A u g u s t 2 0 0 8 - ballarattennisclub.com.au · President’s Report ... Bartlett Cup—BTC v HRTC ... So the Cup stays in Hobart but after few weeks rest the training will begin

The Grille—Newsletter of the Ballarat Tennis Club—August 2008 1

A u g u s t 2 0 0 8

President’s Report

Well, this is the last President’s Report from me!!—In mid August we will be holding the Annual Gen-eral Meeting of the Ballarat Tennis Club and at that meeting I will be handing the leadership of the club to our incoming President Paul Williams. I would like to formally express my sincere thanks to all the members of the Management Commit-tee—Ian Dowman, Andrew Pipkorn, Tim Graham, Quinton Wilkinson, Paul Williams, Irene Stephen and Brett McFarlane—who helped with the management/leadership of the club over the last 2 years. A huge thanks goes to Brett who is the ‘backbone’ of this club, and without his time and huge effort in terms of getting us members to play etc, the Ballarat Tennis Club would not be in such good shape. I hope that all members will support Paul and his plans for the future of the BTC. Thank you for all your support!!! See you on court!

Peter Dunn President Ballarat Tennis Club

Bartlett Cup—BTC v HRTC (Hobart) BTC fielded its strongest side in living memory in an effort to win back the Bartlett Cup. Ex-president Peter Dunn was looking fresh with the lifting of the heavy load of presidential duties. Jim Stephen was wearing a new brown power glove. Bill Hutcheson was altitude training by driving to Ballan every day. Stuart Strange and Rob Jolly were drinking heavily in preparation for Saturday night. Only Ian Dowman looked a weak link with neither enough heavy drinking nor altitude training happening. Irene Stephen joined the team as manager and chaperone while Cath, Rob’s partner, led the enthusiastic cheer squad. Our hopes were high after the first day by the end of which we were leading 7/4. Peter, Jim and Rob were all undefeated and the others all had wins. Stuart was getting used to the new court and Bill was hitting the ball well. The most exciting game was a win by Rob Jolly over Steve Quinn which went down to 8 all /advantage all final point which Rob won with a devastating backhand to the cor-ner. By the end of the day there was confident talk of it all being over by morning tea the next day.


Saturday night Hobart resorted to their normal tactic of merely pointing our team in the direction of a bar … and as usual some of the younger more impressionable players fell for it. Irene had no chance of maintaining discipline as the Cascade Pale Ale flowed. Fortunately it was too cold to sleep in the gutter as had been the case in prior years. The next morning BTC lost the first 5 games straight. Despite all their pre match training Strange and Hutcheson were very sluggish, claiming hundreds of their drinks had been spiked, Dowman per-formed weakly as expected and his handicap will need to be doubled and even the glove of Jim Stephen seemed to have lost a bit of its black power. It was left to Peter Dunn to step up and halt the rot. With all the skill that makes him a great ex-president he beat Jeremy Rackham and then com-bined with a now sober Bill Hutcheson to win the match of the weekend. It went to 8 all/advantage all before they forced a mistake from the opposition. Cath led the supporters into hysteria. So in the end it came down to the last game to decide the winner. Rob Jolly was in good form but was stiff and sore from his long match on Saturday. Despite this he took it right up to the impressive Graeme Holloway before a close loss. Rob likened himself to Cadel Evans … a close second, poor support and lots of drugs being used. So the Cup stays in Hobart but after few weeks rest the training will begin again for next year.

Bartlett Cup Results HELD AT THE HOBART REAL TENNIS CLUB 26th and 27th July 2008 SATURDAY 26TH JULY BALLARAT HOBART RESULTS Peter Dunn v John Howard 9/1 Ian Dowman/Stuart Strange v Eryl Raymond/Graeme Bradfield 7/9 Rob Jolly v Steve Quinn 9/8 Bill Hutcheson/Peter Dunn v David Gadsby/Graeme Bradfield 9/8 Jim Stephen/Stuart Strange v Ron Booth/Michael Short 9/3 Ian Dowman v John Ramsay 1/9 Rob Jolly/Jim Stephen v Graeme Holloway/Hans Drielsma 9/5 Bill Hutcheson v David Gadsby 4/9 Stuart Strange v Graham Flower 5/9 Peter Dunn/Ian Dowman v Graeme Holloway/John Ramsay 9/2 Jim Stephen/Rob Jolly v Graham Flower/Michael Short 9/7 SUNDAY 27TH JULY Stuart Strange/Ian Dowman v Paul Dunne/Stephen Pinkus 6/9 Jim Stephen/Rob Jolly v Hans Drielsma/Mark Lleonart 6/9 Stuart Strange v John Ramsay 3/9 Ian Dowman v Eryl Raymond 1/9 Jim Stephen/Bill Hutcheson v John Ramsay /Hans Drielsma 3/9 Peter Dunn v Jeremy Rackham 9/3 Peter Dunn/Bill Hutcheson v Jeremy Rackham/Graeme Holloway 9/8 Rob Jolly v Graeme Holloway 6/9 FINAL RESULT BALLARAT 9 Vs 10 HOBART



World Over Age International Team Event and Over Age Individual Championships—New York

14 Australian real tennis players of a certain age (and some partners) loose in the Big Apple—a sight for fear for New Yorkers but not much threat to the local population! The reason for our presence was the World Over Age inter-national Team Event and Over Age Individual Champion-ships. The Racquet and Tennis Club of New York is a Renaissance Palazzo style building of five storeys situated on the lovely Park Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets. Immediately behind is the sky scraping Park Avenue Plaza building which ‘rents’ the ‘free air’ above the five storey tennis club for 20 million US Dollars so that it won’t be built out in the next ten years and their workers have a New York view. Down the street is the famous Waldorf—Astoria Hotel, an Art Deco palace built in 1931 and the haven of many rich and famous over the years (alas not your correspondent during this trip!). In the other direction down Park Avenue is Lever House (‘glass box building’) with multiple naked statues regarding the passing pedestrians. What a situation for a tennis club! The New York Club has two real tennis courts on the fourth floor as well as many squash and rac-quet ball courts. Both courts are longer than Ballarat, have different angles of penthouse and tam-bour, and the floor has a significantly different bounce and comes out more from the wall than in Bal-larat but the court also takes cut. Ballarat’s former Professional, Andrew Fowler, is one of the Assis-tant Professionals at the Racquet and Tennis Club of New York and did a great job marking through-out the tournament. Through the week, all players experienced the amazing facilities on the third floor of the club. Nov-ices to the club could wonder why screens were around the lift doors but when one walks beyond the screens and one is confronted by much muscular male flesh, the reason is clear! The wood panelled changing booths are a sight from the 19th century and the daily provision of freshly laundered clothes was truly amazing. All players made use of the sauna, swimming pool and weighs and exercise room. An amazing institution. The International Teams Event contest occurs every two years and consists of teams of seven play-ers from each country playing three singles and two doubles with non player being allowed to play twice. Teams enter from United Kingdom, U.S.A., France and the current title holders in all age groups, Australia. The Cockram Cup is for those aged over 50 years (named after Melbourne Tennis great Ted Cockram), the Bostwick Cup is for the over 60’s (named after Pete Bostwick a former U.S. and world Real Tennis champion) and the Danby Cup for the over 70’s (named after the Danby fam-ily who live at Seacourt on Hayling Island in the U.K.) Unfortunately Australia was short in numbers in each age group this year so some players did actu-ally play twice and some members of the over 60’s played in the over 50’s. France did not field a team so the tournament consisted of three days of matches with each team having a day off to ex-plore the Big Apple or plot and plan tactics against the team which they had not played. Unlike Mel-bourne in 2006, Australia was roundly defeated, winning only one out of the 15 matches contested in the three age groups. The English proved far to strong despite some vigorous opposition from the Americans.


After the teams events the individual events commenced. These were singles and doubles in the age groups of over 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 and were keenly contested over the ensuing eight days. A great sense of camaraderie has been engendered amongst the players who meet each other every two years in the alternating countries. Unlike the last tournament in New York in 2002, players were billeted with great generosity by Ameri-can players which of course was a great financial saving and also allowed us to see American life. The social calendar was full with a Welcome Cocktail Party, a night seeing the new production of ‘South Pacific’ which has won rave reviews in New York and a final Presentation Dinner in the New York Racquets and Tennis Club. Ballarat was represented by John Faull and Wayne Spring. Wayne playing in the Cockram and John the Bostwick and John giving a helping hand in the Cockram. In the individual events Wayne and John were beaten in the over 50’s doubles semi-final and Wayne was beaten in the over 55’s singles semi-final and won the over 55’s doubles with Paul Weaver form the United Kingdom. I would strongly recommend any Ballarat club member, when they reach the appropriate grand old age, to participate in these events. Wayne Spring


BTC Player Profile – August 2008

This month our Club Professional interviews long-standing Club member Alan Widmer. Name: Alan Widmer Club position: Club Captain/Full Member Date of birth: 25 May 1919 Star Sign: Gemini Occupation: Retired Gentleman Resides: Lake Wendouree Year Joined Club: 1984 Playing Hand: Right-handed Likes: Wife & family, Reading, Sydney Swans F.C, Ballarat High School, Sport in general Dislikes: The degradation of religious principals over time Most memorable tennis moments: Tour of UK & France, Bathurst Cup in Ballarat Worst tennis moment: Losing the E Grade Club Championship final after thrashing the same player the week before Future tennis ambitions: To play a tennis match on my 90th Birthday (next year) What other courts have you played on: Melbourne, Romsey, Paris, Bordeaux, Fontainbleau, Petworth, Queens, Lords, Seacourt Hampton Court, Oratory, Cambridge, Oxford, Canford, Hardwick House, Hatfield, Holyport, Jesmond Dene, Leamington, Manchester How has BTC changed since you began: It has grown in membership and become part of the International Real Tennis fraternity What have been some of your major achievements at BTC: The production of a fundraising art installation in 1991-2 Representing BTC on many occasions Club Captain since 1989 One of BTC’s first accredited markers And probably the most important question of all ….who would you turn gay for? The Club Professional!


BTC’s next rounds of Club Championships have now been drawn up with play to begin shortly. Graded and level singles matches as well as handicap doubles events will be played throughout the second half of the year with the finals of all events to be played on December 12-15. Each event has a designated finals time and details and conditions of entry for each event have already been sent out via email. Check out the draws when you are in the Club next and good luck.

BTC Club Championships 2008

Around The Club:

Improvements to Club facilities continued at BTC in recent months with more on the agenda for the months ahead. • Some new courtyard furniture was acquired through the generosity of Club President Peter

Dunn. BTC’s old, dated and somewhat precarious existing courtyard table and chairs were replaced with something that now reflects the improvements that we had already made to this area.

• Further garden planting continues with the help of our resident landscape gardener Julian Sunter. Some wall meshing to enable creepers to climb the courtyard walls will be installed shortly.

• Club handyman Bruce Christie has constructed a neat looking jarrah shrowd to cover the heater/cooling unit in the courtyard area.

• Club Member Stuart Strange and Club sponsor SAS Air have generously put some effort into solving our “chilly dedans” problem and have now kindly purchased some fantastic radiating units that will shortly be installed in the dedans ceiling. One unit will be placed above the mark-ing position and three more above the rest of the dedans area. Members will shortly be able to comfortably sit and watch matches during our winter months with nice, warm radiated heat flooding the area. Many thanks also go to Jim and Irene Stephen who have offered to help with the cost of installation. A most exciting project and one all BTC members will benefit from.

• BTC’s Past Presidents photos have now been updated, framed and set up within the Dedans area. Once again, Bruce Christie has helped with a great wooden sign which makes the whole area look terrific. Thanks go to Sheree McFarlane for organizing the entire project.

BTC plans to take on further Club facility improvements over coming months. The first of these is to spruce up the Club with a brand new paint job. Sheree McFarlane has organized a paint supplier to donate the paint and some various working bees will be held to re-paint the court hallway area, de-dans area, clubrooms and pro-shop. Some great new colours have been selected – so stay tuned!


Forthcoming Events:

August 10 BTC Business V Medico Challenge BTC

August 22-24 Lamanz Menswear Handicap Singles BTC

August 30 MCC V Ballarat BTC

September 12-14 Romsey Landrover Service Junior Singles BTC

September 28 Eureka cup/Larwood Cup BTC V RMTC (Melbourne)

BTC

October 4/5 Dawson Cup (Melbourne Club V Savage Club)

BTC

October 17-19 SPS Handicap Doubles BTC

October 25/26 Victorian Amateur Singles BTC

BTC Recent Results

June 9 Queen’s Birthday Handicap Singles Winner: Sam McDonald

June 13-15 SAS Air Handicap Singles Winners: Sam Clarke/Laura Le Marshall/Jenni Murphy/Rod Unmack

July 1 Junior Handicap Singles—Round 1 Winner: Will Hoskin

July 4-6 Gisborne Power Products Handicap Doubles Winners: Julian Sunter/Cathy Faull Ben Hoskin/Will Hoskin

July 9 Junior Handicap Singles—Round 2 Winner: James O’Grady

July 26/27 Bartlett Cup Winner: Hobart Tennis Club

BTC Doubles Pennant 2007/08 Winners: Mike Whitehead/Brian O’Grady

The Grille—Newsletter of the Ballarat Tennis Club—August 2008

BTC Mid Year Club Championship Weekend—June 20-23, 2008:

B Grade Handicap Singles: Greg Henderson def Matthew Dunn

A Grade Handicap Singles: Ewan Barker def Daniel Willams

C Grade Handicap Singles: Stuart Strange def Mick Fenelon

D Grade Handicap Singles: Charlie Cree def David Vercoe


E Grade Handicap Singles: Elizabeth Williams def Terry O’Brien

Ladies Handicap Singles: Jo Edwards def Laura Fowler

Ladies B Handicap Singles: Elizabeth Williams def Alison Dugdale

Junior Handicap Singles: Will Hoskin def Matthew Dunn

Masters Handicap Singles: Ross Troon def Alan Campbell

Men’s Doubles Club Championship: Wayne Spring/David Parker def Daniel Williams/Paul Williams


Ladies Doubles Club Championship: Laura Fowler/Cathy Faull def Jo Edwards/Wendy Whitehead

Mixed Doubles Club Championship: Wayne Spring/Laura Fowler def David Parker/Wendy Whitehead

BTC Most Improved Player—January—July 2008 Mark Hartnell


BTC Pennant Ladder Updates:

BTC A Grade Pennant – Winter 2008 P Williams/M Williams 13 B Christie/A Pipkorn 12 P Dunn/S Strange 9 M Hartnell/W Whitehead 8 BTC Doubles Pennant – Winter 2008 M Whitehead/B O’Grady 8 Terry McDonough/Jeremy Johnson 6 Steve Wright/A Pipkorn 4 G Henderson/G Fowler 4 J McClure/P Roberts 4 D Cinque/J Stephen 2 R Unmack/Q Wilkinson 2 S Strange/M Fenelon 2 P Dunn/M Hartnell 1 BTC Individual Pennant 2008 A Dugdale 22 P Shea 20 A Campbell 19 I Chambers 18 A Hall 17 C Cree 17 T O’Brien 17 C Faull 16 L Allford 15 C Harry 7

BTC Club News / Gossip: • BTC members are tougher than they look! Club member Lyn Allford found out recently just

how cold Australia’s high country can get when she was talked into a winter camping and fish-ing weekend with husband Ray. The Allfords were forced from their tent in the middle of the night by the cold and had to retreat to the slightly (only just) warmer atmosphere of their car. It was a rough old night, but Lyn survived to tell her tale. Well done Lyn!

• BTC welcomes back new Club member Jon Dugdale from an overseas jaunt to Kazakhstan.

Not your average destination! • BTC members visiting Club member Ian Chambers’ menswear store “Lamanz Menswear”

during business hours may sometimes find the store unattended. If this is the case, try the souvalaki shop across the street or Eureka Pasta up the road! It seems food and fashion goes hand in hand!

• Forget serving lessons from your Club Professional! Club member Mark Hartnell is the man to

see if you want to be able to serve balls into the winning gallery. If I didn’t see it with my own eyes I would not have believed it!

• Club member and “World’s Tallest Man” Andrew Pipkorn has had a terrible case of tennis elbow. His mother told him he would go blind…but fortunately for Andrew “it” just made his elbow sore instead.


• Club members say “hello” to new player David Bruce when you see him in the Club. David works with Mark Hartnell at Ballarat Base Hospital’s emergency department and is improving quickly. Keep an eye out for him. • Obviously winter time is the time for holidays! Paul and Elizabeth Williams have taken off to Europe, Daniel Williams has just got back from Thailand, Jon Watson has been in Mooloolaba, Ray Thompson has been in Fiji, Ross Troon is in Bali, our Bartlett Cup team have been in Hobart, Robert Montgomery and Steve Yung are in the UK, Paul Kierce is in Sydney, Greg Henderson and Michael Williams have been up at the snow….and of course Wendy Whitehead has pissed off to Queensland again! Nice for some! • Club member Steve Wright has developed his own style of SMS reply in response to Brett’s messages. They are hard to interpret and rather short but here are a few examples: Brett’s question: Interested in a game of singles? Steve’s answer: 1. P O 2. G F 3. F O

If anyone could let Brett know what these abbreviations might stand for— - -it would be most appreciated.

• Good to see Club member Patrick Sunter over from Adelaide for a while. Patrick has been making good use of his time playing plenty of tennis while he is in town. • BTC has found the perfect fundraiser! It is now charging Jo Edwards and Daniel Williams $1.00 every time they forget their Club key and need to be let into the Club. BTC is also charging Jo’s husband and former BTC Pro, Mike Edwards $1.00 every time he leaves his mobile phone lying around at the Club - and a further $1.00 every time he rings it to try and work out where it is. From initial forecasts, BTC hopes to raise over $1000.00 for the year!!! • Club member and long-time President of the BTC “Old Bastard’s Club” John Zulic is back from overseas. He has played his first match and is now learning to walk again. Hello ‘nurofen’ and welcome back John! • After a term in King Island without any tennis activity, BTC Juniors and up-and-coming stars Tommy “Gun” Parker and James “Crackers” O’Grady have been putting in some solid practice sessions and have now found that little bit of “magic” they had before they left. Good to see you back into it boys! • Another BTC Junior Will “Snake-Man” Hoskin has got himself a new little pet! After applying suitable pressure to his parents, Will will soon take possession of his new pet snake – Pete the Python. Pete the python should grow to about 7 metres in length, will be fed small children once a week and will probably live half its life down at the Club. Members should expect to see him around sometime.

BTC Club Sponsors: The Ballarat Tennis Club is once again proud to welcome aboard its Club sponsors for the 2008 sea-son. The input of our generous sponsors contribute greatly to the standard of weekend tournament and pennant prizes and make many of the things that happen at BTC possible. Thankyou to the fol-lowing sponsors: All BTC members are encouraged to support our Club sponsors wherever possible.


La Manz Menswear

Artafact

Documents

A u g u s t 2 0 0 8 - ballarattennisclub.com.au · President’s Report ... Bartlett Cup—BTC v HRTC ... So the Cup stays in Hobart but after few weeks rest the training will begin