Local Kent Derby
Joint tournament with Sundridge Park and Bromley Cricket Club - Saturday 22 June
Saturday 22nd May.....early start for Steve, cutting and marking courts.....8.30 David and Hilary arrive, set up all necessary paraphernalia in readiness for expected rush at 10 a.m...can't find keys to courts,,,,, ring Richard........find keys and then realise they need to set up additional mini tennis courts........with the help of Steve Whitlock set out appropriate markings and place nets in position (all kindly erected the previous evening by Richard, including racquets and balls).
9.30......drink well earned teas and coffees whilst explaining to some bewildered members the reasons why they will not be able to have a court that day .....explain that yes, the event had been publicised.
9.45.......lots of people from SP and BCC start to arrive...........10.30.......10 players have not appeared........recalculate order of play, at the same time fend off requests for a grass court.
11.00........ (1 hour later than planned for), gather assembled participants in to their respective groups and go through the rules and finally....get the tournament under way!
Syed officiates play on the grass and clay courts.............I do the same with the mini tennis and explain the rules..........3 minutes warm up then 20 minutes of play...................adults thrashed by juniors at mini tennis, as they have been brought up on the game...........adults complain about lack of bounce with mini red ball, need to bend joints and backs........adults complain of aching joints and backs.........adults convinced I have forgotten to blow whistle after 20 minutes.......point out there is still 10 minutes to go......blow whistle and await next group.........various bods arrive and start playing............are they in the next group?......no, just thought we'd try it out.............get rid of various bods and get correct group on to courts.............requests that as it is really hot couldn't we cut sessions down to 10 minutes........politely inform them that no, the rules state 20 minutes and anyway I'm the one with the whistle..........format continues throughout the event with a short break for refreshments..............
Hilary finds that she is a couple of players short for the second half and tries to get me to play...........politely inform her that no, I have to blow a whistle every 20 minutes............4pm....... and it's all over! Adults slowly make their way to chairs, shade and some lovely food prepared by Steve and Sue.........juniors continue to play and run around...................calculations continue, to find individual winners and which Club gets the shield this year......................................Sundridge Park win! ......................by 1 point.
Thanks to everyone who took part and the organisers, both from here and Bromley Cricket Club, including Steve Johnson, Richard Whichello, Richard Cunliffe and Rebecca Pelling, Steve and Sue Spinks. Special thanks to Hilary Powell, who masterminded the whole event and saw it through with aplomb, ably assisted by David.........extremely well done!
The feedback has been tremendous and the weather was fantastic. It's great to get together with another Club and have an event such as this.
So there we are, next year it's BCC's turn to host and let's hope we have the same, or better, response and they too are blessed with good weather. Either way I'm looking forward to it already.
Don Weir
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News & Events
See the Tennis section for a full report on this year's Junior tennis tournament.
Joint tournament with Sundridge Park and Bromley Cricket Club - Saturday 22 June
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Minutes of the July meeting are now available to view in the Downloads section.
