Congratulations to both our Percy Finch teams who defeated The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club teams at the weekend.
It is 10 years since the ‘A’ Team ‘brought home’ the beautiful ‘Brouye’ Trophy Racquet to adorn the Club.

The ‘A’ Team was represented by Kieran Booth, Hilton Booth, Al Ramsay, Pete Boyles, Graeme Blundstone, Graeme Bradfield and Jeremy Rackham.
The winning margin was 6 matches to 3.

The ‘B’ Team was represented by Graeme Bradfield, Jeremy Rackham, Graeme Holloway, Matty Hayward, Greg Kerin, Justin Legg, Graham Flower, Ron Booth,  Alex Colbert and Patrick Bradfield.
The score was a very healthy 7 matches to 2.

Congratulations also to Kieran and Hilton Booth who defeated Mike Happell and Bret Richardson in the Final of the Australian Amateur Doubles.
In a magnificent match of the highest standard the Booths won in a 5 set thriller, 6/5, 2/6, 6/2, 2/6, 6/3.

All of which was streamed out to the world by Simon Dwyer.  A big thank you to him for bringing tennis onto our computer screens!  (now can they make the ball a bit bigger so we can see it??) 

During the weekend some of our members, marshalled by Christine Stirling, got together to produce a magnificent dinner for 45 people on Sunday night, and acclaimed lunches on Sunday and Monday.
All the visitors were delighted with the atmosphere in the Club and all complemented the food at all events.
Those helping Christine were Avery Patten, Anne Reed and Martine Heilman with others ‘mucking-in’ to help at various stages.

If anyone else is interested in helping out with their culinary skills Christine will be delighted to add your name to the Roster.  Click here to join The Cooking Crew.

Many thanks also to those who Billeted players for the weekend.  John and Di Howard who looked after Ben Boddington for the week he was here helping out in the Pro-shop.  Graeme Holloway and Deb, Ian and Biz Ritchard, Sally and Chris Rackham and Graeme Bradfield and Gaye Mitchell.

A lot of visitors prefer the interaction with Members rather than Hotels and are always most appreciative.
We are maintaining a Billet Roster at the Club , so if you have a spare bed or two and would like to billet occasionally, please let us know.  There isn’t a huge demand but it’s nice to have plenty to call on.  Click here to Host a Billet.

(Photographs provided by Christine Stirling)

L to R
Graeme Blundstone, Graeme Bradfield

L to R
Kieran Booth, Hilton Booth, Graeme Bradfield

L to R
John Hamer, Graeme Bradfield

L to R
Bret Richardon, Graeme Bradfield, Mike Happell

Because of possible conflict with plane schedules, the time of the Doubles Final has been changed from 1.30pm to 12.00 midday tomorrow, Monday 11^th March.

If you were planning to come and watch please come earlier if you can.

The match will be played between our own Kieran and Hilton Booth who are once again taking on Mike Happell and Bret Richardson from Melbourne.

If you have nothing planned tomorrow come and watch doubles at its very best. If you do have something planned tomorrow, CANCEL IT!!

There will be lunch at the Club tomorrow also if you feel like spoiling yourself!!

Guess which HRTC employee just turned 21???  (Thanks for the great pic mum! )

It is not often that people get to play a sport they love for over 50 years, especially in this day and age where a sports person is considered “past their prime” by age 30!!

However the Hobart Real Tennis Club is proud to say that our very own George Casimaty, President from 1976 – 1978, former consulting Engineer, and all round good guy has achieved this milestone.
George came to the game in the 60s and has remained a dedicated player and Club member. He represented the Club in several Percy Finch teams and was one of the driving forces during the Clubs difficult years as well as serving on the committee for many of those.

The time has come however, for George to take a break from tennis and give someone else a go in the Tuesday night doubles spot.  So I would like to take this opportunity to invite members to join with me and wish George well. We hope that he continues to grace the Club with his good humour and guile – even if only at social occasions or supporting from the Dedans.

Graeme Bradfield, President

Here are the results from yesterdays matches – it’s getting exciting now!!!

‘A’ Singles

Graeme Bradfield def. Nick Brodie 9/8

Nick Brodie def. Justin Legg 9/5

‘B’ Singles

Ron Booth def. Ian Reed 6/3

Pat Bradfield def. Sav Cremona  6/1

Graham Flower def. Ian Reed 6/2

‘C’ Singles

Rod Tabor def. Tim Manby-Brown7/2

John Davis def. Nick Manby-Brown 7/4

Handicap Singles

Eryl Raymond def. Kevin Stark  8/0

Nick Manby-Brown def. Nick Brodie 8/3

David Askey-Doran def. John Davis 8/7

Ray Brown def. Sav Cremona 8/7

Eryl Raymond def.  Iain Burrows  8/4

Handicap Doubles

John Davis/Tim Manby-Brown def. Robin Mace/Roger Trigell  4/2  4/1

And the action continues…..

‘A’ Open Singles
G. Bradfield def. G. Kerin 9/2
G. Kerin def.  J. Legg 9/6

‘B’ Open Singles
R. Booth def.   G. Flower 6/4
S. Cremona def.  I. Reed 6/2
G. Flower def.  P. Bradfield 6/2

‘C’ Open Singles
T. Manby-Brown def.  J. Davis 7/5

Handicap Singles
J. Davis def. J. Moores  8/5
R. Brown def.  T. Liggins 8/3
D. Askey-Doran def.  R. Tabor 8/4
S. Cremona def. M. Moores 8/5
N. Brodie def.  K. Dudson 8/5
N. Manby-Brown def. G. Flower 8/2

Doubles
R. Mace/ R. Trigell def.  R. Booth/S. Cremona 4/1 4/2
R. Tabor/N. Manby-Brown def. P. Bradfield/J. Drewitt  1/4 4/0 4/2

The first tournament of 2013 is underway!!  Here are the results for Monday’s Commonwealth Challenge matches:

‘A’ Open Singles
J. Legg v G. Bradfield 3/9

‘B’ Open Singles
S. Cremona v R. Booth 6/4
P. Bradfield v I. Reed 5/6

‘C’ Open Singles
N. Manby-Brown v R. Tabor 2/7

Handicap Singles
P. Bradfield  v J. Davis 4/8
G. Kerin v E. Raymond 3/8
I. Reed v S. Cremona 1/8
R. Trigell v R. Brown 3/8
I. Burrows v T. Manby-Brown 8/4
K. Dudson v R. Mace 8/2

Doubles
R. Brown/D. Askey Doran v J. Davis/T. Manby-Brown 1/ 4 0/4
G. Kerin/N .Brodie v P. Bradfield/ J. Drewitt 0/4  1/ 4
J. Moores/M. Moores v R. Tabor/N. Manby-Brown 2/4   4/2 3/4