Graeme Baker reports from Rugby LTC's Open Vets Mixed Tennis event:
Last weekend at Webb Ellis Road, Rugby LTC kicked off their first major tournament of the year with an Open Vets Mixed tournament. Pairs entered from Coventry, Nottingham and several clubs around Rugby. It was also very encouraging to see many new faces taking part in their first full day event.
The format of play initially saw 16 pairs playing each other in 2 round robins with 8 pairs in each group. The results from these matches determined the placing and which knockout group each pair would be in. The winners and runner-ups of each knockout event would take the prizes.
In the main knockout, Chris Haynes and Andrea Randle ran out comfortable 6-1 winners against Peter Brinkley and Alison Kelly. Meanwhile, the 3rd/ 4th knockout event, saw Statham Bates and Suzanne Roberts from Beechwood, Coventry seeing off a strong challenge from Justin Grigg and Lisa Webb to win 6-4. Mick Hammond and Sarah Biggs made it a double for Beechwood as they beat David Higham and Michelle Stuchbury to claim the 5th/6th prize. The 7th/8th event saw the closest match of the day as Paul and Sue Eaton narrowly beat Andy Randle and Sarah Jones 7 points to 5 in the deciding tie-break.
Finally, I’d like to thank Michelle Stuchbury for organising all the lovely food on the day and for all those who chipped in to help.