Once upon a time five “old boys” from Hallamshire tennis club decided to enter the prodigious National Club Over 70’s Men’s tennis competition 2013.
The first rounds were played as four doubles rubbers and the team travelled to Lancashire to play South Ribble, we won 4-0. The second round at home against Stourbridge we also won 4-0 and the third round quarter –final away against Warwick Boat Club, we won by one set, never having played on boats before!
Into the semi-final now, the format changed to two singles rubbers and three doubles.
With regard to our away quarter-final, we fortunately drew Connaught Club Essex, at home. We won by 4 rubbers to one and earned a place in the final at David Lloyd Leisure Centre, Dudley, last Friday 15th November.
Our opponents were Exmouth Club, a club which appeared to draw their players from the whole of Devon and Cornwall, as we recognised team members from both of these Counties.
The “old fellas” had a very good day. John Andrews won his number one singles 6-4, 6-3, against Andrew James, a Great Britain player. Ray Ranson won his singles, 6-1, 6-2 and Mike Glover and Fergus Gibb won their doubles, 6-3, 6-4. In the remaining two doubles matches, Mile Glover and Andrew Batcup lost in a third set tie –break (9-11!) and John Andrews and Ray Ranson won 6-2, 6-3.
The winners of the competition qualify to play in the European Club Championships at La Manga in September 2014. Bring it on! Hopefully, the muscles and joints keep working until then.