Club News

 

Braintree Lawn Tennis Club held their 20th annual open men’s doubles tournament on Saturday 23rd July. Sponsored by ESU Scoreboards and Stringer’s World the cup was contested by 20 pairs of players from clubs including The Essex, Avenue, Bures, Lavenham, Great Baddow, Sudbury, Thaxted, Hedingham and of course Braintree.

With the field split into four groups of five, the tournament began with a round robin competition, each pair playing a set against the other four in their group. With forty group matches to be played, the competition was spread across the club’s three artificial grass and one hard court and was overseen by club secretary and tournament organiser Sue Spinks. Running virtually on time the results were complete at the scheduled time of 4.30pm when the knockout stage of the tournament began.

 

Group winners were drawn and played semi-finals consisting of a long set to 8. The first was an all Braintree affair with last year’s winners Luke Kelly & James Bardell losing 8-5 to Ash Baker & Will Bardell. On the adjacent court Hedingham pair Matt & Joe Doe took the set 8-5 from Avenue’s Peter Thornton & Andrew Rosser.

After a brief break the victors took to the court for the final. An appreciative audience was treated to some first class tennis, aces from both pairs produced some quick points but there were also a good number of long and entertaining rallies. Despite great perseverance, and producing some incredible shots, Will & Ash couldn’t quite manage the consistency of the Doe brothers and saw the first set go against them 6 - 3.

 

With all to play for the second set began in the same competitive manner and produced some play of the highest standard. Matt & Joe had however reached their peak and powered through to take the set 6 – 2, and with it the title for the second time in its history. Their names will be added again to the trophy, with which they are pictured. Both winners and runners-up were presented with vouchers from Stringer’s World who supply racquets, clothing and accessories for tennis and other sports.

Entries are now being taken for the open Ladies Doubles Tournament to be held on Saturday 3rd September. Numbers will be limited so early applications are advised – please click here for further details or call Sue Spinks on 01376 322030.