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