Muir MacKean reports:
Frome Selwood Tennis Club hosted their Annual Ratings Tournament this last week with the finals day on Sunday 19th July. This was the 21st consecutive annual tournament to be held at the club. These tournaments are open to a wide range of ages and abilities. Each player has a rating from British Tennis, and they enter the section of the tournament appropriate to their ability. If a player has a series of wins against higher-rated players his own rating will improve. Several players in the tournament came from far afield, some from as far away as the Midlands.
The Men’s Division 10 Final was held between two Frome Juniors - Robin Murray and Zeb Devey-Waterhouse. Robin beat Zeb (age 13) 6-1, 6-0. Men’s Division 9.2 was won by Oliver Grumbar – a qualified coach, who many pundits feel should have a higher grading. He beat Callan Page – a young and talented player from the Wincanton Club 6-3, 7-5. The Divison 7 / 6.2 final was won by Frome lad Tristan Williams. He beat last year’s overall winner Chris Bishop 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). This was an awesome and entertaining final, that lasted well over two hours and was played uncomplainingly and in good spirit by both players through atrociously wet conditions. Tristan, who plays much of his tennis at the University of Bath, had a very successful tournament, only losing one of his 8 matches played. The overall men’s final (Men’s Tableau) was won by Rod Valentine from the Lansdown Club at Bath who beat Chris Martin, who also plays his tennis in Bath, 7-5. 6-3. This final played in the late afternoon was severely affected by very heavy squally showers, and took 3 hours from start to finish due to many rain delays.
There were also two ladies events. The Division 9 event was won by Frome girl Linda Perry who beat Julie Devey 6-1, 6-2. Linda is also the current Frome Ladies Singles Champion. The Ladies Tableau was won convincingly by young and stylish Liz Deem from a great Somerset tennis-playing family. She beat last year’s champion Sue Williamson in straight sets. Frome Selwood Tennis Club would like to thank all who took part and all of the companies involved including: The Bell at Buckland Dinham, Harris and Harris, Sydenhams Hire Centres, Wessex Autocolors, and Cadburys Flake.