Tennis World Team Masters 2015
Results
Cockram Cup (Over 50s) at Cambridge University Real Tennis Club
Having retained the Cockram Trophy in both Australia and the USA, the GB team approached the home fixture in determined and confident fashion. The team of David Watson, William Maltby, John Prenn, Mark Nicholls, Mark Openshaw-Blower, Simon Barker and Simon Shenkman was virtually unchanged from 2013 and the handicap range of 10-17 looked, on paper, pretty formidable.
After a final practice session, we met our opponents in earnest at the Cocktail Party kindly hosted by George and Jane Pearson. The hospitality, magnificent gardens beside the Cam and copious Champagne and Canapes set the tone perfectly for what would prove to be a convivial and competitive event.
The Tennis proper opened against the USA with the 1st doubles pairing of William Maltby and Mark Nichols taking on the USA Captain Steve Hufford and Anders Cohen. A strong start by the USA saw the GB pairing scrambling and, at 5-5 in the first set, nerves were taught in players and spectators alike. The British pair squeaked the game and the set 6/5 and growing in confidence took the second without the loss of a game. Simon Shenkman’s match at 3rd singles proved more one sided and he closed it out comfortably 6/1 6/0 against a suspiciously English sounding Mark Philpott. Thus David Watson stepped on court to try to seal the fixture. His opponent Bill Barker clearly had other ideas and cruised serenely through the first set taking it 6/1 with Watson struggling to gain any traction against his free flowing opponent. The second set was finely balanced and at 4-4 could easily have gone either way. Watson stole it 6/4 and, looking slightly more assured, took the 3rd 6/1 to seal the tie. John Prenn at 2nd singles proved too strong for Alan McHugh taking the match 6-0, 6-3 and the solid pair of Barker and Openshaw-Blower looked determined closing out their match 6/3 6/1 to complete the tie 5-0 in GB’s favour.
After a rest day, culminating in an excellent and alcoholic dinner at the Jockey Club, the team took to the Court against a weakened Australian side. Knowing that the Australians had gone down 1-4 against the USA, confidence was high in the British squad.
GB fielded the same line up as the first day and William and Mark moved smoothly past their opponents Jonathan Isles and Peter Dunn 6/3 6/0. Simon Shenkman played a controlled game against the enthusiastic Vince Scopelliti and came through comfortably without dropping a game. Watson won 6/2 6/3 against the Australian Captain, Richard Hince, who was clearly still suffering from his marathon match of the previous day. John Prenn retained his imperious form beating Paul Williams 6/1 6/2 and Simon Barker and Mark O-B defeated Henry Turnbull and John Piccolo 6/1 6/1 to complete a memorable clean sweep. The Cockram Trophy thus was retained in GB hands for another two years.
We would like to record our thanks to the excellent USA and Australian Captains and teams who competed warmly and enthusiastically in both the playing and social events. We look forward to joining battle again in Australia in 2017.
We would also like to record our thanks to the Cambridge Club for the use of their courts and to the pro team of Kees, Peter and Scott for their warm welcome and efficient handling of the event.
Tue 12 May – GB beat US 5-0
- W.Maltby & M.Nicholls bt S.Hufford & A.Cohen 6/5 6/0
- S.Shenkman bt M.Philpott 6/1 6/0
- D.Watson bt B.Barker 1/6 6/4 6/1
- J.Prenn bt A.McHugh 6/0 6/3
- S.Barker & M.Openshaw-Blower bt D.Schenkein & L.Frank 6/3 6/1
Wed 13 May - US beat Aus 4-1
- A.McHugh & M.Philpott bt J.Isles & D.Friend 6/1 6/2
- A.Cohen bt P.Williams 6/2 6/2
- B.Barker lost to R.Hince 3/6 6/3 4/6
- S.Hufford bt P.Dunn 6/0 6/0
- D.Schenkein & L.Frank bt J.Piccolo & V.Scopelliti 6/3 6/3
Thu 14 May - GB beat Aus 5-0
- W.Maltby & M.Nicholls bt J.Isles & P.Dunn 6/3 6/0
- S.Shenkman bt V.Scopellit1 6/0 6/0
- D.Watson bt R.Hince 6/2 6/3
- J.Prenn bt P.Williams 6/1 6/2
- S.Barker & M.Openshaw-Blower bt J.Piccolo & H.Turnbull 6/1 6/1
Bostwick Cup (Over 60s) at Newmarket Tennis Club
Victory for Great Britain in Bostwick Cup
The Great Britain over 60s team took on Australia & USA over 3 days between 12th – 14th May at the Newmarket Club.
In the opening match Australia defeated a spirited USA team 3-2. GB then got off to a flying start by beating the Americans 5-0 with good straight sets wins for the whole of our team.
These first two results set the scene for the final & deciding match between GB & Australia. This match started with an epic doubles encounter lasting over 2 hours with Australian pair Jonathan Hamer & Ian Bull finally overcoming Mick Dean & Richard Moore 6/4 in the final set.
However the Australian lead didn’t last too long with solid wins for GB doubles pair Jill Newby & Jamie Bebb and then Duncan Colquhoun in the singles. This set up things nicely for team captain Paul Weaver to seal the match with GB taking a 3-1 lead. The match finished as it had started with another doubles match of the highest quality with Jonathan Fisher & Bernard Weatherill narrowly losing out to Australian pair Wayne Spring & Mike McAuley.
Our thanks go out to the Newmarket Club for their hospitality and organisation and to Duncan & Sue Colquhoun for hosting an excellent party at their home.
Tue 12 May - Aus beat US 3-2
- MacAuley & Bull lost to Johnstone & Hay 3/6 5/6
- Troon & Cornish bt Pell & Hughes 6/0 6/2
- Hamer bt Whitall 6/1 6/1
- Spring bt Shear 6/1 6/0
- Holloway & Turnbull lost to Gordon & Cassin 6/2 1/6 2/6
Wed 13 May - GB beat US 5-0
- Fisher & Moore bt Johnstone & Hay 6/4 6/3
- Bryant & Hamilton bt Hughes & Pell 6/2 6/3
- Weaver bt Whitall 6/0 6/2
- Weatherill bt Shear 6/2 6/0
- Newby & Bebb bt Cassin & Gordon 6/4 6/2
Thu 14 May - GB beat Aus 3-2
- Dean & Moore lost to Hamer & Bull 4/6 6/4 6/4
- Newby & Bebb bt Holloway & Troon 6/1 6/1
- Colquhon bt Cornish 6/1 6/1
- Weaver bt Friend 6/0 6/0
- Fisher & Weatherill lost to Spring & MacAuley 6/3 6/4
Danby Trophy (Over 70s) at The Prested Hall Racket Club
The first match between Great Britain and the Australians went 3-0 to the UK team. The only close match was between the third pairs when Alan Willingham served a tight rail road, and Paul Danby was strangely nervous until he played more to his normal form in the third set. The Australians did not play at their best, no doubt in part because it takes longer for a 70 year old to recover from jet lag.
On the second day the United States played the Australians losing 2–1. Mike Flinn deserves particular mention as he has been most unwell over the past year and it was very brave of him to come over and play as well as captaining the side.
Dick Tanfield for the US started to show his form guiding his partner Robert Pilkington to a fine victory for the second pair.
So on today three, when the UK team won all 6 sets by a margin of 6/3 or better against the US. The second pair match was expected to be close but David Brazier had a particularly good game.
In summary the Great Britain team won the event dropping only one set throughout the event. Prested Hall’s great facilities were much appreciated and is an ideal venue for such an event.
Tue 12 May - GB beat Aus 3-0
- Nick Danby & Simon de Halpert bt Tim Hurburgh & Graeme Richardson 6/5 6/5
- Robin Barlow & David Brazier bt Paul Wheeler & Mike Garnett 6/3 6/0
- John Ward & Paul Danby bt Alan Willingham & Anthony Poolman 6/3 5/6 6/3
Wed 13 May - Aus beat US 2-1
- Tim Hurburgh & Graeme Richardson bt Michael Flinn & Sam Abernethy 6/2 6/3
- Paul Wheeler & Mike Garnett lost to Dick Tanfield & Robert Pilkington 3/6 5/6
- Alan Willingham & Anthony Poolman bt Howard McMorris & Rick Malone 6/1 6/4
Thu 14 May - GB beat US 3-0
- Nick Danby & Simon de Halpert bt Michael Flinn & Sam Abernethy 6/1 6/2
- Robin Barlow & David Brazier bt Dick Tanfield & Robert Pilkington 6/3 6/1
- John Ward & Paul Danby bt Howard McMorris & Rick Malone 6/4 6/2