk of a super-over or penalties or some other arbitrary count-back as they do elsewhere but we decided on lunch instead.
The MoD featured the CoD and only three setter (although in the spirit of transparency it was the only match scheduled for more than one set) in which Jacqui clinched the third 6-5 having lost the second 1-6. The DoD (dish of the…) was an apple strudel, courtesy of Ben’s mum, which given its Australian provenance should surely have been called an apple turnover… Talking of Ben’s mum, I asked where she was during our match. ‘Waching Jacqui’ was the reply ‘It’ll be far more exciting’. Oh well.
 CURTC, 3 – 3, JDRTC |
 Guess Who? |
Headbands, Wristbands, Elbow Band and a Cup
Charlie and James 2019 20s Category Finalists
Congratulations to all the other winners whose names will soon grace the Honours boards for far, far longer than their handicaps. The 2020 cycle starts again with the 70+ Tournament at the (very) end of November.
Thanks Peter for the photo!
The Dedanists
The Dedanists sponsor a lot of Junior and student Real Tennis including the Inter-Universities Real Tennis Cup here in Cambridge. They also play Real Tennis and last Saturday they visited the Home of Real Tennis for a 8 match of ‘Set to 10’ fixture. At the half way stage the Dedanists were ahead 3-1 and everyone had played the first of their two matches. We were ahead of schedule and although the games were closely fought there was nothing for the highlight reel.
5 of 7 Dedanists
That was about to change. The last 4 matches comprised 75 games. Which as I’m sure you, dear reader, will have worked out means that 3 ended up 10-9. Two of these were 40-all to boot. Here are some words from the 10-9 that ‘only’ got to 40-30…
I shall remember for some time the shot our Cambridge opponents made when we were serving at 30-40 9-9 all with a two yard chase. The ball hit the penthouse and fell dead at 1 yard. Such is the game!
In the final Singles, Cambridge were leading 9-all and 40-15, and defending a 2 yard chase. Undeterred, the Dedanists won with one of their namesake shots… into the Dedans, before taking the match. Meanwhile on Blue, not content with a single 9-all, 40-all point, we decided to go for two with the second being Hazard the Line!
 CURTC |
 Lunch! (Photo Credit: Carl Snitcher) |
While the schedule was not actually in ruins at this point, it was in a certain amount of disrepair. The fixture was perhaps fittingly was tied at 4-all and all that remained was to see if we had been left any lunch (we were) and if the strategic reserves of Rosé had been found (they had not).
A link to a Google Photos Album of the above pictures and more: Dedanists
Many thanks to our trio of markers and especially Peter for his tireless organisation.
Hyde ‘n Holyport
Several intrepid CURTC members made the trips to The Hyde, the UK’s western-most Court in Dorset. The Court has had a colourful history before being restored to its rightful purpose as a result of one of the first Lottery funded sports facility projects. It should be on everyone’s must visit list, IMO, and well worth the journey. In a great day of tennis, Andrew Petrie just fell short in a comeback from 1 set and 1-5 down, Nige Parslow, Dave Isherwood and myself all earned handicap improvements while The Hyde took one back in the Doubles. First a collage*…
Clockwise from top left: John Davies (Hyde), Dave isherwood (W), Andrew Petrie, Nige Parslow(W), Adrian Paterson (Hyde)
…and then please check out the full gallery by clicking on: The Hyde for the google photos album.
The following Saturday it was the rather closer Thames Valley for the match at Holyport. Their Club is thriving following a recent threat from developers and has a great Court including a scoreboard connected to the marker’s RT Marker scoring system.
A first for me were several ‘Dog on Court’ incidents. Here is the ‘culprit’ looking cute and safe, at the time, in the Dedans.
 Dog not stopping play |
 Holyport ? – ?? CURTC |
Scoring proved to be a bit problematic as the original schedule of 2 Sets per match was abandoned at 1 Set-all in the first match. Nonetheless is is probably safe to say that Anthony Bailey may (or may not) have been victorious, but myself and Andrew Snodgrass were definitely not while Tony Kennedy probably just lost. I’m counting our Doubles as an honorary draw as we slow burned from 5-1 down in the 2nd set while TK and Andrew did win their Doubles. Anyway, it was an excellent day of tennis and the lunch met the exacting standards of even our most picky travellers! Here’s the link to the google photos album: Holyport
 Tony Kennedy |
 Chris Figg (Holyport), Andrew Snodgrass, Conor O’Shea (Holyport), Tony Kennedy |
Many thanks to our Hosts for their Hospitality, Tennis, Marking and two excellent Lunches! We look forward to seeing them at the Home of Real Tennis in the equivalent weeks next year (if not before).
* Click on any image for a larger version!
Blue Court
Remember the Hessian?
Tower of Power
 Clean Team (minus Jim L) |
 Atten’shun |
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In case you missed the e-mails…
NW Brown Wealth Management Singles and Doubles League 2019
We are delighted to announce a new league which will run on Monday (<55 handicap) and Wednesday (>55 handicap) evenings from 6pm over July and August: the NW Brown Wealth Management Singles and Doubles League.
FORMAT: Teams will include 6 players, from which 4 will play in a given match. Players will participate in a singles match (1st to 8) and a doubles match (best of 3 sets) on each evening. Singles will be marked by the Pro, doubles will be self marked. Players will provide a light supper to share at the end of the evening.
COST: Summer Season Ticket (SST) holders: will only pay marking costs of £7.50/ player/ evening, Non SST holders: £22/ player/ evening
SIGN UP: Please sign up to this doodle
Summer Season Ticket (SST) 2019
The SST allows holders to book courts without court fees being charged during all times of the week – peak and off peak – over the period of 1st July 2019 to 31st August 2019 for an all-in fee of £75. The Club hopes that members taking advantage of this offer will observe the spirit of the offer and be careful about booking courts and then not using or cancelling them, even though there is no charge, so that as many players as possible can benefit.
The deal will apply from 1st July or the date full payment is received (cheque or BACS payment if your account is not already sufficiently in credit to cover the additional £75), whichever is the later.
If you are interested in taking up this popular offer please make the appropriate payment and sign up HERE
Cambridge Weekend
Cambridge Weekend Winners
Congratulations to Iain & Paulina (or should that be Paulina & Iain) who took the honours in the Cambridge Weekend Mixed Doubles. Our roving reporter aka Vix writes… Paulina & Iain beat Judy and visitor Freddie in the main event. Vix & visitor Malik beat Joss & Simon to win the Plate. Vix & Simon’s photo shows they are both normal height and that everyone else is just short..
 Paulina & Iain |
 Malik & Vix |
 Normal heighted Players |
 Kees splits the Winners! |
Thanks Ben for the photos!
Premier Final Wrap-Up
An eventful evening with some spectacular tennis ended with a resounding victory to the East. However it could all have been so very different if Mr Fixit, aka Jeremy Fairbrother had not been on hand to fix some last-minute lighting issues…
 Mr Fixit saves the day |
 To the victor goes the spoils |
 Stream Team |
 East, PP, North |
Three Champs: World, CURTC Ladies, Amateur
and finally, the victorious East of Rob Fahey, MBE and Edmund Kay, PhD
Photo Credits: Vix Harvey
CURTC is grateful for the support of our Sponsors…
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…and Supporters!
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Giraffe Club: CURTC Alumni
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