*Amateur Singles and Doubles Championships 2024

This was followed by Will Flynn and Rory Giddins beating Nick James and Richard Elmitt, not as long but the fourth and final set was completed after 0030. Even tougher perhaps on marker, Neil Mackenzie, who officiated both matches.

With three of the four players travelling up from Seacourt (Hayling Island), the A3 provided its usual tortuous journey as families and friends made the 70-mile journey to the capital. The match certainly didn’t disappoint. Medlow and Trueman took the first game but the early momentum was with Flynn and Giddins, taking a 2-1 lead. Medlow and Trueman scrambled back to 2-2 but four dominant games saw the set slip away to Flynn and Giddins, 6/2.

The second set saw all four players at their best, mixing cleverly constructed points, resilient defence and the occasional power play, especially from Flynn. Again, the early running was by Medlow and Trueman, taking a 2-0 then a 3-1 lead. But three steady games from Flynn and Giddins gave them the lead at 4-3, and then 5-4. But now it was Medlow and Trueman who composed themselves to level and then take the decisive eleventh game and the set, 6/5, to level the match.

Medlow and Trueman now had the momentum which they carried into the third set, taking the first three games to lead 3-0. Thereafter the set was fairly even as the pairs traded games but the early game counted and Medlow and Trueman surged into the lead, taking the set 6/3.

The fourth set had everything to play for, but now Flynn and Giddins dug in and ground out three games to lead 3-0. Again, the match swung, with Medlow’s solid defence and Trueman’s steady shot construction combining to take the next four games to lead 4-3. Flynn and Giddins levelled at 4-4, but Medlow and Trueman sensed the moment was theirs, taking the next two games to win 6/4, and becoming British Amateur Champions 2024.

A terrific achievement for the two Seacourt youngsters, both still teenagers, demonstrating that the next generation of amateurs are now serious contenders. Chris Davies, T&RA CEO, presented the Bailey Cup to the young pair, along with Pol Roger champagne. He gave his commiserations to the worthy finalists who played their part in an exciting match and thanked the tournament organiser, Jamie Giddins, for his work in revamping the tournament. Thanks also to Queen’s Club and marker, Bryn Sayers, who controlled the match smoothly.

Rob started very nervy and was unusually snatching at a few balls off the back wall, so Jamie launched to a 3-0 lead in the first set. At this point Rob calmed down and became his usual steady self.

The last 18 months or so has seen a huge jump in standard for Rob, who has claimed some fine scalps in international play and it really started to show as the match went on. Jamie has a fierce style of play with probably the most powerful boasting the game has seen, but Shenkman has been working hard to neutralise these weapons. Rob’s defence of the main-wall force has improved hand in hand with his own strength in executing the shot, but most importantly he has become very calm when dealing with a heavily boasted ball into the corners, so he was making very few racket errors off these deep balls in his backhand corner.

The match was three hours long with some phenomenal rallying, reaction shots and creative play, and these two guys were lovely to watch as they were generous in their praise of each other and fought with ferocious will, but in the end Rob Shenkman won 5/6 6/4 6/4 6/1 and brought the series against Jamie to 2-3.