LRTA Tennis & Golf Day - 2013
Gabrielle Smart gives us an insight into this popular event
Anne Balcerkiewicz, Jane Burrage, Caroline Harding and Sheilagh Owens enjoy lunch at Huntercombe
Lucy Davies, Jane Burrage and Sheilagh Owens
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After a QUIET supper on Friday (note the sarcasm here) and wrestling with handicaps, the troops staying with Lucy at Bix Hill turned in to prepare for a good dogfight the next morning. Four bleary eyed combatants from the first group of three pairs duly opened the Hardwick court to start proceedings at nine and 25 minutes of closely fought games later we realised that matches had better be first to five if we were to finish in time for the delicious lunch awaiting us at Huntercombe. This proved to be wise because four of the six matches were very close, but after all the final between the winners of the two groups started exactly on time.
The final, pitting Lucy Davies and Sara Reston against Sara Stewart and Gill Goddard, saw the former giving (owe 30, rec half 15), and finding a determined, useful pair returning more than they got. A combination of Goddard's nick serves and Stewart's fine returning soon gave the pair an advantage and try as they might the stronger pair could not close up the gap. Gill and Sara won comfortably 6-3. After a delicous asparagus quiche, hostilities resumed at two, with Jill Newby being replaced by Sheilagh for the golf. |
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A miraculously fine afternoon of golf ensued, with Stableford scores ranging from 18 (dohh) to 33, and Sara Stewart again emerged the victor, closely followed by Ann Balcerkiewicz on 32. Two other scores were noted: Sheilagh "played really well with Boodle and the buggy" and Lucy scored 27 after only 14 holes.
The prize giving ceremony saw unique prizes distributed (key rings from Augusta, no less), and a great deal of tea drunk. As for the cake, well, your foreign correspondent couldn't resist a second slice... After a warm vote of thanks to our kind hostess and organiser, Lucy Davies, who spared no effort in ensuring a wonderful day for us all, the players departed, full of memories of blossom, bluebells and good fun. We suggest that the next edition (the twentieth) be called the Bluebell Trophy, (but Bluebell Girls would be nice too...) . Finally, the players would like to thank Hardwick and Huntercombe golf club for this special day. Gabrielle Smart Many thanks to Gill Goddard for the photos |
Sarah Brownlee brought her dogs
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