May 27, 2026
- A Comedy Of Errors Or It’s Not All About Winning
- CURTC Retain the East Anglian Pennant 2025/2026
- Interuniversity Tournament 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
CURTC vs Oxford: the ‘alternative’ varsity match goes to Cambridge
It’s always fun to play for CURTC in a match against another Club but it is always that much more ‘fun’ when the other Club is the ‘other’ place and Cambridge win…. Read More
Exhibition Match on Thursday 6th November
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE FRIENDS TO CURTC
Further to our “save the date” email last month, are the details below of this VERY SPECIAL event taking place next week at the Club :- Read More
Junior Lessons
Head Professional Kees Ludekens runs sessions on Sunday mornings for junior players to learn the game or to improve their skill levels
Junior lessons in the art of Real Tennis: Backhand
Junior drill: hitting it off the back wall
Rob Fahey exhibition matches
On Thursday 22nd May, a packed CURTC was treated to an exhibition of tennis featuring world champion Rob Fahey.
Picture courtesy of Cambridge News
Champagne Leagues, 2014
The success of the Champagne Leagues in their first four seasons means that Pol Roger, our favourite Champagne House, has agreed to extend its sponsorship of this most popular event for a further year! Read More
Old Rugbeians
The Ol’ Rugbeians came to town on April 12th, led by birthday boy Oliver Buckley.
In fact CURTC (Nick Heath and Gary Weller) showed estimable generosity to Oliver and Richard Bray by loosing their Doubles match 10-1 after winning the 2nd game. Simon Hirtzel (OR) and Kate Kirk came up with the match of the day in which games were traded from 4 all onwards. Inevitably the score reached 7 all and Simon edged the last game to take the tie. This was followed by the ‘feature’ match between Stephen Goss (OR) and James Thomas. Some great tennis but James was just overpowered while giving up 4 handicap points.
Over on the Green Court, things were going much better CURTC wise. Guy Kirk and Christie Marrian were on fire, well definitely hotter than luke warm, each winning their Singles matches 10-5. The Kirk/Marrian combo then took to the Court against their respective Singles opponents Michael Frith and John Huntingford to attempt to salvage a draw for CURTC. After a somewhat shaky start, Guy came up with the strategy to ‘Focus on Lunch’ which proved to be the difference as CURTC won 8-5 to draw the match 3-3.
Lunch followed and after a couple of recounts that too was declared a draw so an enjoyable days of tennis ended with honours even.
Christie Marrian
Cambridge Men take Varsity Real Tennis, Cambridge Ladies lose – but a star is born
Cambridge Men emerged victorious at this year’s Varsity real tennis match, which was fought out at Lord’s over two days last weekend. The Ladies team could not repeat the Men’s success, but fought hard all the way and put down a marker for 2015.
Cambridge Men Varsity Winners
Ed Kay, Jules Camp, Freddie Kalfayan, Jamie Giddins
The Cambridge men were favourites this year, and Captain Ed Kay, Jules Camp, Freddie Kalfayan and newcomer Jamie Giddins gave an imperious display, winning all their matches, singles and doubles, in straight sets. The Oxford players did their best, but the handicap differences in Cambridge’s favour showed as our players rarely lost more than two games in a set.
The handicap difference was reversed for the Ladies team of Emily Brady, Emma Lord, Sophie Morrill and Venetia D’Arcy, with the Oxford players having a significant advantage in every game. But Cambridge team newcomer Sophie, who only played her first competitive matches a couple of weeks before Varsity, stunned Oxford by winning her tie in straight sets. Sophie is clearly a star for the future, and the experts watching noted how she not only improved with every point, but also stepped up a gear as soon as her Oxford opponent started to get a hold in the second set. Cambridge number one seed Emily Brady took a set off the Oxford top seed, but, despite keeping up a relentless pace in the longest match of the weekend, eventually went down 4-6 in the final set.
Cambridge Ladies Varsity Players
Emily Brady, Emma Lord, Sophie Morrill, Venetia D’Arcy
and an interloper
The final results were 6-0 to the Men, and 1-5 to the Ladies.
Bring on 2015!
Paddy Ward is CURTC’s 30-39 Category Champion for 2014
There were only three entrants for the 30-39 this year, Julian Stafford, Nick Heath and Paddy Ward, so they played each other in a one-set-first-to-8-games round-robin event.
Category 30-39 Handicap Tournament entrants in the Blue Court
Paddy Ward, Julian Stafford, Nick Heath
Nick lost heavily to both of the others so the match that decided the tournament was the one between Julian and Paddy. The play ebbed and flowed, with Julian taking an 3-2 lead, only for Paddy to take the next three games to open up his own 5-3 lead.
Julian then won four games in a row to get himself within a game of the match (7-5). Paddy won the next two games to bring it back to even terms (7-7) and at 30-all in the final game Julian served a swirling, spinning, vicious twister and all Paddy could do was act in self defence to protect himself with his racket.
The ball rose sharply off Paddy’s racket and flew high and long, and into the dedans. 40-30 to Paddy. The game then went to 40-all and the final point was taken by Paddy Ward to become the 30-39 Category Champion.
Paddy Ward with his winners cup
Category 30-39 winner 2014
Category 40-49 handicap tournament champion holds onto his title
204 Category 40 winner, Gary Weller
The winner of this year’s 40-49 tournament was Gary Weller, who retained the trophy he collected last year, beating Ben Graham 6-4 in the final.
The finalists each won their groups with an unbeaten record. In the semi-finals Ross Smythe lost 4-6 to Ben Graham after leading 4-2, while Gary Weller dispatched Christie Marrian 6-0 (6 and 0 being significant numbers for Christie this weekend).
Category 40-49 Handicap Tournament spectators in the Green Court dedans
Christie Marrian, Bernie ‘the socks’ Carpenter, Ross Smythe
Category 50-59 Tournament won by Anthony Bailey
John Lees Robin Faux Sonja Badenhorst
Anthony Bailey Guy Kirk
Several tight games that could have gone either way featured in the annual battle to find the 50-59 Category giant of the club. There were only five players in this year’s tournament, so organiser Keith Beechener was able to set up a schedule where they all played each other once.
At the halfway stage John Lees and Sonja Badenhorst had equal unbeaten records, but each suffered losses in the second half while Anthony Bailey found his form, and went on to win the tournament by virtue of having won more games in his matches than John Lees.
John Lees 6 – 5 Anthony Bailey
Sonja Badenhorst 6 – 5 Robin Faux
Anthony Bailey 6 – 3 Guy Kirk
John Lees 6 – 5 Robin Faux
Sonja Badenhorst 6 – 5 Guy Kirk
Anthony Bailey 6 – 3 Robin Faux
John Lees 6 – 2 Sonja Badenhorst
Robin Faux 6 – 4 Guy Kirk
Anthony Bailey 6 – 2 Sonja Badenhorst
Guy Kirk 6 – 3 John Lees
Anthony Bailey, category 50 winner 2014
CURTC Ladies Club Championships 2014
This year saw a large entry to the ladies tournament with 16 players competing. It was very encouraging to see juniors, students and seniors represented in the draw, indicating growth and competitiveness within the female component of the Club.
The tournament started with round robin groups;. There were four clear winners – congratulations go to Fiona Stewart, Karen Pearce, Imogen Whittam and Venetia D’Arcy.
In the latter knock-out stages of the tournament, Venetia defeated Fiona but was unable to cope with Sonja Badenhorst’s powerful floor game. Sonja gave Linda Fairbrother a run for her money in the first semi-final, surging ahead to take a 4-0 lead. However, Linda, in true Fairbrother fashion, fought back and finally clinched victory 8-6.
In the other half of the draw Karen took on Imogen and through slightly superior power and court coverage was able to progress to play Louise Ludekens in the second semi-final. Karen’s accurate serving was noticed by the crowd and both players enjoyed some long rallies and tense moments, but Louise’s experience enabled her to win 8-1.
Louise and Linda stood in familiar territory facing each other in the final for a further year. The games were very close and well contested, but Louise managed to win the crucial points, securing a 6-2, 6-2 win, to retain the title.
Louise Ludekens, Sonja Badenhorst, Venetia D’Arcy, Linda Fairbrither Ladies Tournament semu-finalists
Linda Fairbrother and Louise Ludekens (winner) Ladies Tournament final
Karen and Imogen Whittam Ladies Tournament quarter-finalists
Category 60+ handicap tournament gets the 2014 CURTC competition season off to a flying start
Some exciting round robin matches last weekend saw Bernie ‘the socks’ Carpenter, David Hope, Kate Kirk and Imogen Whittam make it through to the semi-finals of this year’s 60+ contest. Bernie took his semi-final against Imogen 6/2, and David squeezed past Kate 6/5. The final went David’s way 6/1, but it was a cracking match full of tense moments at 40-all. Congratulations to David.
David Hope with the Category 60+ cup
David Hope (winner) and Bernie Carpenter Category 60+ final
Bernie Carpenter, Imogen Whittam, Kate Kirk, David Hope, The 60+ semi-finalists
CURTC vs RTC at Hampton Court, December 1st 2013
A team of seven from Cambridge went to the Palace (Hampton Court) on Sunday and came away with a 4-1 victory after heavily losing the first of the five rubbers. The Carew Hunt family were out in force and on one occasion an impartial marker was heard to shout – "Great shot Mum".
Matches (in reverse order):
| Owen Saunders Tom Carew Hunt |
lost to
|
Keith Beechener Ross Smythe |
6/4 5/6 4/6 |
| Peter Brown |
lost to
|
Alan Harris | 2/6 3/6 |
| Nick Carew Hunt |
lost to
|
Gerald Smith | 1/6 4/6 |
| Peter Flood Victoria Carew-Hunt |
lost to
|
Patrick Humphrey Terry Gardner |
3/6 0/6 |
| Simon Edmond |
defeated
|
Andrew Petrie | 6/1 6/2 |
Hampton Court palace looking lovely at night
Ross Smythe, Henry VIII and Keith Beechener defending the grille
Gerald Smith serving to Nick Carew Hunt
Jesmond Dene vs CURTC – Sept 28th
Four of Cambridge’s finest took to the A1 to get up to Newcastle to play Jesmond on Saturday 28th.
Dave Isherwood started off proceedings against Peter Scott and after a nip and tuck struggle pulled ahead at the end to record a 9-7 win and put CURTC one up.
Paul Brown then went a couple of games up against Gordon Reed but Gordon pulled the lead back and it was even steven at 3-3. Paul then put his foot down and pulled steadily ahead to run out a 10-5 winner. (We were playing 50 minutes or first to 10 games in a best of seven match.)
Dave Isherwood was then back on for his second game and looked done in at 8-4 down against Peter Nugent. Finding a second and possibly a third wind he fought back brilliantly to get to 9 all and force a decider which he won easily to put CURTC 3-0 up!
Alex Evans took a few games to get used to the court (it was his first time at Jesmond) and was soon 0-3 down to a solid Michael Raven. Once Alex settled down he played his part in a very good game and pulled 8-6 ahead. Michael then toughed it out to get to 8 all at the 50 minute mark and into a decider. At 8 all and 40 all Alex put a service return on the roof and it dropped invitingly on the last gallery line to give Michael a simple put away – which he put into the bottom of the net! So that gave CURTC an unassailable 4-0 lead and a referral to the Leamington spot fixing committee Jesmond’s Simon Parkin rushed into a 3-1 lead against Julian Stafford but from here on Julian rarely missed a shot and ran out a comfortable 9-3 winner to put CURTC 5-0 ahead.
Alex was then back on court for another game against Martin Kellaway, this one with a 9 point handicap difference. The opening games were shared before Alex pulled out a comfortable 5-2 lead. Martin then fought back to 4-5 and then before you knew it, it was 6 all and into another decider. This time at 6 all and 40 all Alex at the service end drove an impeccable low backhand down the middle with plenty of cut and Martin could not get it up. So another close 7-6 win for Alex and CURTC into a heady 6-0 lead.
Julian and Paul then took on Mark Thompson and Alan Douglas in the final best of 3 set doubles. CURTC looking to a whitewash and Jesmond looking to restore some pride. The first set was very close with Jesmond shading it 6-5 but, making the wrong decision to change receivers for the second, set Paul and Julian lost rhythm and the set 6-1, giving Jesmond a consolation win but CURTC the match 6-1 overall.
Our thanks to Jesmond for for their sportsmanship and hospitality and for the opportunity to play on this wonderful court.
CURTC’s team at Jesmond Dene
 Dave Isherwood v Peter Scott |
 Paul Brown v Gordon Reed |
 Dave Isherwood v Peter Nugent |
 Alex Evans v Michael Raven |
 Julian Stafford v Simon Parkin |
 Alex Evans v Martin Kellaway |
Junior Lessons
Head Professional Kees Ludekens runs sessions on Sunday mornings for junior players to learn the game or to improve their skill levels
Junior lessons in the art of Real Tennis: Backhand
Junior drill: hitting it off the back wall
CURTC is grateful for the support of our Sponsors…
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…and Supporter!
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Giraffe Club: CURTC Alumni
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