THE LATEST NEWS FROM PERSHORE TENNIS.
PERSHORE TENNIS CENTRE HOSTS CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
Pershore Indoor Tennis Centre was pleased to host a Grade 4 Junior Tournament over the Christmas break.
There were 50 players from as far afield as Devon, Cheshire and Perth, Australia, in varying age categories from 8 and under to 16 and under. The younger competitors played a round-robin format whilst the older ones played a knock-out format of best of 3 sets with a championship tie-break in each round.
The winners of each age group were: 8&U - Stuart Shannon, Bromsgrove, (runner-up Oliver Marlow, Pershore), 9&U - James Vincent, Bath, (runner-up Matthew Rutter, Exeter), 10&U - Alex Griffiths, Solihull, (runner-up Joseph Morris, Redditch), 12&U - James Holden, Gloucester, (runner-up Guy Mobey, Farringdon), 14&U- Nathan Cooper, Wolverhampton, (runner-up Ben Whitmore, Torquay) and 16&U- Harry Phipps, Pershore, (runner-up Ben Tolhurst, Worcester).
Steve Bauer, Head Coach at Pershore said “We were very pleased with the number and level of entrants this year. There were some very tight, competitive matches. I would to congratulate all participants for the good sportsmanship shown on court”.
Pictured below are Harry Phipps (Left) from Pershore, winner of 16&U category, with Ben Tolhurst, runner-up.
U8 and U9 NOVEMBER COMPETITIONS
Well done to all who participated in the U8 and U9 competitions on Nov 26th. Congratulations to the following - Julia Hickman, winner- U8 girls, Maddie Hinchcliff, runner-up- U8 girls, Ollie Dando, – winner U8 boys, Sam Rainer, runner-up- U8 boys, Sam Howard, winner- U9 boys, Noel Watters, runner-up-U9 boys and Lucy Hawkes, winner -U9 girls.
Ollie Dando and Julia Hickman
Under 8 players
Under 9 players
PERSHORE PLAYER WINS MAJORCA OPEN VETS TITLE
Following his success in winning his first Open Men’s singles title in Bristol, Pershore Tennis Centre coach Mark Rowe has gone on to win an international seniors doubles title.
Alongside doubles partner Alec Allen (Lincolnshire), Rowe won the Grade 1 ITF Over 45s Majorcan Seniors Open Championships Title, at Font de sa Cala, Majorca. Playing on slow clay courts in temperatures of more than 35 degrees, the two Englishmen needed all the energy they could muster to win the title.
Receiving a bye in the 1st round, they then beat Austrian pair Werner Zeilinger and Thomas Lorenz 6,0 6,4. In the semi-final they beat the fellow British pairing of Peter Stewart, and Anthony Marchetti 6,3 6,1,and in the final, Rowe and Allen beat Girts Dzelde (Latvia) and Walter Brodbeck (Germany) 6,2 6,3.
Rowe said "For me and Alec to win an International doubles title at the highest veterans level of Grade 1, is a huge achievement, also knowing that one of our doubles opponents (Dzelde) used to partner Kafelnikov on occasions, makes it an even better win. We are really happy".
Mark is available for lessons at Pershore Tennis Centre – ring 01386 556677 to book. The Centre offers an extensive coaching and social play programme for all ages and abilities and has the largest junior membership of any club in Hereford and Worcestershire. The three indoor and 5 outdoor courts are available to members and non-members and can be booked by phone (as above).
Photo caption - Winners Ceremony - l to r - Mark Rowe, Alec Allen, Helge Albrecht (tournament organiser) Walter Brodbeck and Girts Dzelde.
SATELLITE CHALLENGER AT WELTI
Members of the Pershore team that took part in the Satellite Challenger event at Welti, Shrewsbury on Oct 24th. We came 3rd in the Red and Orange events and 4th in the Green event.
WIMBLEDON FINAL FOR PERSHORE PLAYER
Pershore Men’s A team player Mark Rowe recently reached the final of the over 45s veterans grass court doubles championships of Great Britain at Wimbledon.
Mark and his partner Neil Howitt (Gloucestershire) were seeded No.2 and had a good run to the final, receiving a Bye in the first round, and then in the second round beating Ian Spanswick and Brian Hayward (both Bedfordshire) 6-0, 6-0. In the Quarter Final they beat Tony Brachmanski (Staffordshire) and Ed Edwards (Hereford and Worcester) 6-1, 6-0 and in the semi final they beat the previous year’s finalists Alan Leeder and Scott Martin (both Cambridgeshire) 6-2, 6-2.
However in the final the No.1 seeds, and 5 times winners of the event, Chris Hearn (Buckinghamshire) and Erich Knowles (Lancashire) proved to be too strong, winning 6-0, 6-2. Rowe said "It was a great week’s tennis, and fantastic to play on the Wimbledon courts that you otherwise only get to see on TV. To play on them yourself, with all their history was truly awe inspiring. We were really happy to have got to the Final".
Imogen Looker, a member of Pershore Tennis Centre, has had a great string of successes in the last few weeks.
She won the 9 & U Girls section of the County Closed Tournament on August 28th at Malvern, which is an event for the best players in the county. Imogen won five matches to gain the title, only dropping one set along the way. Previously she won a Grade 4 event at Evesham, again only dropping one set along the way and winning her last match with an ace.
Imogen was also part of the Pershore 9&U mixed team that won the Hereford & Worcester Aegon Team Tennis competition this summer. Aegon wins were also achieved by the Pershore 8&U and 10&U mixed teams and Mens and Women’s teams who both won their respective Division One’s. After a play-off the men are now promoted to the Regional Tier.
CLUB LADIES CHAMPIONS 2011
Sunday 10 July was a busy day for the Ladies Finals!
In the Ladies Singles, Michelle Collings (left) defeated Rachel Prudden (6-3, 6-3).
Both Michelle and Rachel were in action again straight after their Singles match - in the Ladies Doubles.
Michelle and Rachel defeated Rachel Cooper (2nd from left) and Hannah Fowler (left) (6-0, 6-4).
In the Men's Doubles, father and son team Chris and Mike Langston won.
Congratulations to you all!
GREAT BRITISH CHAMPION!
Pershore club member Mark Rowe recently became The Great British Open Mens’ Over 45`s clay court doubles champion with his partner Neil Howitt(Gloucestershire). The event was played at the West Hampshire Club, Bournemouth. Rowe and Howitt, seeded 5 in the event, had an excellent run, receiving a bye in the first round and then in the second round beating David Brown (Yorkshire) and Mats Haglund (Sweden) 6,4 6,1. In the quarter-final, they defeated Athol Hoets (South Africa) and Andrew Sharp (Surrey) 6,3 6,2,then in the semi-final beat Lars Hansen (Denmark) and Philip Shrimpton (Hampshire) 6,3 6,0. In a great Final they came from a set down, to beat Stephen Walter and Anthony Illingworth (both Hertfordshire) 2,6 6,2 6,2.
It was Rowe`s first British title, following his selection for the over 45`s England team earlier in the year. He is currently ranked 4 in Great Britain in the Mens’ Over 45`s ranking list, and will be playing for Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the Mens’ Over 35`s county week team at Eastbourne between July the 29th and 31st.
NOEL v NOVAK!
Pershore Junior, Noel Watters got the amazing opportunity to meet World No.2 Novak Djokovic
on the eve of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
PERSHORE WIN AEGON U9s
Pershore finished overall winners in the Aegon Team Tennis (9 and Under Category) that concluded on Saturday May 21. The series of matches organised over the last 8 weeks saw Pershore play strong teams from Worcester, Redditch HDA, Hereford and Malvern.
Each match featured a pair of doubles matches along with 8 singles and despite close matches against Hereford and Redditch HDA, Pershore returned with victories against all 4 teams.
Congratulations to Imogen Looker and Antony Fordham for strong doubles performances, Sam Howard for his powerful service game and Daniel Walker for finishing the series unbeaten.
Picture left to right: Sam Howard, Imogen Looker, Antony Fordham, Daniel Walker
SUNNY WEATHER HELPS MAKE TOURNAMENT A GREAT SUCCESS
Pershore Tennis Centre hosted their Annual Grade 4 Junior Tournament over the Easter weekend in glorious sunshine. There were 71 players from as far afield as Cheshire and South Wales, in varying age categories from Mini-Red U8s to U16s. The younger competitors played a round-robin format with a final between the winners of each group, whilst the older ones played 2 sets with a championship tie-break in each round.
The winners of each age group were U8 - Logan Robertson (Solihull) U9 - David Turner (Hereford) , U10 mixed - Ben Nicol (Macclesfield), U12 boys- Nishranth Dalavaiye (Swansea), U12 girls – Charlotte Richardson (Solihull), U14 boys – Tobie Timmermans (Malvern), U14 girls - Kate Horsburgh (Worcester), U16 boys- Harry Phipps (Pershore), U16 girls – Beth Excell (Pershore).
Steve Bauer, Head Coach at Pershore said “This was our best ever tournament, helped by the fantastic weather which made it a great three days for both players and supporters”.
Pictured are Harry Phipps from Pershore Tennis Centre (left) – winner of U16 boys and Joseph Carter – runner-up.
PERSHORE PETTICOATS WIN INDOOR LEAGUE FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING
The Pershore Petticoats have won the Pershore Ladies Indoor League for the second year running. Seven teams from around Gloucestershire and Worcestershire battled it out over the winter at Pershore Tennis Centre.
The team was presented with the shield by Pershore Tennis Centre Chairman, Ian Woodley. The league, which is held on a Tuesday morning will start again in September and will run until March. Any teams interested in joining can contact Jenny MacDonald on 01386 556677.
Pictured are (from left) Marion Phillips, Ginny Lowe, Ian Woodley, Sarah Eaton, Rachel Cooper and Marie-Claire Szczepanik.
COMIC RELIEF CHARITY EVENT AT PERSHORE TENNIS CENTRE
Todd Charlton, aged 7, will be staging a charity red nose tennis event at Pershore Tennis Centre on Sunday 20th March starting at 3.30pm. Entry is £5 with all money going to Comic Relief. He is inviting all players aged 10 and under to take part in this fun event and the theme of the afternoon is wacky hair!
Todd, who has been identified by the LTA as a promising player of the future, plays tennis at Pershore and Esporta Gloucester and thought of the idea himself. He will be supported by Pershore Tennis Centre and his family and friends. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Todd on tcharlton123@fsmail.net
JUNIOR TRIUMPH AT WARWICK
Club junior, Noel Watters recently won a Grade 3 event at Warwick University. The seven-year old, who trains at Pershore Tennis Centre with performance coach, Mike Crooks won all four of his group matches before advancing through the quarter-finals and and semi finals to win the trophy. Well done Noel!
TENNIS TALENT VISIT
Pershore Tennis Centre was recently visited by Alison McDonald, Area Talent and Performance Co-ordinator for the LTA. She came to assess the future potential of 4 young players at the Centre, Todd Charlton, Daniel Fishbourne, Ed Thrush and Noel Watters who all play in the Under 8 age group, and have been identified as possible promising players of the future through the LTA Talent ID Pathway.
DEE WHITEHEAD - COUNTY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Dee Whitehead, Treasurer at Pershore Tennis, was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the County AGM in November. Dee joined Pershore Tennis Club in May 1983, has represented Pershore in the A and B Teams for most of her time at Pershore, and also played for the Mixed teams. She joined the committee in 1991, and has been on the committee ever since! Dee was Chairman between 1992 - 1996, then elected Treasurer - the post she has held to date. Dee is alway willing to help around the club, and does much for the club behind the scenes. She received her award from Ian King, President of H&W LTA. We thank you Dee!
PERSHORE TENNIS CENTRE HOSTS CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
Pershore Indoor Tennis Centre was pleased to host a Grade 4 Junior Tournament over the Christmas break.
There were 50 players from as far afield as Devon, Cheshire and Perth, Australia, in varying age categories from 8 and under to 16 and under. The younger competitors played a round-robin format whilst the older ones played a knock-out format of best of 3 sets with a championship tie-break in each round.
The winners of each age group were: 8&U - Stuart Shannon, Bromsgrove, (runner-up Oliver Marlow, Pershore), 9&U - James Vincent, Bath, (runner-up Matthew Rutter, Exeter), 10&U - Alex Griffiths, Solihull, (runner-up Joseph Morris, Redditch), 12&U - James Holden, Gloucester, (runner-up Guy Mobey, Farringdon), 14&U- Nathan Cooper, Wolverhampton, (runner-up Ben Whitmore, Torquay) and 16&U- Harry Phipps, Pershore, (runner-up Ben Tolhurst, Worcester).
Steve Bauer, Head Coach at Pershore said “We were very pleased with the number and level of entrants this year. There were some very tight, competitive matches. I would to congratulate all participants for the good sportsmanship shown on court”.
Pictured below are Harry Phipps (Left) from Pershore, winner of 16&U category, with Ben Tolhurst, runner-up.
U8 and U9 NOVEMBER COMPETITIONS
Well done to all who participated in the U8 and U9 competitions on Nov 26th. Congratulations to the following - Julia Hickman, winner- U8 girls, Maddie Hinchcliff, runner-up- U8 girls, Ollie Dando, – winner U8 boys, Sam Rainer, runner-up- U8 boys, Sam Howard, winner- U9 boys, Noel Watters, runner-up-U9 boys and Lucy Hawkes, winner -U9 girls.
Ollie Dando and Julia Hickman Under 8 players Under 9 playersPERSHORE PLAYER WINS MAJORCA OPEN VETS TITLE
Following his success in winning his first Open Men’s singles title in Bristol, Pershore Tennis Centre coach Mark Rowe has gone on to win an international seniors doubles title.
Alongside doubles partner Alec Allen (Lincolnshire), Rowe won the Grade 1 ITF Over 45s Majorcan Seniors Open Championships Title, at Font de sa Cala, Majorca. Playing on slow clay courts in temperatures of more than 35 degrees, the two Englishmen needed all the energy they could muster to win the title.
Receiving a bye in the 1st round, they then beat Austrian pair Werner Zeilinger and Thomas Lorenz 6,0 6,4. In the semi-final they beat the fellow British pairing of Peter Stewart, and Anthony Marchetti 6,3 6,1,and in the final, Rowe and Allen beat Girts Dzelde (Latvia) and Walter Brodbeck (Germany) 6,2 6,3.
Rowe said "For me and Alec to win an International doubles title at the highest veterans level of Grade 1, is a huge achievement, also knowing that one of our doubles opponents (Dzelde) used to partner Kafelnikov on occasions, makes it an even better win. We are really happy".
Mark is available for lessons at Pershore Tennis Centre – ring 01386 556677 to book. The Centre offers an extensive coaching and social play programme for all ages and abilities and has the largest junior membership of any club in Hereford and Worcestershire. The three indoor and 5 outdoor courts are available to members and non-members and can be booked by phone (as above).
Photo caption - Winners Ceremony - l to r - Mark Rowe, Alec Allen, Helge Albrecht (tournament organiser) Walter Brodbeck and Girts Dzelde.
SATELLITE CHALLENGER AT WELTI
Members of the Pershore team that took part in the Satellite Challenger event at Welti, Shrewsbury on Oct 24th. We came 3rd in the Red and Orange events and 4th in the Green event.
WIMBLEDON FINAL FOR PERSHORE PLAYER
Pershore Men’s A team player Mark Rowe recently reached the final of the over 45s veterans grass court doubles championships of Great Britain at Wimbledon.
Mark and his partner Neil Howitt (Gloucestershire) were seeded No.2 and had a good run to the final, receiving a Bye in the first round, and then in the second round beating Ian Spanswick and Brian Hayward (both Bedfordshire) 6-0, 6-0. In the Quarter Final they beat Tony Brachmanski (Staffordshire) and Ed Edwards (Hereford and Worcester) 6-1, 6-0 and in the semi final they beat the previous year’s finalists Alan Leeder and Scott Martin (both Cambridgeshire) 6-2, 6-2.
However in the final the No.1 seeds, and 5 times winners of the event, Chris Hearn (Buckinghamshire) and Erich Knowles (Lancashire) proved to be too strong, winning 6-0, 6-2. Rowe said "It was a great week’s tennis, and fantastic to play on the Wimbledon courts that you otherwise only get to see on TV. To play on them yourself, with all their history was truly awe inspiring. We were really happy to have got to the Final".
STRING OF SUCCESSES FOR PERSHORE JUNIOR PLAYER
Imogen Looker, a member of Pershore Tennis Centre, has had a great string of successes in the last few weeks.
She won the 9 & U Girls section of the County Closed Tournament on August 28th at Malvern, which is an event for the best players in the county. Imogen won five matches to gain the title, only dropping one set along the way. Previously she won a Grade 4 event at Evesham, again only dropping one set along the way and winning her last match with an ace.
Imogen was also part of the Pershore 9&U mixed team that won the Hereford & Worcester Aegon Team Tennis competition this summer. Aegon wins were also achieved by the Pershore 8&U and 10&U mixed teams and Mens and Women’s teams who both won their respective Division One’s. After a play-off the men are now promoted to the Regional Tier.
CLUB LADIES CHAMPIONS 2011
Sunday 10 July was a busy day for the Ladies Finals!
In the Ladies Singles, Michelle Collings (left) defeated Rachel Prudden (6-3, 6-3).
Both Michelle and Rachel were in action again straight after their Singles match - in the Ladies Doubles.
Michelle and Rachel defeated Rachel Cooper (2nd from left) and Hannah Fowler (left) (6-0, 6-4).
In the Men's Doubles, father and son team Chris and Mike Langston won.
Congratulations to you all!
GREAT BRITISH CHAMPION!
Pershore club member Mark Rowe recently became The Great British Open Mens’ Over 45`s clay court doubles champion with his partner Neil Howitt(Gloucestershire). The event was played at the West Hampshire Club, Bournemouth. Rowe and Howitt, seeded 5 in the event, had an excellent run, receiving a bye in the first round and then in the second round beating David Brown (Yorkshire) and Mats Haglund (Sweden) 6,4 6,1. In the quarter-final, they defeated Athol Hoets (South Africa) and Andrew Sharp (Surrey) 6,3 6,2,then in the semi-final beat Lars Hansen (Denmark) and Philip Shrimpton (Hampshire) 6,3 6,0. In a great Final they came from a set down, to beat Stephen Walter and Anthony Illingworth (both Hertfordshire) 2,6 6,2 6,2.
It was Rowe`s first British title, following his selection for the over 45`s England team earlier in the year. He is currently ranked 4 in Great Britain in the Mens’ Over 45`s ranking list, and will be playing for Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the Mens’ Over 35`s county week team at Eastbourne between July the 29th and 31st.
NOEL v NOVAK!
Pershore Junior, Noel Watters got the amazing opportunity to meet World No.2 Novak Djokovic
on the eve of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
PERSHORE WIN AEGON U9s
Pershore finished overall winners in the Aegon Team Tennis (9 and Under Category) that concluded on Saturday May 21. The series of matches organised over the last 8 weeks saw Pershore play strong teams from Worcester, Redditch HDA, Hereford and Malvern.
Each match featured a pair of doubles matches along with 8 singles and despite close matches against Hereford and Redditch HDA, Pershore returned with victories against all 4 teams.
Congratulations to Imogen Looker and Antony Fordham for strong doubles performances, Sam Howard for his powerful service game and Daniel Walker for finishing the series unbeaten.
Picture left to right: Sam Howard, Imogen Looker, Antony Fordham, Daniel Walker
SUNNY WEATHER HELPS MAKE TOURNAMENT A GREAT SUCCESS
Pershore Tennis Centre hosted their Annual Grade 4 Junior Tournament over the Easter weekend in glorious sunshine. There were 71 players from as far afield as Cheshire and South Wales, in varying age categories from Mini-Red U8s to U16s. The younger competitors played a round-robin format with a final between the winners of each group, whilst the older ones played 2 sets with a championship tie-break in each round.
The winners of each age group were U8 - Logan Robertson (Solihull) U9 - David Turner (Hereford) , U10 mixed - Ben Nicol (Macclesfield), U12 boys- Nishranth Dalavaiye (Swansea), U12 girls – Charlotte Richardson (Solihull), U14 boys – Tobie Timmermans (Malvern), U14 girls - Kate Horsburgh (Worcester), U16 boys- Harry Phipps (Pershore), U16 girls – Beth Excell (Pershore).
Steve Bauer, Head Coach at Pershore said “This was our best ever tournament, helped by the fantastic weather which made it a great three days for both players and supporters”.
Pictured are Harry Phipps from Pershore Tennis Centre (left) – winner of U16 boys and Joseph Carter – runner-up.
PERSHORE PETTICOATS WIN INDOOR LEAGUE FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING
The Pershore Petticoats have won the Pershore Ladies Indoor League for the second year running. Seven teams from around Gloucestershire and Worcestershire battled it out over the winter at Pershore Tennis Centre.
The team was presented with the shield by Pershore Tennis Centre Chairman, Ian Woodley. The league, which is held on a Tuesday morning will start again in September and will run until March. Any teams interested in joining can contact Jenny MacDonald on 01386 556677.
Pictured are (from left) Marion Phillips, Ginny Lowe, Ian Woodley, Sarah Eaton, Rachel Cooper and Marie-Claire Szczepanik.
COMIC RELIEF CHARITY EVENT AT PERSHORE TENNIS CENTRE
Todd Charlton, aged 7, will be staging a charity red nose tennis event at Pershore Tennis Centre on Sunday 20th March starting at 3.30pm. Entry is £5 with all money going to Comic Relief. He is inviting all players aged 10 and under to take part in this fun event and the theme of the afternoon is wacky hair!
Todd, who has been identified by the LTA as a promising player of the future, plays tennis at Pershore and Esporta Gloucester and thought of the idea himself. He will be supported by Pershore Tennis Centre and his family and friends. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Todd on tcharlton123@fsmail.net
JUNIOR TRIUMPH AT WARWICK
Club junior, Noel Watters recently won a Grade 3 event at Warwick University. The seven-year old, who trains at Pershore Tennis Centre with performance coach, Mike Crooks won all four of his group matches before advancing through the quarter-finals and and semi finals to win the trophy. Well done Noel!
TENNIS TALENT VISIT
Pershore Tennis Centre was recently visited by Alison McDonald, Area Talent and Performance Co-ordinator for the LTA. She came to assess the future potential of 4 young players at the Centre, Todd Charlton, Daniel Fishbourne, Ed Thrush and Noel Watters who all play in the Under 8 age group, and have been identified as possible promising players of the future through the LTA Talent ID Pathway.
DEE WHITEHEAD - COUNTY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Dee Whitehead, Treasurer at Pershore Tennis, was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the County AGM in November. Dee joined Pershore Tennis Club in May 1983, has represented Pershore in the A and B Teams for most of her time at Pershore, and also played for the Mixed teams. She joined the committee in 1991, and has been on the committee ever since! Dee was Chairman between 1992 - 1996, then elected Treasurer - the post she has held to date. Dee is alway willing to help around the club, and does much for the club behind the scenes. She received her award from Ian King, President of H&W LTA. We thank you Dee!