T&RA Annual Dinner & Awards

Rackets prizes were introduced by Rackets Committee Chairman, Rory Sutton. Professional performance (Latham Cup) was won by Ben Cawston who was still in the US after his triumph in the US Open. Alex Titchener-Barrett won the amateur performance (Negretti Cup) for capturing the Open Doubles, together with a splendid effort in the amateur singles; this was ATB’s sixth such award, albeit first for ten years. Julius Manton-Jones won the best improvement of the year, making the transition to an elite player. Finally, Claire Fahey won the Ladies award, winning the British Open after a nine year gap from her five earlier triumphs; Chris Vigrass picked up the Lillibet on his daughter’s behalf. T&RA President, David Norman presented the prizes.

Ronald Paterson stepped up to introduce the Tennis prizes, with the Warburg Salver for the best professional performance going to Claire Fahey, again father Chris was on hand. Next the spectacular Baerlein Trophy was presented to Simon Shenkman to mark his son, Robert’s incredible year. Robert won the Amateur Singles trophy as well as reducing his handicap into positive figures – a remarkable year. Finally, the Greenwood Trophy for best improvement in Tennis was won by Investing in Professional graduate Tim Armstrong. Tim was unavailing so Chris Davies (CEO) picked up the award and passed on Tim’s thanks to the professional team at Petworth, Tom Durack and Louis Gordon, who had made everything possible.

Finally, Fred Satow (Chairman) presented the Chairman’s Award to Mark Briers, Cheltenham professional to mark his astonishing career in Rackets. No only a class-act as a cricketer, Mark have coached the likes of James Stout, Richard Owen, both world champions, and Nick James, amongst a hoard of phenomenal talent from Cheltenham. Mark is also responsible for developing schoolgirl Rackets, producing a host of talented Ladies Rackets players who grace the game, the fastest evolving aspect in the T&RA world.

The final part of the evening saw David Norman introduce, with his usual gusto, the legendary Alan Lovell, who was invited to share his wonderful memories of Tennis and Rackets from the period when Alan was at the top of his game in both sports, making the transition for Rackets to Tennis after leaving Winchester for Oxford. Alan was the original scratch player of whom the handicap system was formed, representing Great Britain in his heyday in the Bathurst Cup. Alan also spoke about the importance of the professionals in both sports and how they were always the future of the games, bringing on new talent and promoting the sports.