The official name HSBC Road to Wimbledon has been a flagship event for 20 years supported by the AELTC and sponsored by the HSBC throughout this time. It's central purpose is to provide opportunities for 14 and Under players to progress to an event beginning in their Clubs through the Counties to a National event held on the courts at Wimbledon in the second week of August. In the early years the girls event was won by Jade Windley and the following year by Sam Vickers.
As the event evolved it was decided to split the Whole event into 2 tiers - International for British players who have a rating of 6.2 or better and Qualify at Regional events and a second tier for players not better than 7.1 when entering.
Those ‘in the know’ are keen to qualify and this can make for tense finals in the County event. This year, as ever, the Lincolnshire round was hosted by Eastgate on the weekend of the Wimbledon finals. After heavy rain on Saturday morning the girl started at about midday. The quarter finals produced no surprises though there was a tight match between Rosalind Battey (Stamford) and Assise Hayre (St James). The semis finals were between Christie Halton (Grantham) and Rosalind and between Lucy Evans (Burton Waters) and Alice Gamman (Boston). In the final Christie defeated Lucy and follows her sister Angela (who won last year’s county event) to Wimbledon.
On Sunday the boys event was for 12 players. After a preliminary round the draw was reduced to quarter finals. Top seed William Cheer (Boston) came through beating Alex Armstrong (Horncastle) and William Dunning (Louth) to play Max Jones (Burton Waters) in the final which he won 4-1, 4-1.
Players entered from 12 Clubs and 1 School. We would like more to enter of course.
Tony Stamp
Referee
