Tournament: Finals Day 2010
Third singles title for Chester; new ladies singles champion; mega-length matches, mid-match scratches and the last match standing finishing after everyone had gone (well, not quite)! And, the juniors show us how it really should be done!
The weather was kind to us again this year on club Finals Day - warm and dry with some (welcome) occasional clouding over as the afternoon turned to evening. The (as it turned out, purely aspirational) order of play for the day was:
Proceedings kicked off in good time with the Ladies Singles on court 1, the mens super-veterans, over 55 doubles, challenge Wayman match on centre court and the finals of the Mixed Doubles Plate on court 3. No match was without its drama.
Ladies SinglesJane Hodge vs Katie Marsdin
Ladies Singles challenger, Katie Marsdin, moved ahead from mid-way in the first set against Jane Hodge to close out that set at 6-3. At this stage the tennis was quite tentative but Katie managed to up her game again in the second set, eventually winning in two straight sets.
Final score: 6 - 7, 6 - 3, 6 - 1
Veteran Mens Doubles (Over 55)Joe Killeen and Ian Wasse vs Wayman Morris and Ray Barnett
Not so short-lived for the other two finals in progress at the same time. The Veterans Mens Doubles (Over 55) saw Joe Killeen and Ian Wasse take an early one-set lead on a tie-break, only to lose out in the second set 6 - 3 to Wayman Morris and Ray Barnett. All to play for then in the final set. The final set was more straightforward for Wayman and Ray, completing their victory 6 - 1 after over 2 hours on court.
Final score: 6 - 3, 6 - 0.
Mixed Doubles PlateCarol Grant and Campbell Oswald vs Geoff Redfern and Catherine Eley
The action on court 3 (the Mixed Doubles Plate finals) was also no picnic, taking close to 3 hours to complete. Injured Carol Grant saw herself and Campbell Oswald take the first set 6 - 4, despite Carol taking a (tapped) volley in the face during a particularly length exchange with Geoff Redfern and Catherine Eley. The second set was hard fought for again, eventually seeing Geoff and Catherine take it 7 - 6 on a tie break. Again, all to play for in the third set, as this appeared to be going with serve (from the long-distance vantage point of the club terrace) encompassing some great reflex actions from Campbell in a 3 hit exchange with Geoff right at the net, the point eventually going to Carol and Campbell. In the end, only one break of serve was necessary for Carol and Campbell to see off Geoff and Catherine at 6 - 4.
Final score: 6 - 4, 6 - 7, 6 - 4.
At this stage, the scheduling logistics for the day were seriously under threat - the awards ceremony slated to be at 5.30pm wasnt looking on the cards. Another drink, I think.
Mens SinglesChester Barnes and Rob Yates
Next up on centre court was the second premier event of the day (the first being the Ladies Singles final) which was, unsurprisingly, the Mens Singles Final. Contested this year by twice-winner (2004 and 2005), Chester Barnes, along with fellow league team player Rob Yates. Both players were good technically and each had a grab-bag of amusing little trickery that they have uleashed on us poor mortals in the past - a good, tightly contested match was in the offing. However, it was not to be. Both players seemed to concentrate on not-losing rather than on winning which resulted in a long (3-hours+) match with little to commend it to the faithful who were watching. Chester eventually ran out the winner in 3 long sets, Rob sustaining a leg injury when he was up 6 - 5 in the final set. Both men were knackered when they came off court. When receiving his award, Chester did apologise profusely to the audience for the lack of spectacle in this match. You do what you need to do, I imagine.
Final score: 6 - 3, 4 - 6, 6 - 8.
Ladies Singles PlateRuth Fennell vs Gill Lewis
Meanwhile, another close encounter was in progress on court 4 - the Ladies Singles Plate match contested this year between Ruth Fennell and Gill Lewis. While the audience remained enthralled with the Mens Singles Final, this match was running it close for longevity. Gill took a closely fought first set before losing the second set to Ruth and setting us up for yet another 3-set'ter. The finale set was eventually won by Ruth after she and Gill had been on court for over two hours.
Final score: 5 - 7, 6 - 3, 6 - 2.
The schedule! The schedule!
Veterans Mens DoublesRob Yates and Nigel Jones vs Mark Walker and Savio Gaspar
Centre court next hosted the Veterans Mens Doubles final between league pair Rob Yates and Nigel Jones (after Rob had a few minutes rest!) and last year's winning pairing of Mark Walker and Savio Gaspar. You almost wanted this to complete in two sets so we could get back on track - and the guys didn't disappoint. Rob and Nigel took too long to get into their normal rhythmn, losing the first set 6 - 0 before rallying a little as the second set got nunder way. But it was a short-lived recovery as they eventually lost the second set 6 - 2.
Final score: 6 - 0, 6 - 2.
Veterans Ladies DoublesTerri Mason and Carol Grant vs Wendy Jones and Colette Thomson
Meanwhile, on court 3, the Veteran Ladies Doubles final got under way. Terri Mason and Carol Grant (who were the existing title holders from 2009 and 2008) faced opposition from fellow league pairing Wendy Jones and Colette Thomson. Despite Carol's injury and the usual crop of spectacularly failed shots (well, it is usual at Hampton finals days) Carol and Terri moved into a one-set lead closing the first set at 7 - 5. The second set moved along briskly with the existing champions once again running out worthy winners.
Final score: 7 - 5, 6 - 0.
Mens DoublesIan Poole and Tony Eccleston vs Sam Peace and Jonny Hunt
Court 1 now played host to the "Battle of the Titans" that was the Mens Doubles final. The two coaches (Ian Poole and Sam Peace) were each partnered by other 1st and 2nd team players - Tony Eccleston (with Ian) and Jonny Hunt (with Sam). Now this was proper tennis - no need to set your alarm for a wake-up call. Both sides went at it with gusto, with both outright power shots and extremely accurate pushes - and hardly a tantrum in sight! Ian and Tony had a difficult job in the first set, eventually closing it out at 7 - 5. Jonny and Sam werent able to generate the same level of trouble for Ian and Tony in the second set, eventually losing that one 6 - 1.
Final score: 7 - 5, 6 - 1.
Ladies DoublesCarol Grant and Jane Hodge vs Lucy Wasse and Katie Marsdin
While this was under way, Jane Hodge and Carol Grant (injured and in her third final of the day) were facing new challengers (Katie Marsdin and Lucy Wasse) for the Ladies Doubles title. Carol and Jane had won this title in 2008 and 2009 but were no match this time around for their challengers, losing the first set 6 - 3. During the second set, Carol sustained a further injury (to add to her initial wrist problems and the earlier in the day volley-in-the-face), this time to her leg/ankle. This time, the damage was too much and Carol had to withdraw from this match at 2 - 2 in the second set, therefore ceding the match to Katie and Lucy.
Final score: 6 - 3, 2 - 2 (scratched after injury).
Mixed DoublesLucy Wasse and Mark Joannides vs Ian Poole and Emma Shalley
The single positive outcome from Carol having to withdraw from the Ladies Doubles final was that this then released Lucy Wasse to take part in the final of the Mixed Doubles (with Mark Jonnides) against Ian Poole and Emma Shalley. This match looked as if it had legs as well, the first set only being resolved at 7 - 5 to Lucy and Mark. Surprisingly, the scond set was to be fairly plain sailing for Lucy and Mark who eventually ran out winners at 6 - 0.
Final score: 7 - 5, 6 - 0 (scratched after injury).
Mens Singles PlatePaul Thomas vs Charlie Rickard
At this point, already almost an hour late with the awards, it was decided to present the awards for most of the matches - leaving only the Mens Singles Plate wending it lonely way onwards on court 1, between Paul Thomas and Charlie Rickard. And wouldnt you know it, this one also turned out to be a 3 set'ter, despite the best efforts of Paul Thomas in the second set tie-break to close it out. In front of a dwindling (dwindled?) crowd, Charlie and Paul treated us to a good mix of serve and volley, passing shots and lobs throughout the match, culimnating in Paul taking the third set (and the match) at approaching 8.00pm!
Final score: 7 - 5, 6 - 7, 6 - 3.
Print