January 12, 2026
- Riya Bharwad wins the LRTA Under 21 singles at Radley
- Godsill and Glasscock (almost!) win the Doubles Double
- CAMBRIDGE WIN AWAY AT MIDDLESEX!
- National League on Friday (17th)
- East Anglia Cup, 28/6/25 at Newmarket
- East Anglia Cup+ 2025 @Newmarket
- FLM IRPTA National League, Division 9: Final
- Leamington Visit Redux
Jesmond
Some familiar faces (and magnificent weather) greeted us in Jesmond after a fairly dismal drive on Saturday morning although what on earth I was thinking in arranging this trip on a bank holiday weekend is a very good question. The dismalness of the drive was only surpassed by the dismalness of the news coming from Test Match Special at Lord’s with a similar ‘what on earth was he thinking?’ question never far from one’s mind.
On Court we arrived to find poor Dave being helped into the changing room after a stirring comeback from 4-0 down had been cut short. Kate Kirk got Cambridge back to winning ways by refusing to be intimidated by her opponent’s repeatedly returning everything. However, the CURTC husband and wife pairing was not a success this time in the subsequent Doubles. Suffice it to say Guy did not have the best of days on Court having manpersonfully driven us for 5 1/2 hours up the A1.
I had a rather better day and actually had some success targeting the Grille for once! However the ‘match of the day’ was my teaming up with Bernie in the Doubles. We started ok against some strong (and youthful) opposition but couldn’t keep the serve and trailed 3-6 and 5-7. The wind changed (or something did, anyway) and we levelled the score, by keeping the serving end more effectively. Bernie was on fire and served out the last game with my only touch of the ball being when I handed him one between points! Alas it was too much for our hero and the final Singles went Jesmond’s way.
Jesmond, 6 – 3, CURTC
Scott & Kerry joined us for a splendid meal in the evening before we retired to our mercifully fairly quiet hotels on Osbourne Road. Some ‘hangover’ Doubles in the morning set us up for lunch al fresco (apparently the weather is like this all the time in Newcastle…) and a far less dismal (news from Lord’s not withstanding) journey back by train. We look forward to welcoming Jesmond on May 19th next year (if not sooner).
Cambridge Weekend, sponsored by our good friends at Pol Roger
Vixtorious Team B: Chris Evans & Evelyn Fleming, Jim Ludekens & Vix Harvey, India Blaksley & Alex Ridgeon
Pol Roger: Action Shot
Team Mixed Doubles
We try to make sense of it all…
A Grade Doubles
Stephen Doel
Charles Harcourt
Charles & Stephen, off Court
Eventually it was all sorted out, bottles of Pol Roger were handed out to our worthy winners (thanks Pol!), we imbibed the rest and I went back to Cambourne which was where I had started the day…
Real Tennis World Championship
Championship Point….
The scoring in Real Tennis is broadly similar to Lawn Tennis although the game itself is radically different. It would take too long to explain those differences here so please Google it if you want to know more. The World Championship is played every two years and this year was held at the Queen’s Club in London. Rob Fahey made it to the final to challenge Camden Riviere for the title. The final is best of 13 sets and is played over three separate days.
On Tuesday it looked as Riviere’s new dominance would continue as he finished the first session 3 sets to 1 in the lead. On Thursday in the second session amazingly Rob Fahey won all 4 sets to earn himself an overall 5-3 lead. Only two more sets needed and he would be World Champion once again!
In the third and final session on Saturday it did not start well for Fahey when he lost the first set 6-5 after leading 4-0 and 5-2. Riviere won the second set 6-0 to square things up at 5 sets all and it looked as if those of us watching in Cambridge would soon be applauding gallant runner up Rob Fahey and murmuring what a great World Champion he had been in the past but how even he couldn’t combat the passing of the years. (Something most of us in the audience were all too familiar with!)
But we of little faith were made to eat our thoughts as Fahey won the next two sets 6-3, 6-3 to take the match 7 sets to 5! He won the final point by hitting the ball into the winning gallery – you’ll have to Google that as well. There was much jubilation at CURTC as Rob Fahey was once again World Champion – two days short of his 50th birthday. Although he was born in Hobart, Tasmania, Rob is very much seen as the ‘local lad’ at the Cambridge club. He played several seasons for the Cambridge team and was frequently seen around the club where he was well liked by everyone who met him. He is a worthy Champion and hopefully the wider sporting world will give him the recognition he deserves.
I love playing Real Tennis and now know what a delight it can be to watch as well – even if (no, ‘because’) it was unrecognizable as the same game I play. The play was of the supremely highest level and Rob Fahey’s victory and the manner in which he achieved it must rate as the finest comeback in Real Tennis and arguably across all sports.
Dave Dove
Booted in Wellington
Wellington, More – Less, CURTC
Inspired by a great afternoon at CURTC watching the denouement of the RT World Championship, streamed from Queen’s, it was off to Wellington to put newly found inspiration into practice. Wellington is now even bluer, is crest free (on the main wall at least) and has a newly polished floor that looks almost marble like (but it isn’t). Each match lasted one hour which explains some of the odd scores and I think I was convinced that we had not won at the end of it all. Singleswise, I did not have a good day (to put it mildly). My thanks to the Wellington marker Adam for not including the score of 3rd set that I also lost during our 55 minutes on Court. Liz took pity on me at that point and decided that the extra 5 minutes would be better spent on lunch. And I won the first game…. Doubleswise it was a different story. Funny ol’ game!
More to come….
….and here’s the more….
CURTC visit the bluer than blue Wellington
Captains’ Challenge, 2018
Olivia Chesser and Matt Shaw, this year’s Varsity Captains, set the tone for last night’s Challenge right from the first reste of a dozen or so (I lost count) hard hit shots. I almost felt sorry for Matt as he withstood a series of hard struck volleys from the Hazard end. Olivia rushed (there was nothing slow paced about the game) to a 4-1 lead mostly from that Hazard end, defying the conventional wisdom that in these sort of matches you really want to serve. Olivia finally did get the serve and incredibly Matt began to creep back. He was banned chases worse than 3 (which had to be explained to someone in the Dedans who really should have known to which of the two players this applied…). I couldn’t understand why Olivia wasn’t leaving anything but when she finally did, it fell better than 3 such was Matt’s accuracy. Grilles were traded but Matt clawed back to 4-all and inched ahead 6-5. But Olivia was totally unperturbed by a few unreturnable shots and serves and kept volleying anything she could. A few mistakes crept into Matt’s game as he hit the Tambour (and Hazard 2nd) at crucial points and just lost a short chase. The last reste was just like the first only with Olivia serving. Both players made some astonishing retrieves before Matt hit one that could be safely left….
Congratulations to both players and Olivia on her 8-6 victory. The Varsity Ladies now lead the Captains’ Challenge 2-1.
Olivia Chesser & Matt Shaw, CURTC Captains’ Challenge, 2018 (click on image for larger…)
More from Moreton
The National Category tournaments took place last weekend and CURTC were represented in at least one of them, Category C at Moreton. JC made it to the final but was pipped in three sets by Freddie Dixon. Thanks Keith!
Jimmy on Court at Moreton Morrell
Pol Roger Final 2018
Cambridge did not make it to the Pol Roger Trophy Final this year but three recent Alumni did….
MCC beat RTC 3-2 in the Final. Thanks to Keith Beechener for the photos and the observation that we seem to have forgotten to engrave ‘Cambridge’ on the Trophy as last year’s winners. Here’s a small reminder anyway…
Finals Day Images
Clk’wise from top left, 20, 70+, Graduate Cup, Ladies, 60, Juniors, 30, 50, 40
Finals Day, 2018
Part 3
Following links will open Google Photos Galleries of the individual pictures
Thanks again to our Finals Day sponsor Hannay-Robertson Financial Planning and Pol Roger.
Finals Day Wrap-up
TK’s psychiatrist, Camice Revier, and his motivational coach, Richard Jones, enthuse over the standard of play…
Up, up, up… and unreturnable
Competition time: Spot the shoes…
The velcro ball trick…
Finals Day also saw the CURTC Ladies Championship with Vix Harvey and Venetia D’Arcy playing in a rare Cambridge final where both players have the first initial V. Venetia stormed through the first set while politely letting Vix win a couple of games after taking a 3-0 lead. The second set was closer as Vix’s relentless return of serve volleying put Venetia under pressure while at the other end Vix got her serve creeping along the floor and/or back wall. It was tied up at 4-all and we were looking at a third set. But Venetia had seen enough, ramped up the determination level to 11**** and now will have her name engraved on the coveted plate for a second time.
*OK, I admit I have never had the pleasure or otherwise of seeing JC on the dance floor so this comment is just semi-informed speculation
**Charlie, please note I have made no mention of the actual Cups (except for this one of course)
***Confirmed by extensive DF research. Thanks to TK for letting me know.
****If Spinal Tap doesn’t mean anything to you, ask a grand parent
Results of Finals Day sponsored by Hannay Robertson Financial Planning 17 March 2018
- 70+ Helena Tunks beat Matthew Johnson 8-1
- 60+ Tony Kennedy beat Kate Kirk 8-3
- 50+ Robin Faux beat Jim Ludekens 8-2
- 40+ Will Boys-Stones beat Nigel Parslow 8-4
- 30+ Andy Smith beat John Firth 8-3
- 20+ Jimmy Campbell beat Charlie D’Oyly 8-2
- Ladies Club Championship Venetia D’Arcy beat Vix Harvey 6-3 6-4
- Graduate Cup Donald Fung beat Hugh Markus 8-3
- Junior Championship U16 Alex Peake beat Isabella Harvey 8-1
- Junior Championship U18 Jim Ludekens beat Andrew Barker 8-6
Congratulations to one and all!
Jim Ludekens
Important to be on your toes when on Court
Finals Day, Saturday March 17th
Yes, CURTC’s Finals Day, sponsored by Hannay Robertson Financial Planning takes place tomorrow starting at 9:30am. There will be 10 finals including two Junior Club Championships, six Category tournament Finals, the CURTC Ladies Championship and Graduate Cup Final.
Please drop in and lend your support if you possibly can!
Varsity Match live stream
You can watch the Varsity match live stream from Lords here:
Click on link if video player doesn’t appear…
Varsity Match Update
Not going Cambridge’s way in the Ladies Varsity but our team are at a serious handicap disadvantage. Kudos to Helena & Alexandra who grab a set in the 2nd Doubles!
1-All in the Men’s after the Doubles. Well played Matt & Will who take the second Doubles in 3 sets! 1st Doubles goes to the other place, 6-4 in the 5th….
20’s and 30’s complete the Finals Day Line-up
JC & CD’O through but MP’s off skiing
Andy Smith & John Firth will be competing for a place on The Honours Board after a closely fought 30’s Category Tournament. Meanwhile Jimmy Campbell will no doubt be equally confident in his rematch with Charlie D’Oyly in the 20’s final having edged that crucial ’15th’ game. All the Category Finals plus the Graduate Cup, CURTC ladies Championship and the two CURTC Junior Championships will all take place on the Hannay-Robertson Financial Planning sponsored Finals Day, Saturday, March 17th. Please come along and support if you can! It will all start at 9:30am.
Road Trips 2: Hardwick House
HHTC
Again, CURTC showed exemplary courtesy in graciously allowing our hosts a 2-0 lead after the first two matches. Not only were these matches lost, they were lost so rapidly that an extra set was possible within each time slot. Certainly things had warmed up by this point in the Dedans and our third paring of John Bailey & Andrew Snodgrass didn’t hang around and returned the favour of an extra set having won the first. Nonetheless I thought it wise to try to negotiate a ‘Plate’ competition for these second sets where we were being rather more successful.
However, the tide had turned and the match score was evened up in convincing fashion by Ben Geytenbeek & Dave Isherwood who got us well ahead of schedule with a 8-0 victory while, I’m sure they would be the first to admit, being the beneficiaries of a correct but generous handicap.
At this point we returned to the court but in different pairings for the second half and CURTC was frankly unrecognisable from the first two matches. The only loss was a close 8-7 (after holding a 7-6 lead) but the rest of the matches went convincingly our way. Lunch was a splendid affair, with a blazing fire and tennis to add to the ambience. The final scores are below followed by a summary collage of action on the Court.
Hardwick 3 – 5 CURTC
CURTC @HHTC, 25/2/18
Many thanks to our generous hosts and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Home of Real Tennis next year. And finally a google photos gallery with the above photos and more.
CURTC is grateful for the support of our Sponsors…
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…and Supporter!
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Giraffe Club: CURTC Alumni
You Told Us….