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Something old something new
Some excellent tennis and a
mixture of new and old finalists and champions characterised
Chesham Bois Club 2004
Championship Finals Day. This year saw the introduction of a new format to
the day with the singles events being played in the morning. The Men’s
Singles the first title to be decided and the contest between two evenly
matched players produced some exciting quality tennis. However on the day
it was clear that the Club’s Head Coach Peter Lavery was in no mood to take
any prisoners and his concentration and aggression resulted in him
overpowering Tom Sacker 6-4, 6-2 to take the title for the first time. In
the Men’s Veterans final, despite giving his opponent 20 years, Len Worley
took Richard Benmore to two long and close fought sets, Richard finally
retaining his title 7-5,7-6. The Maloneys, brother and sister, made the U18
events a family affair, Jonathan retaining the Boy’s title beating Gianlucca
Morelli 7-5, 6-3 while Vanessa won the Girl’s event 6-1, 6-2 defeating
Heather McNeill in a match of highest quality and a great deal closer than
the score suggests.
In contrast to the morning’s
weather, which had threatened rain, the clouds cleared and we were treated
to an afternoon of hard fought doubles events in the best of possible
conditions. The Men’s doubles was a cracking match of aggressive and
intense tennis with Tom Sacker and Deepak Natarajan taking the first set
6-4. But Peter Lavery, now partnered by Steve Woolland, was not to be
denied and they squared the match by taking the second set 6-4 and then
completed their victory 6-3 in the third. The Ladies’ doubles proved a
contest of changing fortunes. Debbie Maurantonio and Adriana Wong shot away
to a 5-0 lead only to be caught by Janet Pusey and Jenny Coady who
eventually won two tie-breakers to take the title 7-6, 7-6.
The Men’s Veterans followed
a similar pattern but produced a different outcome. Tony Simmonds and Len
Worley stormed to a 4-0 lead only to be overhauled by Peter Henry and
Neville Mackay who took the set 7-5 and moved into a 2-0 lead in the
second. However, Simmonds and Worley showed great tenacity and their
determination eventually brought them the second set by 7-5 and after this
they were not to be denied and wrapped up the deciding set 6-3.
In the Mixed Doubles the
pairing of Stuart Foster and Sarah Burrows proved two strong for Richard
Wallace and Sally Livingstone resulting in a straightforward 6-2, 6-2
victory for Foster/Burrows. The final event of the day the Ladies’ Veterans
Doubles appeared to be heading towards a straightforward victory for the
Ladies’ Captain Janet Pusey and her partner Jane McFall. They took the
first set 6-2 and led the second 3-1. However, Debbie Maurantonio and
Allison Williams refused to capitulate and fought back to take the second
set 7-5. In the third set Pusey/McFall again gained the early break but
Maurantonio/Williams came back again to take the set 6-3 and with it the
title
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Event |
Result |
View Photo |
|
Men’s Singles |
Peter Lavery beat
Tom Sacker 6-4,6-2 |
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|
U18 Boys Singles |
Jonathan Maloney
beat Gianlucca Morelli 7-5,6-3 |
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|
U18 Girls Singles |
Vanessa Maloney beat
Heather McNeill 6-1, 6-2 |
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|
Men’s Veterans
Singles |
Richard Benmore beat
Len Worley 7-5, 7-6 |
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|
Men’s Doubles |
Lavery/Woolland beat
Sacker/Natarajan 4-6,6-4,6-3 |
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|
Ladies’ Doubles |
Pusey/Coady beat
Maurantonio/Wong 7-6,7-6 |
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|
Mixed Doubles |
Foster/Burrows beat
Wallace/Livingstone 6-2,6-2 |
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|
Men’s Veteran
Doubles |
Worley/Simmonds beat
Henry/MacKay 5-7,7-5,6-3 |
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|
Ladies’ Veterans
Doubles |
Maurantonio/Williams
beat Pusey/McFall 2-6,7-5,6-4 |
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