The first Little League match of the season versus BENSON was held at Benson on Friday, 30th April. The Hambleden team was made up of the orange group - Ben West, Joe Poots and Liam Harman - who won by 28 games to 23. Annie Rogers, Jacco Rubens and Daisy Stuart made up the green group, who lost by 33 games to 17. The Juniors, Harriette Wilcock, Marijn Rubens and Ben Palmer, won convincingly by 36 games to 11. Overall Hambleden beat Benson by 81 games to 67. Well done to all the players.

The Hambleden junior team played against WATLINGTON at home on Friday 28th and Hambleden won again.

The orange group - Joe Poots, Milly Bowater and Liam Harman - lost by 32-15. The green group - Bella Bowater, Ben West and Jacco Rubens - won by 44-17 and the junior team, made up of Harriette Wilcock, Marijn Rubens and Ben Palmer, won by 28-23. The overall result was a win for Hambleden by 87-72. Congratulations to all the team on another good win

Joe, Milly and Liam with their Watlington opponents

Ben, Bella and Jacco with their Watlington opponents

Harriette, Marijn and Ben with the Watlington juniors

The final match was against Shiplake on Friday, 18th June at Shiplake. Once again Hambleden were the winners. The orange group won by 53-8, the green group lost by 7-44, and the juniors won by 41-15.

The final result of the Little League is therefore that Hambleden are the Champions!

Finals results:- Hambleden 269 games, Benson 251 games, Watlington 242 games and Shiplake 214 games.

Congratulations to all the Hambleden players who took part

The victorious Hambleden juniors

On the hottest weekend of the year so far twelve couples took part in a family round robin tournament. Children aged from 7 to 14 played with mums, dads, or other family members. The tournament was divided into two sections - under 10 and over 10 - with all the couples in each group playing one other for 15 minutes. The number of games was added up and the two pairs in each section with the most games played a final. Winners in the under 10 section were Emma and Ben West who beat Alex and Saskia Hammersley by 5 games to 0. In the over 10 group Julie Farnworth and Harriette Wilcock beat Erna and Marijn Rubens by 5-2. Everyone enjoyed a great mornings tennis, and the standard was high throughout. The tournament was followed by a barbecue. Andy West did a fantastic job as chef in spite of it being a very hot day!

All the family pairs, with Kate Borthwick from Tennis Angels who runs the junior coaching programme at the club

Finalists in over 10 section	Finalists in under 10 section
Harriette and Julie get prizes from our Chairman, Lyndsey	Ben and Emma with Lyndsey

Barbecue chef, Andy West, with Caroline and our coach, Kate

The mixed doubles tournament was played on Sunday 13th September. Six couples took part, each playing 7 games against the other couples. Competition was fierce and scores among the top three pairs were extremely close. The final result was not decided until the last game of the last match. Ralph Stockton (who came in to replace the injured Tom Scruby) and Thelma Hayton beat Mike Fear and Karen Holland by 5 games to 2, ending up with 22 games. A closer result in the last match could have resulted in a three way tie with Ralph and Thelma, Mike and Karen, and Jenny Sanderson and new member, Danny Kishon all with 21 games. Altogether a most enjoyable tournament with good standard tennis throughout.

The winners - Ralph and Thelma

On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, 4 pairs took part in the Mens Doubles Tournament. Each pair played a set against the other three pairs. Competition was fierce and the standard high throughout.

The winners were Tom Scruby and Tim Peplow with a total of 18 games. Close runners up were Alexis Alexander and Roger Gill with 16 games

Participants in the mens doubles	Tim and Tom

Eight family pairings played a most successful tournament. The standard was high and competition fierce throughout. The pairs were divided into two groups - under 11`s and 11-16 year olds. Each pair played the others in their group in a round robin format.

The winners of each group then played a final. Jerome and Anna Bartlett won by 4-2 in a very closely fought match against Russell and Molly Chambers. Runners up in each group contested third and fourth place with Caroline and Harriett Wilcock just beating Emma and Ben West by 4 games to 3.

Although the final events were played on a handicap system, special mention should be made of Molly and Ben who despite being much younger than their opponents played a great game in the final round.

Family players

The winners of each group	Runners up in each group

Hambleden juniors put out a great team effort in the Tennis Angels Little League. This was the first time Hambleden has put out a junior team for some years....so it was a big deal!

The Little League was played between Hambleden, Henley, Shiplake and Watlington Juniors. Matches were played on a Friday evening and consisted of teams of 3 in each of the orange, green and junior age groups. Matches lasted 20 minutes and each player played a total of 3 singles matches against the opposing side.

Our orange teams were picked from Ben West, Mia Rogers, Milli Bowater and Maddy McTeague. Despite being younger than all the other orange teams, they put up a great battle and were amazing competitors (particularly the girls when playing boys nearly 3 years older then them).

Annie Rogers, Olivia Patterson, Bella Bowater and Cameron Crabb played in our Green teams. Again a fantastic performance....gutsy and determined, our Green teams put up a good battle against some tough opposition from the other teams.

Junior team players were Anna Bartlett, Harriett Wilcock, Ben Palmer and Simon Murton. Well done to these guys...they played some great tennis and had a very successful record. Nice one!

Thank you to all the parents who helped to make this all possible. Also our thanks to Henley Sports and Tennis Angels for providing the trophies.

The goal was to give kids the opportunity to play matches. For many this was the first competitive match they had played, so well done. Shiplake won the whole event, but Hambleden will be practising hard over the winter to ensure that we beat them next year.

The event will run again next year with a few additional teams. Also we will be looking at running further match play opportunities for the kids with a junior match play day amongst local clubs.

	Hambleden	Henley	Shiplake	Watlington	TOTAL
Hambleden		63 - Loss	45 - Loss	75 - Win	183
Henley	73 - Win		20 - Loss	29 Win	122
Shiplake	85 - Win	67 - Win		103 - Win	255
Watlington	52 - Loss	9 - Loss	27 - Loss		88

Some of our team players

All the matches were played in an excellent spirit.

"Thanks for a great game"

The cold and windy weather did not deter lots of children from having fun at the Hambleden Tennis Club Open Morning last Saturday. Coaches Kate Borthwick, and Matt Titchner of Tennis Angels gave the children lots of encouragement and guidance whilst third coach, Mandy Nall, gave hints and improved the techniques of a game group of adults.

An enthusiastic group of young participants with coaches and helpers

Action on the courts

Despite a very wet Sunday morning, we went ahead with the Family Tournament, organised by our coach Kate Borthwick. Ten couples of assorted family members took part - mothers and fathers with sons or daughters, one grandfather with his grandson, and one cousin standing in for a parent who was abroad. The children ranged in age from 6 to 15, and the adults from 16 up to 70+! Ben West - age 6 and much younger than any of the other players - played very well, ably supported by his mother Emma. There were 2 groups of 5 couples based on age and ability, each playing the other couples in their group. The winners of each group then played a final. The eventual winners were Ben Palmer and his cousin Sam Green, who beat Caroline Wilcock and her daughter Harriette in the final. Many of the matches were played in heavy rain, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we hope to hold another tournament later in the season - hopefully in much better weather.

Sam & Ben and Caroline & Harriette with their prizes

The club mens doubles tournament was held on Sunday, 29th June. Although there were not many entries, those who took part thoroughly enjoyed their tennis, and there were several close matches. The winners were Jonathan Sage and Mike Fear with Alexis Alexander and Michael Burrows the runners up.

Participants in the mens doubles	Jonathan and Mike

The club ladies doubles tournament was held on Sunday, 22nd June. This was a round robin event, and although not many ladies had entered there were some close matches. Helen Garrett and Caroline Chisholm proved a difficult combination to play against and came out the eventual winners.

Helen & Caroline with their cup

Despite a very bad weather forecast, our Open Morning on Saturday 19th April was a great success. We were very lucky to have just one shower and more than 30 children (and a few adults) came along. Our new coach, Kate Borthwick, was kept very busy coaching throughout the morning and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Kate will be running coaching courses at the club on Monday and Wednesday evenings throughout the summer term, and will also be holding tennis camps in the May half term and during the summer holidays. Go to Coaching for details of the coaching courses and an entry form.

Keen participants at our Open Morning

Action on the courts

The club Mixed Doubles Tournament was held on Sunday, 16th September on a lovely sunny day. The tournament was a round robin format and there were some closely fought matches. The final was between Roger Gill and Marnie Watson who had scored 23 games, and Bob Lacey and Caroline Wilcock with 22 games. In the final, Roger and Marnie won by 6-2.

Roger and Marnie	Bob and Caroline

The summer ball at Parmoor on Friday 15th June was indeed `A Magical Evening`. The guests were entertained during drinks and dinner by two superb magicians who performed amazing tricks with cards, balls, ropes etc. Guests were completely confounded by the dexterity of the magicians, who, even when performing at close quarters, made it impossible for anyone to guess how they managed to perform such incredible feats. During dinner one of the magicians performed an illusion in which one of the club members, Caroline Wilcock, was put in a box and emerged totally unscathed despite solid sections having been driven through all parts of the box - truly amazing! Guests danced to a lively disco, and while they danced were able to view videos of the bands performing. Parmoor provided an excellent buffet and the decorations, masterminded by Karen Holland, added a truly magical aura to the evening.

The Ladies Doubles Tournament was played on Sunday, 17th June. This was a round robin event with each couple playing a short set against the other couples. The outright winners were Hilary Beaumont and Lucy Markham who won all their games. The combination of Lucy`s dominating forehand and Hilary`s ability to cut off shots at the net, proved unbeatable - well done!

Chairman, Lyndsey Mann, with the winners, Lucy and Hilary

The club held a most enjoyable and successful Open Day on Sunday, 6th May. Children from as young as 4 came along to take part in the fun on the courts. Our coach, Calin Ursu, was on hand to give coaching, from basic ball skills to more technical advice for the competitive and enthusiastic older children. Adults too – one or two testing tennis skills forgotten since school days – enjoyed themselves as well.

Group at Open day	Keen boys work with Calin

Volleying Practice

More than 25 children and their parents and grandparents took part in our Family Fun day in perfect summer weather. Some of the younger boys particularly enjoyed a competitive game of football, and Calin organised tennis games for all the children. Parents, some of them who hadn`t played tennis for some time, also enjoyed some tennis and everyone enjoyed a barbecue.

All join in the fun day	A young player hits with Calin, our coach
Coaching on the courts	Toby and Ralph get the barbecue going

The finals of the club tournament were held on Sunday, 23rd July, in perfect summer weather.

The MENS SINGLES final was once again between Jerome Poupel and Gayer Ridgway. Jerome won by 6-3, 6-0, although the standard of tennis was extremely high and the result very much closer than the score suggests.

In the LADIES SINGLES Clare Haslam beat Caroline Wilcock by 6-2, 6-1.

In the MENS DOUBLES Alexis Alexander and William Ingram played Henry Peplow and Clive Panto. Alexis and William won by 6-1, 6-3, although again the result was closer than the score suggests.

The LADIES DOUBLES was won by Lucy Markham and Caroline Wilcock who beat Jean Stockton and Adele Hemmings by 6-3, 6-2.

Gayer and Jerome	Caroline and Clare
Alexis and William	Lucy and Caroline

The Club Mixed doubles tournament was played on Sunday, 25th. The first rounds took the form of a round robin, with the two top pairs in each section playing a semi final. In the semi finals Roger Gill and Lyndsey Mann beat Alexis Alexander and Gerry Capps, and Ralph Stockton and Gay Bradbury beat Bob Lacey and Caroline Wilcock. In the Final Roger and Lyndsey came out winners over Ralph and Gay.

Roger and Lyndsey with their cup

Runners up Ralph and Gay

Volleying Practice