The Australian Team included 2 Hobartians, 2 Melbournians and a Ballarodent and comprised of (in order of handicap 1-4): Hilton ‘Paris’ Booth (Captain), Dan ‘Thunder’ Williams, Patrick ‘Coach’ Dunne and Simon ‘Jack Sparrow’ Carr with Paul ‘Rosie’ Rosedale the reserve/5. The 4 selected players have represented Australia in the Clothier the last 2 times (Hobart in ‘07 and Newport in ‘09) with Paul touring 2 years previously on the overseas trip to UK + USA.

This year the match was to be held in Melbourne with the visiting team sending over a team of 4. The captain Pat Winthrop (Newport) was the veteran with 2 previous tours under his belt and a recent victory on home soil in the Tuxedo Gold Racquet. The remaining members of the teams were all rookies with Dylan Ward from Philly, Garret Gates from Kansas via Boston and Tom Pickin from Newport. Pat was obviously a very good player (a 5 handicapper) however the other three were all unknown quantities with handicaps ranging from 20-28.

Leading up to the Clothier the majority of players participated in the Aus Am Juniors in Ballarat with Hilton emerging victorious. On the way to claiming the chocolates he won two 5-setters in 2 days against Dan in the semi and Pat in the final. The teams then travelled to Melbourne for some team practice and social events leading up to the Match. After a long night spent strategising as a team the match was upon us with the first day being entirely singles matches.

Day 1 – Singles

The 4 singles was played first with Simon on his home court taking on Tom Pickin. Simon is a dogged retriever who is very strong at RMTC and with his fast railroad dominant controlled the match and claimed the first victory for the home team.

4 Singles – Simon Carr def Tom Pickin 6/0 6/0. AUS 1-0.

The 3 singles was Pat Dunne against Garret Gates. Contrasting styles Garret’s significant lawn tennis background vs. my more classical game provided a riveting encounter. Despite Pat taking a controlled 4-1 lead in the first set Garret rallied and took the 1^st set 6/5. The American utilising solid retrieving and a dominating double-handed topspin backhand drive volley to control the service end (sounds unconventional but was in fact very effective).

The second set was close the whole way with players trading points, control and games until the score reached 5 all. Garret claimed a 40-15 lead and Patrick somehow defended 3 match points (including the last match point where with Pat at the receiving end one of Garret’s shots was centimetres away from bouncing into the winning gallery off the tambour. Safe to say that wouldn’t happen at HRTC). Despite all the drama yours truly gritted out the set and it was level.

In the third and final set a steadier performance from Pat regained control of the play and setting up camp at the service end he worked his way into the lead and finally after 135 minutes on court a victory.

3 Singles – Patrick Dunne Def Garret Gates 5/6 6/5 6/4. AUS 2-0.

The 1 Singles saw Hilton and Pat W renewing acquaintances on court again. Both this year had made significant improvements in their respective games with good results and improved handicaps to show for it. Hliton had form with a victory in the juniors but sustained shin splints that same weekend. In an interesting opening both players started with a classical floor game with Pat W taking an early 3-1 lead. Gaining confidence Pat W started to open the shoulders mixing tight floor play with big winners and took the 1^st set 6/3. Hilton opened up an early 3-1 lead in the 2^nd set before Pat W levelled the match at 3 all with some power hitting. A riveting and long 7^th game went to Pat W as did the match, claiming the first rubber for USA.

1 Singles Pat Winthrop def Hilton Booth 6/3 6/3. AUS 2-1.

The final singles kicked off at 1800 and Dan ‘ Thunder’ Williams had just come from a frenzied end of financial year day at work for his match against Dylan Ward. He showed no signs of fatigue as his relentless volleying, tight railroad and greater real tennis experience proved too much for his opponent as he raced to victory.

2 Singles Dan Williams def Dylan Ward 6/0 6/0. Aus 3-1

So the day of singles was completed with a 3-1 lead to the host nation. However it was centimetres from being 2 all as the 3^rd singles could easily have gone both ways. The two teams headed to a local establishment for some food and a (quiet) beverage or two keen to recharge batteries before the doubles.

Day 2 – Doubles

The doubles started off with the 3 & 4s (Dunne and Carr v Gates and Pickin). Coach Pat usually the motivator of the pair was under the weather and busy fighting his own battles (namely headache, nausea and sleep deprivation). The American pair coming off a victory last night in the drinking games were keen to continue their winning run.

The first set saw the American team spend a large amount of time at the serving end as the Australian pair put in an error ridden display. Garrett’s ability to step in on his backhand wing and clobber the ball two-fisted was proving a particularly damaging. In the second set the Australians controlled the tempo of the game a lot better and with good communication and liberal time at the service end went on to close out the set 6/2. Just when it looked like the Australians were working their way to a victory the Americans rallied. In the third the matched seesawed with games going to the pair that controlled the service end. The game got to 4 all before the boys from down under finally rested control of the match away from the Americans.

3&4 doubles – Dunne & Carr def Gates & Pickin 4/6 6/2 6/4

In the 1 and 2 doubles Hilton and Dan played the match with Hilton up covering the galleries to limit any further damage to his already painful legs. With Dan playing capably at the back and the Australian pair avoiding Pat W in the majority of the rallies. They managed to close out the set 6/1 before the Americans managed to put some games together. Down 2/3 in the 2^nd the Australians rallied and played through a tight 7^th game to peel of the last 4 games of the match and retain the Clothier.
1&2 doubles – Booth & Williams def Winthrop & Ward 6/1 6/3

The third doubles of the day saw the Victorian pair of Williams and Carr play Ward and Pickin. The Australians played well in a relaxed win with the pair playing solid doubles with good court coverage and shot making.

2&4 doubles – Williams & Carr def Ward & Pickin 6/1 6/2

Following discussion between the captains of both teams Paul Rosedale was bought in to cover for Paris who pulled out due to injury. Winthrop and Gates cantered to an early 6/0 set lead with a large amount of winners and control of the service end. The Australians produced a better performance in the second set rallying from a 1/3 deficit to tie the game up at 5 all. Not being able to capitalise on a 40/30 set point proved crucial as Pat Winthrop calmly hit two grilles at deuce to close out the match and take the win for the Americans.

1&3 doubles – Rosedale* & Dunne lost to Winthrop & Gates 0/6 5/6.

Following the match the teams were privileged to enjoy a dinner in the Members at the MCG. A great meal, good company, a speech by the World Champ Rob and a trip after to the Richmond strip provided a fitting end to the 2 days of competition.

So in the end a 6/2 victory to the Australian team but this result doesn’t truly reflect how close the match was. The 3 singles and 3&4 doubles could easily have gone to the Americans and we would had a live 2&3 doubles to decide the match. The tournament was a success and thanks must go to RMTC for hosting the tourney, ARTA for their organisation, the Americans for travelling over and the various families that billeted players/hosted events. The members of the Australian team who are still eligible, will I’m sure, look forward to travelling to America in two years’ time to again participate in this great event.

With exactly a month to go to the start of round robin doubles Tournoi des Trios Tripots in south west France in the towns of Pau, Bayonne and La Bastide-Clairence, the Hobart based group of the HRTC touring party played a warm up tournament on 28 August. It was a round robin of first to 6 games, handicap matches.

The doubles pairs in addition to Andrew and Christine Stirling, were Biz and Ian Ritchard, Ros and Cas Pitt, David Askey-Doran and John Ramsay, and Ray Lowenthal and Janet Thorpe. In France, David’s partner will be Antoine Guichard (currently in France), John will team up with Mark Stanton (who lives in Ireland) and Ray’s partner will be Anne Reed, who did not play in the round robin as she is resting an injured shoulder. The Hobart group of 15 for France, also includes Di Lowenthal, Merrin Mackay and Eleanor Sweetnam. And 5 of the group are playing a match in Bordeaux against the Bordelais at the conclusion of the Trois Tripots.

After a slow start on Sunday morning, revived by sweet pumpkin soup and fine thai beef salad lunch and other refreshments, Ros and Cas Pitt also won 3 matches but lost out on the day on games won.

The tennis playing got off to a tricky start as unfortunately Roger Wood pulled a muscle in a pre-tournament hit up and couldn’t play for the rest of the weekend. And Michelle and John Moores flight wasn’t able to land at Tullamarine because of fog, so they had an unscheduled trip to Canberra only arriving at the Club 6 hours late. But thanks to some creative draw juggling by the Melbourne Pros the playing schedule went ahead without a hitch.

Needless to say the Hobart group got lots of tennis over the two days, but off handicap, the RMTC players were too strong, retaining the President’s Cup 17 matches to 9. All of the Hobart group has some wins and some solid sets of tennis, with Graeme Holloway, Jeremy Rackham, Peter Scollard and John Moores playing particularly well.

In fact Graeme Holloway played a scintillating match on Sunday morning notwithstanding a very late night occasioned by an RMTC party to farwell Ruri Gunn as a Professional. Ruri has been a great supporter of tournaments in Hobart, and it was good for the Club to be represented at his farewell. All the Hobart group were made most welcome and had a great evening, albeit that none lasted until 3:30 am, when apparently the party wound up. The Sunday morning tennis was followed by a 2pm long, relaxed and most pleasant lunch at the Boozy Rouge, a restaurant on Bridge Road.

Thanks to the RMTC President, Owen Guest and the Melbourne members and Frank Filippelli and his team of professionals who turned on a great tennis weekend as always.

Harvey Gibson, Peter Cretan, George Casimaty, James Crotty, Richard Crawford, Peter Gartland and Graeme Bradfield turned out for the Athenaeum Club and Ray Brown, John Ramsay, Cas Pitt, Martyn Hagan, Julian Joscelyne, Bill Ayliffee and Nick Griggs played for the Tasmanian Club.

The format was a half hour match of handicap doubles, so whoever had the most games at the end of the half hour won. After 8 matches, the Atheneaum Club was winner 4 matches to 3, with one tied, and thus retain the Page Racquet for another year.

Details are in the earlier post. Email Barry or sign up at the Club.

• agreement to offer to hold the 2012 Australian Open, likely to be in August
• a new process to follow up members whose accounts remain outstanding for more than 30 days
• agreement to undertake some stonework maintenance recommended by Peter Spratt, subject to minor clarification of the scope of works and the quotes from stonemasons
• (apart from a nominal amount) the reduction of the outstanding balance on the Club mortgage
• development of a simple brochure on the Club and the game to be made available to members guests, visitors and people attending functions
• installation of a new protective shield for the recently re-installed court camera

The current playing list is Don Armstrong, Bill Ayliffe, Graeme Bradfield, Bob Brewer, Ray Brown, Jim Crotty, Bill Friend, Cas Pitt, Martyn Hagan, Tom Hiscutt, Justin McMullen, John Ramsay, Neal Readett, Ian Ritchard, David Wallace.

The tennis activities are -

• On one Friday of each month the Court is booked for doubles from 4pm until 6pm.  Martyn Hagan is the Convenor of Doubles and schedules the dates about 3 months ahead. A week or so before the scheduled date the group is emailed seeking interest in the next session and a day or so before the matches, a draw is distributed. The format is 20 minutes per match. There are generally between 8 and 10 playing. After the two hours there is a congregation in the Butler room for a quiet drink and a post mortem.

•  An annual Lawyers Singles Championship has been established and is underway. A handicap tournament, it is  basically the same format as the Club Championship, being a knockout draw, the slight difference being that there is a repercharge for first round losers enabling a second chance. The Championship for 2011 is at the semi final stage. Ray Brown is the Convenor of Singles. There is an Entry Fee of $30.00 which is to finance a trophy for the winner and towards a Perpetual Trophy.

If you have not been included on the email list, that is an oversight, so please contact one of the Convenors.

Martyn Hagan 0418 331 189 Martyn.Hagan@taslawsocity.asn.au

Ray Brown 0411 279 899 brownraymonda@gmail.com

In the Trophy Room of course and only 40 places will be available.

The dinner will again be catered for by Biz and Ian Ritchard, and as always you will enjoy a fabulous meal at a very reasonable price.

Come along and drink a toast to that great lover of food, wine and tennis, Jim Cartledge.

For the first time there are Class 1 to Class 7 Championship Singles. There are 87 players entered across the 7 levels. And in some draws selected players are able to play in and above their usual Class to gain the benefit and experience of the higher standard competition.

Members should arrange their own first round matches. If that’s not possible, ring Barry at the Club late next week and he will get potential times off you and contact your opponent.

The first round matches should be finished by September 4^th.

The Club Professional, Barry Toates and the Club Champion, Hilton Booth are in the draw, and it promises to yet again be an entertaining tournament on and off the court.

The teams have yet to decide on the latest range of weird and wonderful team names, which will be revealed when some results are posted.

Barry is always looking for players to fill in, so email or phone him if you want to be on the reserve list.