Inspirational Suffolk Men’s Captain Jeremy Cowley, whose side last week magnificently retained their status in the lofty heights of Group 2, will not be defending his Singles titles at the ever-popular Framlingham Tournament, which will be staged in the College Grounds all next week.
Cowley has won the Suffolk Closed title for an impressive five years running, and it will be strange not to see him in action this year. However, another 350 tennis enthusiasts of all standards and ages will be competing in this unique event, and despite changes to organisational personnel as well, a good time is sure to be had by all.
Top seeds in both the Closed and Open Singles are last year’s runner-up Matthew Hough, and recent East of England champion Myles Orton, who are both key members of that Men’s County side that have made such great progress in recent years. Other players expected to do well are Paul Midgley, Robert Camplin, Rohan Abel and Ryan Lambert, who also come from the bastion that is the Ipswich Sports Club, and Gregory Bacon, from Newmarket.
Whilst 23 Men will fight it out for the right to appear in the Thursday final, sadly the Suffolk Ladies’ Singles has attracted only 6 competitors, the leading trio of defending champion and 8-times winner Katie Tassell, her doubles partner and twice-champion Louise Rogers, and Framlingham’s Kari Sherington, look to be in a class of their own.
The Grade 3 Junior Tournament has once again attracted a bumper entry of top juniors from far and wide, with the Boys’ 18, 16 and 14 Singles draws all over a very impressive forty.Our home players will need to be at their very best against high-quality outside opposition, with the likes of 14U/12U defending champion Luke Hammond, from the Edgbaston Priory Club, making a welcome return. Kitty McWhirter, Ella Monsey and Nia Braidford, lead the home challenge for the girls.
Veteran players defending their titles include Julie Sexton, Paul Hammond and Mellony Milner, with former Suffolk Men’s Captain and Closed Champion eager to improve on his runner’s-up spot in the Men’s 45.0 Singles event.
Christine Janes takes over from Norman Woodcock as President, following Norman’s recent passing, Steve Pilcher assumes the role of Referee following Gordon Blake’s retirement after an incredible 34 years, Tournament Secretary Beryl Martin also stepping down after serving for the same period of time., and James Lightfoot takes the helm as the new Tournament Chairman. Despite a high number of enforced changes, a good week’s tennis is sure to be enjoyed by all.