British Ladies Open Report and Photos 2019
Go to British Ladies Open Results 2019
British Ladies Open Championships 2019
11th – 14th April 2019
sponsored by Peter Luck-Hille
The Presentations
Claire Fahey Singles winner with Peter Dawes
Lea Van Der Zwalmen Singles runner up with Peter Dawes
Natalie Barber Singles Plate winner with Peter Dawes
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Claire Fahey and Sarah Shuckburgh Doubles winners with Peter Dawes
Di Wilson and Rosie Law Doubles Plate winners with Peter Dawes
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Lea Van Der Zwalmen and Jess Garside Doubles runners up with Peter Dawes
Lea Van Der Zwalmen and Jess Garside winners of the Handicap Doubles with Peter Dawes
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Many thanks to Simon Flynn for these photos
British Ladies Open Championships 2019
Claire Fahey
Despite the unseasonably cool weather, 26 players gathered at Seacourt for this year’s British Open and Doubles Handicap. The food and hot drinks on offer at the bar were much appreciated by watchers and players alike to keep warm as well as fed. Welcome also to three dog visitors.
It was good to see both Vigrass sisters – Claire Fahey and Sarah Vigrass (Shuckburgh) – back on court, with Sarah making the first appearance, at the second round of the Singles, before meeting Claire for the semi-final round. But of course, they were on the same side of the net once more for the Doubles.
Open Singles and Plate
There were four seeds from the ten players, who had a staggered entry, with no surprises in the first or second round, though the matches were mostly well-fought with scores that didn’t do justice to the battles. Jess Garside put up a particularly good fight against Sarah Vigrass, the number 4 seed, taking five games off her and threatening to take more with her very attacking play.
However, by the semi-final stage, all four seeds were safely through. The first semi between the Vigrass sisters was the expected display of elegantly crafted rallies, lovely to watch. To give a flavour: in the same game, a superb shot from each of them. First, Sarah was mid-court on the service end, awaiting a backhand from Claire; she watched it drop low and, just as it looked about to hit the floor, she chipped it in a slow-motion curve into the Winning Gallery. Then on the next rest, Claire, now herself at the service end, had a mid-court ball from Sarah on the forehand; again taking her time, she put extreme cut on the ball so that it just hit the wall under the grille and fell almost vertically to about 3 inches from the wall.
But generally, in this match, Sarah had difficulty keeping the service, and Claire’s superb defensive volleys, using her full stretch plus a jump, did a lot of damage. Claire through 6/0 6/2.
It was good to see both Vigrass sisters – Claire Fahey and Sarah Vigrass (Shuckburgh) – back on court, with Sarah making the first appearance, at the second round of the Singles, before meeting Claire for the semi-final round. But of course, they were on the same side of the net once more for the Doubles.
Open Singles and Plate
There were four seeds from the ten players, who had a staggered entry, with no surprises in the first or second round, though the matches were mostly well-fought with scores that didn’t do justice to the battles. Jess Garside put up a particularly good fight against Sarah Vigrass, the number 4 seed, taking five games off her and threatening to take more with her very attacking play.
However, by the semi-final stage, all four seeds were safely through. The first semi between the Vigrass sisters was the expected display of elegantly crafted rallies, lovely to watch. To give a flavour: in the same game, a superb shot from each of them. First, Sarah was mid-court on the service end, awaiting a backhand from Claire; she watched it drop low and, just as it looked about to hit the floor, she chipped it in a slow-motion curve into the Winning Gallery. Then on the next rest, Claire, now herself at the service end, had a mid-court ball from Sarah on the forehand; again taking her time, she put extreme cut on the ball so that it just hit the wall under the grille and fell almost vertically to about 3 inches from the wall.
But generally, in this match, Sarah had difficulty keeping the service, and Claire’s superb defensive volleys, using her full stretch plus a jump, did a lot of damage. Claire through 6/0 6/2.
Lea Van Der Zwalmen and Tara Lumley
In the second semi-final Tara Lumley (seeded 3) met Lea Van Der Zwalmen (2). It took Tara some time to get the measure of Lea’s abilities. In the first set, Lea could do nothing wrong – Tara was putting as much power on the ball as she could, but her shots gave Lea no trouble at all, sending everything back, mostly onto the tambour or just in front of it so that it died just under the grille. By 4/1 to Lea, Tara was settling down and reading Lea’s shots better. But too late to stop Lea taking the set 6/1. In the second set, Tara kept head to head to Lea for the first six games, concentrating on attacking the backhand corner of the service end, which was the only chink in Lea’s armour. At 3/3, Tara was looking more confident, taking the ball earlier and there were many great rests with both players under pressure and pulling everything out of the bag to stay with the ball. Lea tightened up her game, Tara responded with more backhand corner shots and Tara took the second set 6/5 in a great display of grit and skill.
In the final set, Lea knuckled down, keeping the ball low and cut. Tara still kept going for Lea’s backhand corner, but Lea was anticipating it better, and despite some fantastic rests, Tara was just not getting the vital points. And on the final point, Tara was hoist by her own petard, as Lea finished the match with a fine low shot into Tara’s backhand corner. Lea through after a great fight from Tara: 6/0 5/6 6/0.
In the final set, Lea knuckled down, keeping the ball low and cut. Tara still kept going for Lea’s backhand corner, but Lea was anticipating it better, and despite some fantastic rests, Tara was just not getting the vital points. And on the final point, Tara was hoist by her own petard, as Lea finished the match with a fine low shot into Tara’s backhand corner. Lea through after a great fight from Tara: 6/0 5/6 6/0.
Lea Van Der Zwalmen
So, in the Finals, it was Claire against Lea, in a battle royal of great tennis. Both of them made the hardest of shots look easy, in a thrilling contest that showed off how far ladies’ tennis has come.
Lea stayed with Claire more or less throughout the first set, though never getting ahead. She tried various serves, but somehow the returns always went into an unreachable corner. She tried going for winning openings, but Claire was equally able to enter into that game, and any shot from Lea that fell a bit short got promptly slammed into the Winning Gallery. But Claire was having to play well, and even she had to lift the ball up occasionally under the pressure of the rally.
At 4/3 to Claire, play still looked just about even between the two. But then Claire showed her class; ball in the Winning Gallery; backhand that landed two inches under the grille and a humdinger low shot into the forehand hazard corner. 5/3 to Claire followed by a game to love and the first set.
Despite being ahead, Claire looked somewhat rattled in the second set, shrugging her shoulders in disappointment a few times, and even indulging in a bit of muttering. At 2/1 to Claire we saw the best rest of the match: Lea hit the ball at the grille so that it ricocheted round the frame to come out again, sent back Claire’s return to hit the grille again so that it hit the frame again and then after retrieving 4 angled shots swinging her back and forth across the court, managed to win the point and eventually the game to love. Now it was 2/2.
When Lea opened the next game with a great force to the dedans, we were obviously in for a close contest. Both players were sending shots that just ‘had to be a winner’, but were somehow returned, in fantastic displays of athleticism and skill. 3/3. Could Lea somehow edge ahead? In any exchange of ground strokes, it was about 50/50 as to who won the point. But Claire used the winning openings superbly to crush Lea’s opposition; and she pushed ahead to win the second set and the title, once again, 6/3 6/3. Wow – amazing tennis.
Lea stayed with Claire more or less throughout the first set, though never getting ahead. She tried various serves, but somehow the returns always went into an unreachable corner. She tried going for winning openings, but Claire was equally able to enter into that game, and any shot from Lea that fell a bit short got promptly slammed into the Winning Gallery. But Claire was having to play well, and even she had to lift the ball up occasionally under the pressure of the rally.
At 4/3 to Claire, play still looked just about even between the two. But then Claire showed her class; ball in the Winning Gallery; backhand that landed two inches under the grille and a humdinger low shot into the forehand hazard corner. 5/3 to Claire followed by a game to love and the first set.
Despite being ahead, Claire looked somewhat rattled in the second set, shrugging her shoulders in disappointment a few times, and even indulging in a bit of muttering. At 2/1 to Claire we saw the best rest of the match: Lea hit the ball at the grille so that it ricocheted round the frame to come out again, sent back Claire’s return to hit the grille again so that it hit the frame again and then after retrieving 4 angled shots swinging her back and forth across the court, managed to win the point and eventually the game to love. Now it was 2/2.
When Lea opened the next game with a great force to the dedans, we were obviously in for a close contest. Both players were sending shots that just ‘had to be a winner’, but were somehow returned, in fantastic displays of athleticism and skill. 3/3. Could Lea somehow edge ahead? In any exchange of ground strokes, it was about 50/50 as to who won the point. But Claire used the winning openings superbly to crush Lea’s opposition; and she pushed ahead to win the second set and the title, once again, 6/3 6/3. Wow – amazing tennis.
The Singles Plate final was an excellent 3 set match between Amy Pye and Natalie Barber. Amy appeared to have it in the bag after the first set which she won 6/1, doing damage with her underarm twist serve, and retrieving better than Natalie. But as Natalie progressed, she started to read Amy’s serve better, and Amy began to tire – her serve no longer getting so many free points, but she was still volleying well when she got the chance. The second set went Natalie’s way, 6/3, with Amy looking drained and Natalie now rejuvenated.
In the final set, Natalie was on form, placing balls with effective service returns, and using the tambour well when on serve. Amy was using short balls well to tempt her forward, but not getting the ball enough into the corners as she had in the first set. Natalie stayed steady and won the final set after one hour and forty minutes on court – 1/6 6/3 6/3.
In the final set, Natalie was on form, placing balls with effective service returns, and using the tambour well when on serve. Amy was using short balls well to tempt her forward, but not getting the ball enough into the corners as she had in the first set. Natalie stayed steady and won the final set after one hour and forty minutes on court – 1/6 6/3 6/3.
Open Doubles and Plate
Ten pairs contested the Doubles, with four seeded pairs, including the two Vigrass sisters back in their formidable partnership as number 1 seeds.
There were again no surprises in the first two rounds, with all 4 seeds having no difficulty in progressing. In the first semi-final, Claire & Sarah met Alex Garside & Katie Leppard. (seeded 4). The first shot of the match rather indicated how things would go…. Alex served to Claire, who sent the return straight back onto Alex’s racket, so hard that it went straight up onto the roof. Alex and Katie were out-powered (and neither of them is exactly a wuss when it comes to powerful strokes) and just couldn’t find the weapons to bother their opponents. At 5/0 in the first set, Alex and Katie really hunkered down and won themselves two deuces; but twice, after a long closely-fought rest, Claire just stepped in with an apparently effortless elegant volley into the Winning Gallery – enough to take the stuffing out of any opponent. 6/0 to Claire and Sarah.
In the second set, the story continued – great rests, great efforts, but those vital points just weren’t being gifted to Katie & Alex who nonetheless never gave up. Claire & Sarah through, 6/0 6/0.
Ten pairs contested the Doubles, with four seeded pairs, including the two Vigrass sisters back in their formidable partnership as number 1 seeds.
There were again no surprises in the first two rounds, with all 4 seeds having no difficulty in progressing. In the first semi-final, Claire & Sarah met Alex Garside & Katie Leppard. (seeded 4). The first shot of the match rather indicated how things would go…. Alex served to Claire, who sent the return straight back onto Alex’s racket, so hard that it went straight up onto the roof. Alex and Katie were out-powered (and neither of them is exactly a wuss when it comes to powerful strokes) and just couldn’t find the weapons to bother their opponents. At 5/0 in the first set, Alex and Katie really hunkered down and won themselves two deuces; but twice, after a long closely-fought rest, Claire just stepped in with an apparently effortless elegant volley into the Winning Gallery – enough to take the stuffing out of any opponent. 6/0 to Claire and Sarah.
In the second set, the story continued – great rests, great efforts, but those vital points just weren’t being gifted to Katie & Alex who nonetheless never gave up. Claire & Sarah through, 6/0 6/0.
In the second semi-final, Lea & Jess Garside (2) played Penny & Tara Lumley (3) in another very entertaining match, which got off to a wonderful start with a 12-stroke rest, won by Lea & Jess. They ran off with the first three games, until Penny & Tara decided to change tactics by targeting Jess at the net and using the walls to place the ball into unexpected corners. This began to pay dividends, and they crept back to 2/3. Then Lea & Jess changed tack targeting one opponent only during a rest, pounding her into submission with shot after shot until the inevitable error. This tactic paid off and they took the set 6/3.
Again, the start of the second set saw another pummelling of Jess at the service end, which she manfully (wo-manfully?) countered 7 times until she had to capitulate. But by now, Lea & Jess were on song, and able to withstand the pressure, Jess volleying superbly from the net and Lea retrieving everything on the floor. They didn’t allow the Lumleys another game and took the set and match 6/3 6/0.
Again, the start of the second set saw another pummelling of Jess at the service end, which she manfully (wo-manfully?) countered 7 times until she had to capitulate. But by now, Lea & Jess were on song, and able to withstand the pressure, Jess volleying superbly from the net and Lea retrieving everything on the floor. They didn’t allow the Lumleys another game and took the set and match 6/3 6/0.
In the final, the number one and two seeded pairs met in an excellent match. Jess was particularly good to watch: ‘move like a butterfly, sting like a bee’ was her style at the net, except that it was ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a hornet’, as she leapt for the ball and smashed it into the hazard end angled off at least two, if not three, walls.
She and Lea began in fiery mode and were rewarded with the first two games, lost the next, and then won the next, so they were 3/1 up…. A definite buzz in the dedans!
But in the next two games, things began to turn: ‘Let rip!’, said Claire to Sarah as she served to Lea – and rip Sarah did. A deuce game went to the Vigrasses, and now it was 3/3, and then 4/4. Amazing rests followed as both pairs refused to concede and games were going to deuce and advantages. But Claire & Sarah were now on a roll and took the set 6/4.
In the second set, Lea & Jess came out battling, to take the first game. Then in the second game, a rest of 16 strokes – with all the pressure going on Lea – ended with her defending a dedans force which went into the net. From then on, although Lea and Jess continued to fight every point and did win two more games, the outcome looked more likely to go with Claire & Sarah, who were laying better chases and using the winning openings. They won the match and this year’s Doubles title, 6/4 6/3, in a wonderful match with great play by all four participants.
In the final, the number one and two seeded pairs met in an excellent match. Jess was particularly good to watch: ‘move like a butterfly, sting like a bee’ was her style at the net, except that it was ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a hornet’, as she leapt for the ball and smashed it into the hazard end angled off at least two, if not three, walls.
She and Lea began in fiery mode and were rewarded with the first two games, lost the next, and then won the next, so they were 3/1 up…. A definite buzz in the dedans!
But in the next two games, things began to turn: ‘Let rip!’, said Claire to Sarah as she served to Lea – and rip Sarah did. A deuce game went to the Vigrasses, and now it was 3/3, and then 4/4. Amazing rests followed as both pairs refused to concede and games were going to deuce and advantages. But Claire & Sarah were now on a roll and took the set 6/4.
In the second set, Lea & Jess came out battling, to take the first game. Then in the second game, a rest of 16 strokes – with all the pressure going on Lea – ended with her defending a dedans force which went into the net. From then on, although Lea and Jess continued to fight every point and did win two more games, the outcome looked more likely to go with Claire & Sarah, who were laying better chases and using the winning openings. They won the match and this year’s Doubles title, 6/4 6/3, in a wonderful match with great play by all four participants.
Rosie Law, Di Wilson, Doris Oldland and Linda Ford
The Doubles plate was played between Rosie Law and Di Wilson against Linda Ford and Doris Oldland. Rosie and Di had the more powerful strokes, but Linda and Doris scrambled for everything and somehow often got the ball back. However, Rosie and Di were too strong, and won the match 6/2 6/2.
Jess Garside, Lea Van Der Zwalmen, Maggie Gibbs and Alison Kirkwood
Doubles Handicap tournament
22 players took part in the Handicap tournament run alongside the Open matches, with eleven pairs put into three round robin groups, (not banded by handicap), followed by a knock-out competition for the winners and runners-up. It was good to see some new pairs taking part, as well as the elite players – all adding to the buzzy and friendly atmosphere around the tournament.
There were a number of games with huge handicap differences between the pairs – always fascinating to watch the handicap system work, with the top players having to watch their step all the time - banned tambour, one serve, banned hazard galleries, banned chases more than 2 yards, etc…. Lea Van Der Zwalmen had particular difficulty at first in countering her muscle memory shrieking at her to aim for the tambour… her partner Jess Garside saw the problem and yelled at her each time Lea stepped up to the ball at the service end: “No tambour!!” much to the amusement of the dedans.
Six pairs were left by the knock-out stage with all the ‘elite’ pairs through, despite their battles with handicap. Plus new entrants – Maggie Gibbs & Alison Kirkwood - who had feistily seen off the opposition in their group to go through as runners-up. In the knock-out, they then – even more feistily – saw off Candida Nicholls & Amy Pye (both very hard hitters) to go through to the semis, where they met Lea & Jess. Even with the handicap help, that was a cut too far, though they managed to get most ‘normal’ shots back until finished off with the killer shots in the armoury of their opponents Lea & Jess, who won 6/2.
22 players took part in the Handicap tournament run alongside the Open matches, with eleven pairs put into three round robin groups, (not banded by handicap), followed by a knock-out competition for the winners and runners-up. It was good to see some new pairs taking part, as well as the elite players – all adding to the buzzy and friendly atmosphere around the tournament.
There were a number of games with huge handicap differences between the pairs – always fascinating to watch the handicap system work, with the top players having to watch their step all the time - banned tambour, one serve, banned hazard galleries, banned chases more than 2 yards, etc…. Lea Van Der Zwalmen had particular difficulty at first in countering her muscle memory shrieking at her to aim for the tambour… her partner Jess Garside saw the problem and yelled at her each time Lea stepped up to the ball at the service end: “No tambour!!” much to the amusement of the dedans.
Six pairs were left by the knock-out stage with all the ‘elite’ pairs through, despite their battles with handicap. Plus new entrants – Maggie Gibbs & Alison Kirkwood - who had feistily seen off the opposition in their group to go through as runners-up. In the knock-out, they then – even more feistily – saw off Candida Nicholls & Amy Pye (both very hard hitters) to go through to the semis, where they met Lea & Jess. Even with the handicap help, that was a cut too far, though they managed to get most ‘normal’ shots back until finished off with the killer shots in the armoury of their opponents Lea & Jess, who won 6/2.
Alex Garside, Katie Leppard, Penny Lumley and Tara Lumley
In the other semi Alex Garside & Katie Leppard played Penny & Tara Lumley with a gentler handicap difference – allowed the tambour for a start! Tara had just played her singles semi-final, so she looked pretty tired, so Alex seemed to be trying to finish off the job by out-hitting her. This was not altogether successful at first and the games edged up in tandem to 2/2 with the Lumleys going for power and dedans forces; and Alex and Katie concentrating on keeping the ball in play with steady non-flashy shots apart from a number of very effective shots onto the Hazard side wall that then dropped behind the opponent guarding the grille side. At this point, perhaps Tara’s previous match had a part, as Alex and Katie drew ahead bit by bit, to win the vital point in a number of close games and go through to the final 6/3.
In the Handicap Doubles final, Lea & Jess played Alex & Katie in a very close and entertaining match. Jess was the one to watch – a demon at the net, intercepting with seemingly octopus arms and bounces into the air to angle unreachable volleys in to the Hazard end. She was pretty good on the ground too and Lea gave way as often as not to let Jess take the strokes. However, at 3/1 to Alex and Katie, it seemed that the helpful handicap in their favour would do the job. But the games had all been pretty close and a gear change in Jess’s serving and Lea being more active in the rests, made a difference. Lea and Jess began to pull back the games to make it 3/3. That next game saw an amazing side-wall force into the dedans by Lea off a serve. The ball hit the side wall almost mid-court and then bounced way beyond the central bar of the dedans right into the net. Did she plan it that way?? One can’t tell, but it was certainly a surprise.
A succession of vicious grille forces by Lea (many ducked by Alex, and who can blame her?) pushed them ahead, but it was so close all the way, with six games out of the eventual ten going to 40/40. But in the end the battle went to Lea & Jess, 8/5.
Our thanks to Seacourt for hosting this very enjoyable tournament; to the markers Andrew Lyons and Aaron Flippence; to the kind hosts who provided beds for players; to Peter Dawes for presenting the prizes; to Viv Dawes and her helper Alex Garside (with support from Lucy Hutchinson) for organising it all so wonderfully and smoothly; and to our sponsor Peter Luck-Hille who stepped in to make it all possible.
Report by Linda Fairbrother. Photos of prize presentation by Simon Flynn, court photos by Linda Fairbrother
In the Handicap Doubles final, Lea & Jess played Alex & Katie in a very close and entertaining match. Jess was the one to watch – a demon at the net, intercepting with seemingly octopus arms and bounces into the air to angle unreachable volleys in to the Hazard end. She was pretty good on the ground too and Lea gave way as often as not to let Jess take the strokes. However, at 3/1 to Alex and Katie, it seemed that the helpful handicap in their favour would do the job. But the games had all been pretty close and a gear change in Jess’s serving and Lea being more active in the rests, made a difference. Lea and Jess began to pull back the games to make it 3/3. That next game saw an amazing side-wall force into the dedans by Lea off a serve. The ball hit the side wall almost mid-court and then bounced way beyond the central bar of the dedans right into the net. Did she plan it that way?? One can’t tell, but it was certainly a surprise.
A succession of vicious grille forces by Lea (many ducked by Alex, and who can blame her?) pushed them ahead, but it was so close all the way, with six games out of the eventual ten going to 40/40. But in the end the battle went to Lea & Jess, 8/5.
Our thanks to Seacourt for hosting this very enjoyable tournament; to the markers Andrew Lyons and Aaron Flippence; to the kind hosts who provided beds for players; to Peter Dawes for presenting the prizes; to Viv Dawes and her helper Alex Garside (with support from Lucy Hutchinson) for organising it all so wonderfully and smoothly; and to our sponsor Peter Luck-Hille who stepped in to make it all possible.
Report by Linda Fairbrother. Photos of prize presentation by Simon Flynn, court photos by Linda Fairbrother