Combined Services Championships 2013
There were a total of 39 entries this year comprising 6 RAF, 9 RN and the remainder Army which included a plethora of relative youth from both Wales and East Midlands OTCs. The competitions were played over the full three days and the higher number of entrants meant both real tennis courts were in continual use from dawn until long after dusk. The appetite for rackets appears to be growing as several newcomers tried their hand at this demanding sport in the novice rackets league which was played in the margins of the main competitions and proved to be highly successful and can only be a positive way of increasing participation in this unique game. Whilst the AAC were represented in every final, this was the first year in recent memory that they came away deficient of silverware. Instead, it was the turn of the Guards and specifically the Grenadier Gds as Lt Col Andrew James dominated the Real Tennis taking a clean sweep in all three events. The rackets witnessed the arrival of a new tour de force in the form of OCdt Adam Kula Przezwanski from EMOTC who claimed two of the rackets titles and his aspirations to join the Army Air Corps may do much to alleviate the aforementioned silverware deficiency in the future!
As always there were some very close matches in the real tennis and the adjusting handicap system (which kicks in after the first game) rarely allows a player to gain a vast lead over his opponent and normally keeps the matches competitive until the full hour has elapsed. Several matches came down to the final game and at least one to the final ball leading to much nail biting in the dedans.
The tennis finals were somewhat one sided with the masterful Andrew James giving a very clinical and controlled display during the afternoon despite playing two semi-finals in the morning. He was ably supported by the much improved Michael O’Dwyer in the Regtl Doubles and the hard hitting David Reed Felstead in the Open Doubles. The latter match was particularly close going to a final set which witnessed long rallies and some quality tennis as opponents Paul Danby and Nigel Tench tried desperately to hold on to the narrowest of leads.
This was the first time since 2011 that the rackets competitions had returned to Queen’s due to the courts both being refurbished in Feb 2012. The Singles final saw Ollie Snell temporarily escape from his flying training to meet the talented Adam K-P in what was a close final which swung in Adam’s favour. The Regtl Doubles final saw both players joined by less experienced partners, to witness a similar result, but not without a significant battle for what must be the biggest and most impressive cup in Army Sport. Snell and K-P then teamed up to challenge the Nicholls brothers in the Open doubles where they were given a tough lesson in ball retrieval and can only take comfort from the fact that the brothers are no longer serving!
Another very successful and enjoyable Championships which also witnessed excellent attendance at the cocktail party held in the President’s Room. As always our sincere thanks are extended to The Queen’s Club for their support in staging the competitions.
Real Tennis Results:
Singles: Lt Col A F R James GREN GDS bt Maj NF Tench AAC 6/0 6/0
Regimental Doubles: Col M O’Dwyer IRISH GDS & Lt Col A F R James GREN GDS bt Majs M Lytle & NF Tench AAC 6/2 6/2
Past & Present Doubles: Lt Col A F R James GREN GDS & Lt Col (Retd) D Reed-Felstead bt Majs NF Tench AAC & P Danby (Retd) 4/6 6/3 6/5
Rackets Results:
Singles: OCdt A Kula-Przezwanski EMOTC bt Capt O Snell AAC 3-1
Regimental Doubles: OCdt A Kula-Przezwanski & SSgt J Daley EMOTC bt Maj NF Tench & Capt O Snell AAC 3-1
Past & Present Doubles: M Nicholls & P Nicholls bt OCdt A Kula-Przezwanski & Capt O Snell 3-0