Old Basing Tennis Club held its most successful finals day ever on Saturday, September 2, with more than 40 spectators watching seven matches over several hours of play.
The Summer Tournament, organised by Del Salter, had the largest number of entrants that the club has ever seen with a total of 55 matches played between June and September, culminating in 18 men and women trying their hardest on finals day to win one of the trophies and the accolade of being champion for 2023.
Brothers Marcus and James Robertson put up a good fight in men’s doubles, but the worthy victors were Jamie Thomas and Andy Riding.
In the women’s singles, the win went to Jane Reap who played a solid game in the sun and heat, against Bev Cleaver.
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Next Jamie Thomas and Marcus Robertson played each other in the men’s singles and after some spectacular rallies, Jamie retained his title. This is his ninth title in the last 10 years.
In women’s handicap doubles, where pairs are given different starting scores to try and even up the play, the eventual victors were Lynn Pullen and Jenny Vaux who beat Alison Cruickshanks and Jan Petto to the title.
In the men’s handicap doubles new members Gary Baker and Ryan Hailey prevailed over Nigel Hatt and Steve Vaux in an exciting match.
In the women’s doubles final, Sandie Benham and Bev Cleaver won the first set, but defending champions Jane Hatter and Penny Luke retained the title.
The final match of the day was a two-hour hard-fought battle for the mixed doubles title.
Mother and son team Lynne and Jamie Thomas lost the first set to Penny Luke and Marcus Robertson, who then had two match points in the second set.
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But Jamie’s command of the court and his mother’s excellent defending of the net position meant that they won the tie-break in the second set and went on to win the deciding set to retain their title.
Special mention goes to Jamie Thomas who won all three finals that he entered.
The worthy winners of the seven finals were awarded their trophies. Both singles trophies were first presented when the club was formed in 1931.
The final award, the Betty Holmes Cup for the person who supported the tennis club and its members in an outstanding way throughout the year, went to Steve Vaux who has organised three fun mixed tournaments throughout the year, raised funds for the club by selling old tennis balls to dog owners, and has proactively supported the club’s quest for court lighting.
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