rackets Fixture

Cheltenham Gold Racquet (Doubles) 2010

Cheltenham Gold Racquet (Doubles)

A most successful 10th Old Cheltonian Rackets weekend took place over the weekend prior to race week, and a host of top class players produced a spectacle to savour. James Rock OC (NH 01-06) and Alex Titchener-Barrett € current world no.2 € kept a spirited Dicken Green and world champion, Jamie Stout OC (H 97-02) at bay to secure the Cheltenham Gold Racquet, 16-15, 17-15, 15-6.

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The weekend itself saw 16 pairs start the weekend: OC€s partner up with a non-OC and both a Plate and Main Doubles competition takes place. Among the 32 competitors, six previous College captains graced the court, and throughout the Saturday some excellent € and close € matches took place: of particular note was the quarter final between the Alex Coldicott (BH 97-02) /Tom Stephens pairing€ and Ben Snell (L 97-02)/Richard Spender which went to 5 exhilarating games € the latter squeezing through 3-2. The final match on the Saturday finished at 9.15pm, testimony to an excellent rallying court and close contests (and not poor timekeeping!) The OC€s very own world number one, Jamie Stout, and Green progressed through to the final, knocking out a strong duo of Nick James (BH 01-06)/James Coyne at the semi final stage.

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As a curtain raiser for the Final on Sunday afternoon, the final of the Plate Competition took place where Andrew Stout (H 01-06) and Charles Wootton (NH 04-09) emerged as comfortable winners over Tom Floyd (Xt 00-05) and Horatio Cary.

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The Old Cheltonian Rackets Black Tie Dinner held at the College on Saturday night attracted some fifty guests. Of special note, we were delighted to welcome James Walton, Chief Executive of the T&RA, Lawrence Anderson, President of the OC Society, Malcolm Sloan, OC Society Secretary and Alex Peterken, Headmaster-elect of Cheltenham College. Charles Liverton, OC Rackets Sec. (BH 87-92) spoke warmly of the club€s continuing growth, and celebrated our successes over the course of the last 10 years which included 15 titles both sides of the Atlantic, 7 rackets fellows who have served NARA , and a world number 1.€ Alex Coldicott received the OC Racket for his contribution to OC rackets over the year. Thanks also went to Karl Cook, Master i/c and Mark Briers, professional: the OC€s presented four crystal cut glasses to each in recognition of their work in ensuring that the school remains a force within the rackets community both as current, and Old Cheltonians. There was also a brief sojourn to Cheltenham for a mild dabble in its nightlife.

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This competition is firmly established in the national rackets calendar with the British Open this year doing its best to avoid clashes of personnel(!); Charlie Liverton can be justly proud of his achievements. All but two clubs and schools in the UK were represented at this year€s competition € perhaps a full set might be next year€s target. Predictably, talk of an OC tour to the States remains rife as an ever-increasing number of OC€s keep their eye in, in the Black Room.

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A tremendous 48 hours €

€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Karl Cook