December Events @ The Oratory Real Tennis Club

Dear Members,

This is a reminder of what we have happening at The Oratory in December.

Friday 14^th December

Christmas Party & National League Div 1

We are inviting all members and your partners to The Oratory Christmas Party at the club to enjoy some sociable drinks and some good food at the same time as I’m playing my National League match vs Radley. It will be a really fun sociable evening and we hope you will all be able to attend.

Monday 24^th December

Christmas Eve Sociable Doubles

This is your last chance to burn off some calories before you tuck into the Christmas Day turkey. If you would like to come along please let me know in advance and I will match you up for some good fun doubles.

Friday 28^th December

Christmas Doubles & Dinner

This was a really well attended event last year with a doubles tournament during the day followed by a dinner in the evening which your partner is welcome to come along.

There is a sign up sheet on the notice board for all of the above events, so please sign up if you’re interested and I will be in touch in due course.

Candida Nicholls Beats Peter Crerar in Epic 'D Grade' SIngles Final

After a good start from Candida winning the 1st set 6/2 and taking an early lead in the 2nd set to 4/2. Peter kept working hard and eventally took the 2nd set 6/4. The 3rd set was very even with both players having chances to take the lead, but didn't. Candida managed to keep her nerve and take the 3rd set 6/5 after 4 match points.

Congratulations Candida!

Watson regains The Bridgeman Cup for the 2nd year running

Oratory hosted the Bridgeman Cup this year. The Bridgeman Cup is a national tournament which attracts the best over 50’s in the Country. We had 14 players enter this year, some traveling from as far as Newcastle. There were 2 group stages from which the top 2 players from each group qualified to the Quarter Finals. The Quarter Finals saw the top 4 seeded players won in straight sets. In the 1^st semi final John Prenn played the perfect game and defeated William Maltby 6/2 6/1. The 2^nd semi final David Watson took on Mark Drysdale. David played superbly and defeated Mark 6/2 6/3. John had to be on top form to beat David as he was on top form, unfortunately John didn’t have it in him and David won the final 6/3 6/2 and regained the Bridgeman Cup for a 2^nd year.

(From Left to Right) John Prenn & David Watson

Club Doubles Championship 2012-13

Domination from Peates and Davies

Last weekend The Oratory Real Tennis Club held their yearly Club Handicap Doubles Championship sponsored by Sotheby’s International Reality. There was a great turn out with 22 pairs battling it out over 3 days. On the Friday and Saturday the pairs played in the round robin stages with the top 2 pairs from each group progressing through to the knock out stage on the Sunday.

With handicap matches there was always going to be lots of close matches. The first semi final saw Chris Davies & Sam Peates beat Stephen Anidjah & Duncan Crerar 6/4 in a closely fort battle. In the second semi final Andrew Bucknell & Phil Booth played the perfect handicap game and beat Eric Walker and Michael Seymour 6/1.

The final was a little one sided after Andy Bucknell picked up an injury in the semi final. This meant Phil Booth was in theory playing singles against 2 players who were on top form. Chris Davis and Sam Peates played the right sort of game and ended up winning the final 6/2. Congratulations to Chris and Sam! 

Thank you to our Sponsors Sotheby’s International Reality for the Winners Trophies and Sotheby’s Champagne.

Photo (L to R): Sam Peates, Phil Booth (from Sotheby’s International Reality) and Chris Davies

Oratory vs Irish - 15th September

On Sunday Oratory played the visiting Irish team at home. The day started with the two best handicapped players battling it out in an intense 3 set match. The Oratory’s Christian Whittaker came out on top beating Roland Budd 6/3 5/6 6/4. Next up was doubles with Ian Glyn and David Ruck-Keene playing the Irish pair of David Lowry and Mark Heffernan. The Irish duo started very slowly going 0/3 down but then came firing back to win the set 6/3 and the second set 6/4. David Lowry stayed on court to play Calum Maclean in singles. Calum had a slow start but then fought back all the way to the 3^rd set unfortunately losing out in the final stages - 1/6 6/5 4/6. Next up Phil Booth (oratory) played Mike Bolton. Again a slow start for Oratory losing the 1^st set 1/6 but then pulling it back to win the match 1/6 6/3 6/5. Not one to buck the trend Matthew Prater playing for Oratory lost the first set 1/6 to Paul Brennan and then began his come back taking the second set 6/4. Both players played very well in the third set but it was Paul who came out on top winning the match 6/1 4/6 6/4. With Oratory 2-3 down the pressure was on Sam Peates to claim a draw for Oratory and he didn’t disappoint, beating Jack Woods 6/5 6/3. Overall a draw for the Oratory team 3 /3.

A big thank you to all the players who travelled over from Ireland

100+ Doubles Tournament

The Oratory Real Tennis Club held its yearly 100+ Doubles Tournament on Saturday. To be eligible to play, both players had to have a combined age of 100!

There were some massive handicap games during the day which always makes for interesting tennis. There were 2 group stages with the top 2 pairs for each group going through to the knock out stages.

The first semi-final was between Sarah Brownlee & Calum MacLean vs Sarah McGivern & Michelle Bucknell. Michelle and Sarah McGivern used the handicap well and beat Sarah Brownlee & Calum 5/4

In the second semi-final Pam & Tim Tomalin were beaten by Ian Wood & Luke Readman 5/3.

This left us with 2 pairs who were on form. Michelle & Sarah were receiving a big handicap from Ian & Luke. There were a few unforced errors from Ian & Luke which made their set that little bit more difficult. Michelle & Sarah played well and took the title 5/3. Congratulations to Michelle and Sarah.

For more information on Real Tennis at The Oratory please contact Andy Chinneck on a.chinneck@oratory.co.uk or call 01491 681303

Photo: (L to R) –Runners-up: Luke Readman and Ian Wood. Winners: Sarah McGivern and Michelle Bucknell

Oratory Ladies Championship

Oratory Real Tennis club held its first ladies championship over the weekend of 21^st and 22^nd April. The event was run over the two days, with singles games played on the Saturday and Sunday morning following on with doubles later on Sunday.

With a great turn out of ladies the entire Saturday was filled with group games to determine who went through to the Sunday morning eliminator rounds. 4 players progressed and Sunday morning started with the first of the semi finals. Candida Nicholls played Katy Weston and having played brilliantly on the Saturday couldn’t quite get her game together allowing Katy to take a 6/4 win. Next saw the biggest handicap difference with Pam Tomalin playing our new comer Nic McChlery. Nic improved considerably over the weekend however Pam’s pure determination helped her pull through to a 6/3 win. This meant Pam to face Katy in the final. It was a great game and Katy started very well however once again Pam really knuckled down and took the victory 6/4.

Following straight on was the doubles. With everyone paired up it meant the group stages were over quickly and everyone advance through to the playoffs. The two 3^rd placed pairs played each other before the semi finals started. Sarah Whittaker and Sarah Brownlee played Katy Weston and Michelle Bucknell. With the Sarah’s both ‘on fire’ and hitting hard they took the win 5/2. Next up was Carrie Hart and Fiona Fountain to play Geri Brooksbank and Nic McChlery. Again a big handicap that required Carrie and Fiona to play very disciplined tennis. They managed to hold their nerve and won 5/4. They advanced to the final to pay Sarah Whittaker and Sarah Brownlee. Earlier in the day these two had played each other and the Sarah’s took the win 5/0 however Carrie and Fiona had found there form and although a strong fight was put up by the Sarah’s Carrie and Fiona won 5/3. A very enjoyable day was had by all and our first Ladies Singles and Doubles Champions were crowned.

Congratulations to Pam Tomalin who is The Oratory Real Tennis Ladies Singles Champion and Carrie Hart and Fiona Fountain who are The Oratory Real Tennis Ladies Doubles Champions.

For more information on Real Tennis at The Oratory please contact Andy Chinneck on a.chinneck@oratory.co.uk or call 01491 681303

Photos: (L to R) – Winners: Pam Tomalin, Fiona Fountain, Carrie Hart. Runners-up: Sarah Whittaker, Sarah Brownlee, Katy Weston

National Junior Schools Handicap Tournament

Sunday 4^th March saw the Oratory Real Tennis Club co host the National Junior Schools Handicap Tournament. With 17 teams playing between the two courts of Oratory and Hardwick House a busy day of tennis lay ahead. Players at both courts enjoyed 4 sets with the highest scoring pair from each court joining together late afternoon for the final at Oratory. The two schools making it through to the final were Westbourne 1^st pair and Windlesham 3^rd pair. The two were very closely matched with Westbourne winning the set 5/3. A big thank you to Mick Dean (tournament organiser) and all the schools and parents for their time spent organising and travelling which made it such a great event.

Winners: Westbourne 1^st pair; Hugo Alun-Jones and Ned Renwick,   Andy Chinneck (Oratory Professional) and Runners Up Windlesham 3^rd pair; Teddy Maloney and Ludo Milne

Oratory Club Singles 2012

The Oratory hosted their yearly Club Handicap Singles Championship with group stages on Friday and Saturday. There were a lot of very close matches due to the handicap system working so well. The handicap is in place to give the tournament a level playing field no matter what your playing ability is.

Sunday morning was the start of the knock out stages. There was some top tennis played, some players having to give away massive handicaps. The 1^st semi final saw Christian Whittaker (h/c 29) take on a new member Melvyn Keen (h/c 69) The massive handicap meant Christian was playing more a mental game than a physical game but he won 6/3. In the 2^nd semi final Stuart Baxter played Michael Seymour off level. This was always going to be close. Stuart went 5/3 up. Michael saved 4 match points but Stuart kept his composer and won the game on the 5/5 - 40/40 point.

The Final was between Christian and Stuart. Christian had to give away a small handicap but managed to take an early 2/0 lead. Stuart played the better tennis in the final forcing Christian into a few errors. Stuart went on to take the set and the Championship 6/3. Congratulations to Stuart who is now Club Handicap Singles Champion.



Albie Arthur Charles Lambert Tomlinson

I’m pleased to announce that Jules and Steve have had a beautiful baby boy. Albie Arthur Charles Lambert Tomlinson (9lbs) arrived eventually by C-section Monday evening. Both mum and Albie are doing well and enjoying some rest still in hospital.

Dreaming of being a Real Tennis World Champion......

Parent & Offspring Tournament - Jan 2012

Parent & Offspring Tournament

Last weekend saw The Oratory Real Tennis Club held their annual Parent and Offspring Tournament. There was a brilliant turn out this year with 16 pairs entering. There were four round robin groups played over two days with the semi finals and final on the Saturday. The group stages saw some extremely close matches with a lot of them going down to the wire. The final was between Luke & Fiona Redman versus Gordon & Gus Robertson. Both pairs had played some superb tennis throughout the tournament but Gordon & Gus had the upper hand in the final and took the title 6/2. Well done to Gordon and Gus.

Photo – Left to Right: Luke and Fiona Readman (Runners up) and Gus and Gordon Robertson (Winners)

Oratory V Oxford Women's Students

The Oratory hosted the Oxford Women's Students Sunday 29th January - lots of fun was had by all.