tennis Fixture

Amateur Under 20 Singles Championship 2010

Prested Hall Real Tennis Club

AMATEUR UNDER-20s SINGLES TOURNAMENTS

including the

BRITISH AMATEUR UNDER-20s CHAMPIONSHIP

(The Mike Carter Trophy)

Over the first May Bank Holiday of 2010, Prested Hall welcomed 16 players from 5 different Clubs to take part in these inaugural Amateur Under-20s Handicap and Level competitions. With handicaps ranging from 18 to 70 there were going to be some tough handicaps played, and everyone was looking forward to some really good Tennis.

The Handicap competition, kindly sponsored by the T&RA, comprised 3 Groups for the 14 players who were taking part. All Group matches would take place over the best of one, 6-game set. The winner of each Group, and the best runner-up overall, would make the semi-finals. The Groups could not have been closer, with Jessica Garside from Seacourt scraping through as the winner of her Group, thanks to games difference. The best runner-up, Hugh Vermont (Prested Hall), also scraped through, thanks to average games difference it was a matter of 0.5, the event was so tightly contested. Sunday came, and we were at the semifinal stages. Lewis Williams of Prested took on Jessica Garside of Seacourt, with an handicap of owe 15 one serve ban tambour receive 30. Lewis raced into a 7-1 lead, and everyone thought it was over. Jessica calmly clawed her way back into the match, and at 7-6 down had the chance to make it 7-all, but she missed out, and Lewis finished a relieved 10-7 winner, and the first player into the final. The second semi-final saw Hugh Vermont take on Charlie Braham of Petworth in a level match. This time Charlie raced into an early lead, and despite a late rally from the home player, came out a 10-7 winner. The final pitted the fast improving and home court player Lewis Williams against the smaller, younger Charlie Braham; the handicap again was large - owe ½ 30 1 serve ban tambour - receive 30. The match was a tight battle of fantastic retrieving from Charlie, and mental strength from Lewis. The match ebbed and flowed, but Charlie came out the victor and the first-ever winner of the Handicap competition 10-7.

Straight afterwards, the top 8 handicapped players started the Level competition. John Lumley began proceedings, with a comfortable 6-0 6-0 win over Lewis Davies. Ben Wall then took on Rene Schemschat, losing 6-3 6-3. Then the outstanding match of the first round took place - Lewis Williams, some 10 points behind Louis Gordon in handicap, looked to be on the verge of causing an huge upset - Lewis, trying to make up for the disappointment of losing the Handicap final earlier, raced into a 6-1 and a first-set lead, mixing-up his serve, and controlling the awesome firepower of his older opponent. Louis then seemed to come to terms with the court, and find his accuracy with his thunderbolt forcing, to take the next set 6-3. Into a deciding set, and what a set it was! Lewis had everyone on the edge of their seats especially his home-crowd supporters when he went 5-4 up 40-30 up and receiving a hazard chase What has to be the best rally of the day took place next, with some amazing retrieving. Lewis forced the return; Louis blocked it back; the rally went on; Louis hit the tambour; Lewis returned; it was forced back into the tambour; Lewis somehow got his racket on the ball, which was heading back, but not high enough; it went into the net cord, and his match point had gone. Louis - a relieved man! - then sneaked through 1-6 6-3 6-5. Claire Vigrass was next on arriving on court, straight from Holyport where she had just beaten Karen Hird 6-3 6-1, to win the LRTA Ladies International Invitational. Using her knowledge of her home court and her superior skills, Claire soon wrapped-up her match against Toby Bawden 6-1 6-0.

Monday, and Finals Day was upon us First on court was John Lumley, taking on Louis Gordon, a tough match on paper. The match saw the awesome firepower of Louis vs the speed and reactions of John. The match ebbed and flowed, with neither player ever really getting ahead nor comfortable. Louis came out the victor 6-4 6-5. The next semi saw Claire comfortably dispatch Rene Schemschat 6-3 6-1. The final, on handicap, should not have been close with Claire at a best-ever womens 7.9, and Louis an 18, but real tennis is a funny game; although Claire emerged the champion 6-4 6-4, Louis had her worried, playing equally powerfully off his backhand and forehand, and hitting outright winners into the dedans and grille.

Unfortunately, due to the disruption to international travel caused by the fallout from the Icelandic volcano, Mike Carter was abroad throughout the Tournaments.€ This was a particular disappointment because Mike donated the prizes, which included the Championship trophy, a Gray€s racket, weekends€ accommodation with court-time and coaching at Prested Hall, and sponsored the Championship.€ In Mike€s absence, I presented the prizes for the Handicap event, and Chris Vigrass, in his capacity as Chairman of our Club€s Committee, had the pleasure of presenting his daughter, Claire, with The Mike Carter Trophy and other prizes.

I look forward to hosting these Tournaments again next season on Prested€s behalf, when, hopefully, Mike will be here in person to witness the great tennis played by our sport€s talented youngsters.

Matt Potter

Head Professional

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