Prested Hall & LRTA Doubles Day: 26th June 2010

The match report, and a selection of the photographs kindly taken by Freddy Adam, may be found on the LRTA's http://www.lrta.org.uk/pdd/10_pdd.php webpage

Report published in The Witham and Braintree Times

DOUBLES JOY FOR PRESTED PAIR

On their first outing as a doubles pair, Prested Hall Real Tennis Club’s Felicity Simpson and Annabel Wyatt found their attacking styles of play well-suited, winning the Ladies Real Tennis Association’s “highest with lowest” handicap doubles tournament, held at the Club to celebrate its 10th anniversary, without dropping a set. Carrie Hart (Oratory) and Audrey Yeung (Queen’s) were worthy runners-up.

Promising 15-year-old Jess Garside (Seacourt) received the Woman of the Match prize. Jacqueline McCormick (Prested) was given a special award for services to the sport.

Against advice, Claire Vigrass (Prested) braved a foot injury sustained in the Herbert Invitational, to partner up-and-coming British Ladies Open Doubles finalist, Aldona Greenwood (Manchester), in the exhibition match against US No.1 Frederika Adam (Oxford University) and Penny Lumley (Holyport). Despite Greenwood’s valiant efforts to cover the back of the court, Adam and Lumley, who amassed 13 world titles at the height of her playing career, triumphed 6-2, 6-3.

Presenting the prizes, Mike Carter, Prested’s proprietor, thanked the LRTA’s Gill Goddard (Hatfield) and Prested’s Alix Barfett for organising the event. He also congratulated Vigrass on her ladies’ open doubles Grand Slam and other achievements this season, the latest being her selection as the first woman ever to represent Great Britain in the Van Alen Cup, a series of matches held every 2 years between amateur players aged under 26 from GB and the US. Vigrass joins GB’s team of Jamie Douglas (Cambridge University, captain), Will Fortune (Oxford University), and Conor Medlow (Seacourt), as no. 4.