2013 News

2013 Season

7th September

The finals of the Colchester & District Friendly League tournament were held at Dedham tennis club on Saturday 7th September.

The men’s singles final was a repeat of the 2012 final contested by Chris Burridge of Spring Lane and Daniel Harty of Dedham. Chris Burridge was the eventual winner for the second year running after he won a hard fought final set championship tie-break 10-8. In the ladies singles Ali Hysom also of Spring Lane was victorious, taking part in her first singles final she defeated Linda Taylor, West Mersea, in straight sets.

Chris Burridge then partnered Harry Turpin in the mixed doubles to win a tight match on the second set tie-break against last year’s winners Gerry Borley and Louise Thomas-Unger, Little Clacton. An under 16 boy’ singles round robin took place between Luke Harris (Wivenhoe), Charlie Clarke (Dedham) and Michael Kelly (Lexden R&F). Michael Kelly won both his ties to become the overall winner. Round robin events were also contested in the veteran mixed and veteran men’s doubles. Kathy and Bob Salmon, Colchester Lawn, were overall winners in the veteran mixed playing matches against Linda Taylor with Gerry Borley and Sherry and Andy Hodgson, Spring Lane. In the veteran men’s Gerry Borley and John Russell, Little Clacton, were victorious and retained their title against pairings of Russell Sainty with Robert Lewis, Dedham, and Bob Salmon with Steve Oldacre, Colchester Lawn.

The men’s doubles was another closely fought match with Daniel Harty and Sachio Ando, Dedham, winning a final set championship tie-break against James Wargent and William Chatters of West Mersea. In the veteran ladies, last year’s winners Sue Wargent and Linda Taylor of West Mersea also lost out to the 2011 winners Chris Pettman and Margaret Mitchell, Wivenhoe. Chris and Margaret also contested the ladies doubles but were eventually defeated by a delighted Melanie Woods and Noriko Kelly of Lexden R&F who retained the title for the 5th year running.

John Sambrook, chairman and Bob Salmon, treasurer presented the trophies, thanked Dedham for staging the finals this year and thanked scorekeepers Christine Clark, Hilary Cairns, Matt Smith, Roger Payne and Gerry Owens. Team shields were won by Wivenhoe (men’s), Colchester Lawn (mixed) and Little Clacton (ladies)

Boys singles finalists Michael Kelly (Spring Lane) (winner); Luke Harris (Wivenhoe); Charlie Clarke (Dedham) (runner-up)

Mens singles finalists Dan Harty (Dedham) and Chris Burridge (Spring Lane) (winner)

Ladies singles finalists Linda Taylor (West Mersea) and Ali Hysom (Spring Lane) (winner)

Mens doubles finalists James Wargent & William Chatters (West Mersea); Dan Harty & Sachio Ando (Dedham) (winners)

Ladies doubles finalists Margaret Mitchell & Chris Pettman (Wivenhoe); Noriko Kelly & Melanie Woods (Spring Lane) (winners)

Mixed doubles finalists Gerry Borley & Louise Thomas-Unger (Little Clacton); Harry Turpin & Chris Burridge (Spring Lane) (winners)

Veteran mens doubles finalists John Russell & Gerry Borley (Little Clacton) (winners); Steve Oldacre & Bob Salmon (Colchester Lawn); Russell Sainty & Robert Lewis (Dedham) (runners-up)

Veteran ladies doubles finalists Margaret Mitchell & Chris Pettman (Wivenhoe) (winners); Sue Wargent & Linda Taylor (West Mersea)

Veteran mixed doubles finalists Contenders for the Don Rampling Cup Andy Hodson & Sherry Hodgson (Spring Lane); Gerry Borley (Little Clacton) & Linda Taylor (West Mersea) (runners-up); Kathy Salmon & Bob Salmon (Colchester Lawn) (winners)

3rd April
The AGM was held on Wednesday 3rd April 2013. The following clubs have affiliated to the Friendly League for the 2013 season and have entered the following teams:

News from previous years

• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003

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