May 21, 2025
Membership of CURTC is open to all, very much town as well as gown. We love welcoming new members of any age. This ancient and intriguing game is fast or slow, tactical, subtle and addictive. One of our professionals (Kees, Peter and Mark) is usually here 9am – 5pm on weekdays or 9am – 12 noon on Saturdays, they will be happy to explain and encourage.
We offer free taster lessons in small groups usually on the first and third Wednesday each month at 12:30pm and 5 or 6pm. Just register your interest with the pros, in person, by telephone, 01223 357106 or by email curtcpros@gmail.com
The Graduate Cup is CURTC’s premier handicap competition and was first played in 1875! The Honours Board may be a bit faded but includes many luminaries of CURTC membership past and present. James Dowson and Danny Lawrence had battled through the group stages and emerged from the KO rounds earlier this year as the 2024/25 Graduate Cup finalists. Who would prevail and earn the coveted spot on the Honours Board?
James had a significant handicap disadvantage but was clearly in form having been triumphant the previous day in the Cambridge Mixed Doubles. The ever smiling Danny however never gives up… James drew first blood but games were traded until 2-all. At which point Danny eked out a two game lead before being pegged back to 6/5. Maybe the previous day of ~160 mins on court caught up with James but Danny prevailed in taking the final two games of a keenly played contest. The stream can be found here: https://youtu.be/-6zGcwc4RaA?t=6410
The final of the final CURTC’s 2025 Category Tournaments was played last Sunday when Ed Pearson and Roly Denman met in the 20-29.9 handicap Category Tournament. The other Category tournaments are played on a single day but thanks to the endeavours of 20 something handicapper, Charlie D’Oyly, the 20’s used a format based on longer matches. A good crowd filles the Dedans and Clubroom, not just drawn by the prospect of Charlie’s generously provided croissants.
The match started with s series of extended restes as both players seemed determined to get in early. However, each reste needed to be won at least twice such was the quality of the defence. However, Roly prevailed on a couple of extended deuces and built a 5-1 lead. However, Mr Mo had clearly seen enough from Roly’s side and alighted onto Ed’s shoulder as he clawed his way back to 5-4. Ed saved a set point but Roly followed up with a force of forces to take the set. Mr Mo stayed put as Ed took the first two games and the crowd sensed that this could go to a third. However Roly slowly took control with a consistency of shot making that made Ed’s task increasingly difficult.
Many thanks to both players for such a high quality and entertaining match, Peter for his marking and organisation and Charlie for driving the tournament and the croissants! The livestream can be rewatched here: https://youtu.be/-6zGcwc4RaA?t=1092
Many thanks to the Leamington match manager, Paul Brennan, for sharing his report!
Leamington fielded a team of nine for the weekend’s match against Cambridge for an engaging day of Doubles – first to 10 – and Singles – first to 8. Adam Stokes and Ian Calvert were first up in the Doubles on the more familiar Blue Court, cunningly lulling our guests into what we all hoped would be a false sense of security with a 10 -4 defeat. Meanwhile, on the tricky Green Court, Rachel Hollington secured an impressive 8-2 victory over Cambridge match manager, Christie Marrian, dispatching Christie’s serve with a series of devasting volleys into the forehand corner. Rachel carried her good form across into her Doubles fixture, with Will “the Stork” Windham, resplendent in white silk stockings, in support, partnering her to a 10-9 victory in an enthralling encounter.
Back on the Green Court, LTCC match manager Paul Brennan, in spite of intermittent displays of competence and the thunderous imprecations that accompanied his various misfortunes and misjudgements, went down 8- 4 against an opponent, who, in his grey shorts, showed all the signs of having once been a very accomplished squash player. Next up in the Singles Adam Stokes, flummoxed by a quick surface and a back wall that is both considerably less susceptible to spin off the side wall and far more rewarding of cut than Leamington’s court, quickly succumbed, as did Roy Rogers who succeeded him, his difficulties compounded by a knee injury, he says, sustained early on. At this point the match stood at 4 – 2 to Cambridge.
Back on the Blue Court, William Hollington and Natalie Barber kept the Leamington challenge alive, winning out 10-8 in the match of the day against the talented Jin Lee, fresh from representing Cambridge in the Varsity Match, and the nameless grey-shorted former squash player. Whilst William gave a beautiful demonstration of how to pay the game with superior anticipation, guile and finesse, Natalie over-powered her opponents with a series of volleys, equally forceful on both the back-hand and forehand sides. Sadly, after such an exacting encounter, William wasn’t able to maintain the same degree of precision in his second Doubles encounter which followed immediately afterwards and Brennan was to prove a poor substitute for Natalie. Better things were on the way from Roy Rogers in the Doubles partnered by Colin Murray making his first appearance of the day, winning out 10-5 thanks in no small part to some forceful forehand drives.
Colin’s Singles match was a David and Goliath affair, in which Colin played the giant’s part, felled by Leandros Georgoulis, a youthful and diminutive opponent, and one of the rising stars of CURTC’s youth academy. Next up on the Green Court Ian Calvert also struggled with the conditions, and the day started to slip away from Leamington’s grasp. Natalie too, in her singles encounter with Jin Lee was not quite able to reprise her form from earlier in the day. In the final rubber, Will, the Stork, got into something of a flap, failing to produce the quicksilver display of which he is capable, However, true to the club’s traditions, and nourished by Cambridge’s generous hospitality, the Leamington contingent remained ebullient in spite of succumbing to an overall 9-4 defeat on the day.
Tellingly the match was lost in the rubbers on the Green Court, where Cambridge won 5 -1. The other notable statistic is that a member of the extended Hollington clan was a participant in each of the ties which we were the victors. We look forward to welcoming the Cambridge Team up here next year and bamboozling them in return with our beloved court’s superior bounce and fizz.
Paul Brennan LTCC
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Group matches: Lots of 7-alls and a nail-biting quarter final also going to the last possible game!
Semis: 8/7 Josh Elliott beat Colin Clifton-Brown, great match Colin came back from 5/2 down to lead 6/5 and looked have all the momentum then Josh turned it round to win 8/7 after having 2 match points. In the other semi, Dave Millward beat Jin Seok Lee 8/6. Jin made a few mistakes in the end. This meant we had two newbies in the final with Josh prevailing 8/3, Dave started to get into it and had a big game to close it down to 5/3.
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Peter
Ulla Petti (CURTC) and Simon Edmond (RTC) won the Billy Ross-Skinner Cup at Hatfield House. They overcame Katie Leppard (Oxford) and Henry Stuttaford (Hatfield) 2/6, 6/5, 6/3, countering their opponents strong position at the start of the match.
Kees
Rear: Jim, Charlie, Chris, Tom, Ollie, Mark, Kees, Peter
Front: Nina, Olivia, Anna, Valerie, Lucy, Martha, Theodora
A light blue tide swept through CURTC last Friday and Saturday. Our visitors battled man (and woman) fully but faced a strange court and a strong and focussed Cambridge squad. Some great tennis and a splendid atmosphere!
Many thanks to the Cambridge Pros for their marking along with Pol Roger and the Giraffe Club for their support to make it happen.
On to Lord’s next weekend for the Varsity match as we continue one of Real Tennis’ great rivalries.
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Friday Stream: Part 1 and M3 Singles
Saturday Stream: M1D onwards (Apologies but the gremlins were out in force for the W2D)
Live Stream should be available starting at 1:30pm today, Friday February 21st, on the CURTC YouTube channel HERE
Check back for updates and more
SCORES
It was a tough start to the day. All roads southbound seemed to be closed and there was no reliable information to indicate that Bella would be awake or even reachable in her student fortress. On top of this, Ian was due in at Reading Station at 0930 but had no idea his ride was a ‘rural’ and somewhat ‘cosy’ automobile complete with student, dog and half of the mud in Newton. Luckily he had his finest flat cap, a solid trench, and nerves of steel as Vix’s Dacia Sondero ‘Stepway’ found its stride in the narrow lanes and steep slopes of Berkshire. The temperature dropped another 10 degrees as we arrived at Hardwick House, and we all added some layers; but the short car ride, two coffees for the seniors and an incident with coffee and tennis whites for the student had everyone energised and raring to go.
Vix and Bella paired up first and took a set off the experienced Tomalins. Still in ‘AM mode’, however, Bella found herself flagging in the second set, just as the Tomalins were powering through with home court advantage. Match 1 to Hardwick.
Ben G and David P were up next, although running slightly ahead of schedule there was some anxiety as to whether David had been scuppered by rail replacement services, closed roads or some other misfortune. Ben warmed up the opposition and sure enough David arrived, bang on time, fresh off the back of what appeared to be a fabulous evening out. This formidable pair of hard hitters threw themselves around the court with David winning match point atop of the fully committed Ben G, who had body slammed into the ground to leave the field clear for his partner’s glory shot.
Ian and Hardwick defector Fergus were up next and looking to put Cambridge ahead before lunch. Unfortunately Ian had a touch of trauma from the journey still; although finding excellent form, the pair made a few too many mistakes, leaving the opposition to sneak through to victory 2 sets to 1.
Cambridge finished the morning session slightly despondent but lunch was next and Pam T had cooked up a storm; the Cambridge men dedicated themselves to the task. Not a drop was left of either the chicken or the booze. Ian looked surprised to be playing again, and somewhat disappointed to move from his spot in front of the fire, surrounded by cheese, wine and bread and butter pudding; but with the terrific encouragement of David and his relentless good humour, he took to the court with an additional spring in his step: the pair ran away with an excellent set to 8 (very sensible post lunch match format).
Bella and Vix were up next. Very firmly now in the “PM hours”, and replete with her first actual meal since Christmas, Bella found her feet moved and remembered the cut shot. Mother-daughter duo overcame a tough handicap to take the set.
Bella then teamed up with our ringer Fergus. The final pair had the most fun match of the day, against an experienced and much lower handicap team. It was an excellent match but with a friendly handicap Cambridge were able to secure the final set, thereby winning the fixture 4 matches to 2.
Huge thanks to Pam for the delicious food, Peter for the organisation and much of the marking, and the whole Hardwick team for their generous hospitality, blazing fire and excellent company. A great court to visit!
Peter
Felicity’s railroad combined with her excellent length game from the hazard end was too strong for the field. She won 6/1 in the semi and final versus Leandros and David Isherwood respectively. In the other semi, Dave eased past John Lees 6/3.
Full Results: HERE
Many thanks to John Trapp who provided a fabulous spread for lunch.
Kees
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