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TENNIS

All the up-to-date news from Boston Tennis Club

February 2006

News for week ending Sunday February 26

Over the weekend of February 25-26, Lincolnshire tennis teams competed in the LTA’s Ariel under-18 county cup. The Lincolnshire girls enjoyed a home venue at Boston Tennis Club.

This was a group three fixture involving Lincolnshire, North and South Wales and Cambridgeshire. The Lincolnshire boys were in group five at Abingdon, near Oxford competing against Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Boston Tennis Club members involved in the weekend’s events included Faye Button, Matthew Deane, Edward Fowler, Ashleigh Frankish, Danielle Frankish, Chris Herbert, James Povah, James Shacklock, Callum Simmons, Charlie Windley, Jade Windley and Samantha Vickers.

The girls made a strong start with a 9-0 win against North Wales on Friday. Facing the strongest team on Saturday the girls trailed 3-0 after the first three singles rubbers, narrowly missing out in two of these singles. A fine performance from Charlie Windley at number three singles gave Lincolnshire a foothold. Impressive play from Samantha Vickers at second string and Jade Windley at number one seed added two more rubbers to the Lincolnshire tally.

The two teams, level at three rubbers apiece, moved on to the three doubles rubbers. Lincolnshire won one of these but the other two doubles went to Cambridgeshire giving the opposition the all-important 5-4 win. On the final day Lincolnshire won 6-3 against South Wales earning themselves second overall position behind Cambridgeshire.

The boys played at Abingdon near Oxford. A close match on the first day against Oxfordshire left the team disappointed to miss out 4-5. This was particularly tough as the strongest opposition was on the middle day and the team lost out 2-7 to Somerset. With all to play for on the third day Lincolnshire played well to win convincingly 8-1 and finish third overall.

Meanwhile, the Boston and District Winter Tennis League is nearing a conclusion for the season.

Teams are not only finishing their scheduled matches but are also playing catch-up with postponed matches.

Boston B, the current leaders, have recorded wins in their last two matches. Against Louth the team of Ray Frankish, Simon Walker, Geoff Short and Edward Fowler won 4-0. A second win for the Boston B team was against Boston C. On this occasion Ray Frankish, Simon Walker, Chris Sweeney and Edward Fowler claimed the three points without the loss of a set against the Boston C team of Sushil Kumar, Chris Beale, Rachel Brooks and Patricia Sweeney.

Another Boston team in strong contention near the top of the league table are Boston E. a match against Pilgrim Tennis Club saw a 3-1 win for the team of Peter Elphick, Andrea Jackson, Rod Horne and Jeff Droy. However, against Rochford, the team of Andrea Jackson, Peter Elphick, Jenny Grant and Rod Horne were unlucky to just miss out by a 2½-1½ margin.

Boston A played Horncastle and had to settle for a losing draw in a close match. Callum Simmons, Carl Robinson, Charles Cottrell and Nathan Cook nearly forged out a win for themselves but missed out narrowly. With the score 2-2 the youngsters had to face a countback on games and fell four games short of Horncastle’s total.

News for week ending Sunday February 19

Three of the leagues that have been running over the winter months for Boston Tennis Club teams are nearing a conclusion. The Lincolnshire Veterans League and the Lincolnshire Mini Tennis League are completed as far as the Boston teams are concerned.

The Boston and District Winter League has tow weeks of scheduled matches remaining. In the first week that the Boston and District Winter League resumed after the break there were two inter-club fixtures.

Boston B had a clear win over Boston C. Playing for the B team was Ray Frankish, Simon Walker, Chris Sweeney and Edward Fowler. The team claimed the three points without the loss of a set against the Boston C team of Sushil Kumar, Chris Beale, Rachel Brooks and Patricia Sweeney.

In another inter-club match, Boston D played Boston A. Although another 4-0 score was registered, the match was closer than suggested by the final result. John Gibson, Oliver Thomas, Richard Tupper and Brian Pycock had the edge on the youngsters of the Boston A team. Playing for the Boston A on this occasion were Callum Simmonds, Nathan Cook, Charles Cottrell and Louis Warren. Boston E had a match against Pilgrim Tennis Club and won 3-1. The team was Peter Elphick, Andrea Jackson, Rod Horne and Jeff Droy.

In the Lincolnshire Veterans’ League, Boston ladies have rounded off the season. Against Bourne, Boston suffered a loss. The team of Sandra White, Lesley Addy, Pearl Wrigley and Frances Napper were unable to make an impression on strong opposition.

Boston ladies finished their league matches with a fixture against Bourne second ladies veteran team. In a close match, Boston, composing Hilary Calvert, Helen Cook, Liz Hewitt and Mary Smura, finished with a 3-1 win.

The matches for Boston teams in the Lincolnshire Mini-Tennis League have also been completed although the final positions are yet to be released.

The boys’ orange team know they finished in third position as their last match was a third/fourth play-off against Stamford. The team won 8-2 with Billy Hodgkiss, Joe Woolley, Ryan Walsh and Lewis Wyatt finishing in a creditable overall third place. The weekend of February 24-26 sees the under-18 Ariel Junior Winter County Cup take place at venues around the country.

All the counties compete in this event over three days. Teams of six players will play six singles matches and three doubles matches against three different counties.

The Lincolnshire boys’ team will travel to Abingdon to compete in their group of four counties. However, Lincolnshire girls’ team will compete at Boston Tennis Club. In a group alongside South Wales, North Wales and Cambridgeshire, the under-18 girls will begin their campaign on Friday morning. Spectators will be able to see some tennis of a high standard. All support is appreciated and spectators are welcome throughout the weekend.

News for week ending Sunday February 12

Andrea Jackson was chosen as Boston Tennis Club’s junior of the year in the coaches’ awards scheme. The recipients of the accolades, sponsored by Forceshift, were revealed on Saturday evening at a presentation ceremony at Boston Tennis Club. Andrea was chosen as the all round out standing junior of the year for her hard work, enthusiasm and the good example that she sets on and off the court. Other players and their families attended the event held to recognise and encourage the work, effort and achievements of the juniors throughout 2005.

Mary Thompson, representing the sponsors, Forceshift, presented trophies to the winners. The first category to be presented was that of the coaches’ accolades — John Butters, Andrew Cook, Richard Cook, Catherine Ellis and Mary Smura.

The most improved players award winners were Charlotte Harness-Knowles, Andrea Jackson, Henry Warren, Beth Ridlington and Chris Mackin. The “most pleasurable person to coach” accolades went to Oliver Harrod, Victoria Mason, Lewis Fisher, Lara Smith and Luke Rennick.

Next was the coaches’ special award which was attained by Elizabeth Hall, Christopher Coupland, Sam Barrell and a double award to Suzie Olczak. Finally the coaches chose players who they believed put in effort out of club time whether it be during lessons, practising, competing, or helping out in one way or another. The winners were Ben Mills, Thomas Emmerson, Madeline Verdegaal, Kieran Edmonds and Ryan Walsh.

Following this, trophies went to Lewis Fisher for the most improved player at Playing Sessions. CAlum McCaig collected the trophy for the best attendance at these sessions, which are held from April until October on a Saturday morning and also on a Wednesday and Friday morning during school holidays. Joe Woolley was the choice of the helpers at playing sessions for an award.

Achievements on court were recognised as follows: Edward Fowler and Danielle Frankish as the highest placed juniors in the main singles league; Daniel Sharpe and Kathie Dawson, the junior winter singles league winners; and Andrei Clark and Danielle Frankish the junior summer league winners.

In the Road to Wimbledon, a competition held during the summer months, Jonathan Cheer and Danielle Frankish represented Boston Tennis Club in the county finals and received a trophy to mark this. Will Mason was the recipient of a special award in this category.

Trophies marking success in the club championships were awarded to the boys’ club champion James Povah and the girls club champion Danielle Frankish. County champions in 2005, Elizabeth Hall and Andrei Clark each received a trophy to mark their outstanding achievements.

The team of the year — for an outstanding performance in National Junior Club League — was the boys under-12s second team comprising Lewis Fisher, James Fairweather, Calum McCaig and James Niedermeier. In addition to the presentations made on February 11, every junior involved in coaching received a certificate as part of the coaches’ junior awards, sponsored by Forceshift. The scheme will take place again during 2006.

News for week ending Sunday February 5

Excitement levels are rising in the Boston Tennis Club Winter Singles League, notably with Callum Simmons (14 points) taking over in top spot in the main singles competition with Ray Frankish second on 11 points.

This month’s Division One competition comprises Callum and Will Mason as well as Chris Sweeney and Michael Emery. Ray Frankish is in Division Two alongside James Sweeney and Phil Cosgriff.

Geoff Short, Danielle frankish and Andrei Clark represent the composition of the remaining division.

In the Winter Singles Day League, Jeremy George-Jones has accumulated 22 points from 12 matches, well ahead of his other rivals with Richard Tupper, Tim Moorhouse and Richard Walker all next in line on 11 points.

In the month ahead, Jeremy will now play Tim Moorhouse, Chris Mepham and Richard Tupper in Division One, while Richard Tupper, Sushil Kumar and Alan Clifton will contest Division Two. The other division comprises John Fisher, Phil Cosgriff and Chris Cook.

In the Junior Singles League, Tom Phoenix leads the way with 12 points from six straight victories, two ahead of Tom Emerson who, to date, had lost only once.