Risbygate Tennis Reports

The Annual General Meeting of the Tennis Club took place recently at the club’s Westley Road HQ. David Dougan, who resigned as secretary after three years, was thanked for his hard and effective work during that time. His replacements will be Martin and Ben Hayden who will act as joint Secretaries. Ben also took on the job of tournament organiser. Newly appointed Club President Kelvin Morton agreed to remain as Match Secretary, a job he has done for the last thirty years, a wonderful achievement. Kelvin Morton and Andrew Willis were elected Men’s Team Captains for the Cambridge and Norfolk and Suffolk Leagues respectively, with Annemarie Vis and Angela McGowan taking on the Ladies Captaincies.

The club had a modest year on the trophy front in League and Cup contests but mention should be made of the Ladies team which went through its Norfolk and Suffolk League season undefeated. Next Summer the club will field three Ladies, two Men’s and one Mixed teams in the Cambridge League, and one Ladies, one Men’s and one Mixed in the Norfolk and Suffolk League. In addition, a Ladies and a Men’s team have been entered in the Grays Cup. Anyone interested in playing league tennis, or simply enjoying social play on a regular basis, should contact Tennis Secretary Martin Haydon (telephone 01284 766691).

Trophies were  presented to the winners of the Club’s 2008 tournaments as follows:-

Ladies Singles - Melanie Lesser, runner up Genella Doble

Ladies Doubles - Sue Glasswell and Melanie Lesser, runners up Salome Smit and Jo Harpur

Men’s Singles - Sam Ratcliffe, runner up Mike Ellis

Men’s Doubles - Mike Ellis and Mark Peters, runners up Peter Herriott and Sam Ratcliffe.

 17 November 2008

Risbygate Ladies opened the Winter season for the tennis club with a home match against Ely but did not, unfortunately, make a winning start. The visitors proved to be stiff opposition and, despite some good play by the Risbygate ladies, particularly the regular pairing of Dorothy Donaldson and Genella Doble, led by 3 sets to 1 at the halfway stage. Dorothy and Genella took the point when they halved with Ely’s first pair, 6-3,   3-6 but Angela McGowan and Salome Smit struggled against their opposite number, losing two and one. In the second round Angela and Salome were unfortunate not to get something from the rubber. After starting hesitantly and losing the first set 6-2, they recovered really well and made Ely’s first pair pull out all the stops to take the second set 7-5. Dorothy and Genella continued to play consistently in the second round, winning their first set 7-5 before losing a tight final set  6-4. This left the Cambridge club worthy winners of the match by 6 sets to 2.

Richard Hornsby

Press Officer

The Club welcomes new members not only for tennis but other sections as well, including bowls (indoor and outdoor) and squash. Please see the site pages headed FEES and MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM for further details, or telephone the Club’s office on 01284 755143.