2022 News
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2022 News |
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Finals Day — Saturday 10th September
Saturday 10th September at Lexden Hill Tennis Club courts saw the culmination of this year's Colchester and District Friendly Tennis League Individual Tournaments, with eight matches played across singles, doubles and Veterans' doubles. In respect for the country in mourning for our late Queen Elizabeth II, a minute's silence was held prior to the first round of matches.
This year we had over 30% of players participating in the finals for the first time, demonstrating the role that the Friendly Tennis League plays in enabling new players to get into the competitive aspect of our sport. It was clear that everyone had an enjoyable day, with even those who lost expressing their thanks for being able to take part.
In the singles competition, the men's event was won by Alex Temple after a very close game against Paul Gloc, winning the match in the third set tie break, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7. The women's final was between two players new to the finals, both encapsulating the supportive nature of the tournament and after many long rallies and much effort Chloe Metson won 6-0, 6-1 against Elena Appoggi. With many of the doubles players knowing each other well through club tennis and previous tournaments, there was an added element of inter-club rivalry to some matches. An example was a comment from a player who had just out-foxed his opposite number saying 'I can go home happy now having won that point’. He then went on to lose the match but kept smiling.
In the ladies' doubles, Christine Metson and Rabia Malik played well in a match that ebbed and flowed between the teams at the start of each set before winning 6-2, 6-3 against Elena Appoggi and Sarah Gardner. In the men's doubles, Sam Taylor and Chris Burridge won a hard-fought first set before winning 6-3, 6-0 against Andrew Hodgson and Paul Thomas. In the mixed doubles, we saw Christine and James Metson reaching the final at their first attempt but lost to Alex Temple and Emily Jones 6-0, 6-1. In the Veterans' Doubles Tournament, five of the six pairs were not in the last year's finals. In the ladies doubles, last year's winners Christine Clark and Clare Smee fought hard in a close game but lost their title to Mary Moir and Sherry Hodgson, who won 6-4, 6-4. The vet mens doubles proved to be one of the closest matches of the day, with Matt Smith and Mick Todd winning the first set tie break and then coming from 5-3 down in the second set to beat Sam Taylor and Chris Burridge 7-6, 7-5. The vet mixed doubles was an all Spring Lane affair with Sam Taylor and Mary Moir beating Andrew and Sherry Hodgson 6-4, 6-0.
Christine Clark, the new chair of the Colchester and District Friendly Tennis League Committee, thanked the helpers who made the day possible and especially Sherry Hodgson who organised the event again this year. She presented the winners with their individual shields and the tournament trophies. She also presented shields to the winning teams in the three league competitions: Ladies' winners Lexden Rackets, runners-up the Officers Club, Men's winners Lexden Hill, runners-up the Officers club, Mixed winners the Officers Club, runners-up Lexden Rackets. Christine closed the day by encouraging everyone who had taken part to promote the event to others in their club next year.
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Ladies Singles finalists Elena Appoggi (Spring Lane); Chloe Metson (Spring Lane)(winner) |
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Mens singles finalists Alex Temple (Lexden Hill) (winner); Paul Gloc (Officers' Club) |
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Mens doubles finalists Contenders for the John Sambrook Cup Andy Hodgson & Paul Thomas (Spring Lane); Chris Burridge & Sam Taylor (Spring Lane) (winners) |
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Ladies doubles finalists Elena Appoggi & Sarah Gardner (Spring Lane); Christine Metson & Rabia Malik (Spring Lane) (winners) |
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Mixed doubles finalists Alex Temple (Lexden Hill) & Emily Jones (Spring Lane)(winners); Christine & James Metson (Spring Lane) |
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Veteran mens doubles finalists Matt Smith (Spring Lane) & Mick Todd (Lavenham)(winners); Sam Taylor & Chris Burridge (Spring Lane) |
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Veteran ladies doubles finalists Mary Moir & Sherry Hodgson (Spring Lane)(winners); Clare Smee & Christine Clark (Wivenhoe) |
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Veteran mixed doubles finalists Contenders for the Don Rampling Cup Mary Moir & Sam Taylor(Spring Lane) (winners); Sherry & Andrew Hodgson (Spring Lane) |
10th May: Death of Roger Payne
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It was with much sadness that we learnt that Roger Payne died on Tuesday 10th May aged 83. Roger was a great supporter of the Friendly League and was serving on the Committee, as he had done for many years, at the time of his death. We really valued his input and advice. Roger was a stalwart of The Little Clacton Tennis Club, who will also be mourning his loss. Roger was a very keen, and good, quizzer who appeared on many quiz shows including The Weakest Link (twice) and Fifteen-to-One. We send our deepest sympathy to all his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by the Friendly League. |
AGM — Wednesday 13th April
Christine Clark was elected as Chair to replace John Sambrook who sadly died last year, see Committee.
The Affiliation Fee was increased to £5. All other fees were unchanged.
The following clubs have affiliated to the Friendly League for the 2022 season and have entered the following teams:
| Colchester Officers' Club: | Ladies Teams (3-pair), Mens Team (3-pair), Mixed Team |
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| Dedham: | For individual tournaments only |
| Kirby: | Ladies Team (3-pair), Mens Team (3-pair), Mixed Team |
| Lexden Hill: | Mens Team (3-pair) |
| Lexden Rackets and Fitness Club: | Ladies Team (2-pair), Mens Team (2-pair), Mixed Team |
| Little Clacton: | For individual tournaments only |
| Spring Lane Tennis Club: | For individual tournaments only |
| Wivenhoe: | Ladies Team (2-pair), Mens team (2-pair), Mixed team |
AGM — Wednesday 13th April at The Colchester Officers'
Club starting at 7.30
The Annual General Meeting (and fixtures meeting) will be held on Wednesday 13th April 2022 at The Colchester Officers' Club, St John's Green, Colchester, Essex CO2 7EZ starting at 7.30pm. The bar will be open if you wish to purchase refreshments.
If your club is planning on entering teams into the Colchester and District Friendly League this year, or players into the individual tournament, this is a great opportunity to find out about the other teams involved and arrange your fixtures for the year. Generally each club sends one representative but all team captains or representatives are welcome.