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Abingdon LTC
Open Tournament |
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2005 Open - Preston Bowl
It is now 71 years since the first Preston Bowl Competition. This year the Preston Bowl Competition took place on Sunday 14th August, initially under cloudy skies, but eventually under sunshine as the day progressed. Some of last year's competitors returned, and there were some new faces.
Two round-robins groups were played and the top two pairs in each half played the semi-finals and finals. The top two pair in the first group were Matthew and Debbie Davies, closely followed by Alex Wingent and Kathryn Schutterlin. The second group was topped by Adrian Roberts and Esther Symmonds, followed by Robert Pink and Victoria Nunn.
Preston Bowl - Final Results
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Semi-Final
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Final
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Winner
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| Robert Pink Victoria Nunn |
Robert Pink Victoria Nunn 6-1 |
Adrian Roberts Esther Simmonds 7-5 |
| Matthew Davies Debbie Davies |
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| Alex Wingent Kathryn Schutterlin |
Adrian Roberts Esther Simmonds 7-6 |
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| Adrian Roberts Esther Simmonds |
Matthew and Debbie Davies reached the semi-finals
for the second year running, this time as group winners rather than
runners-up. However, their opponents in the first semi-final, Robert
Pink and Victoria Nunn, overwhelmed then with their strong serve and
volley game.
The second semi-final proved to be a much closer
affair. Alex Wingent and Kathryn Schutterlin looked stronger in the
ealy stages, but failed to convert several break points at 4-3 up, and
set points at 5-4 up. Adrian Roberts and Esther Symmonds then took the
initiative to get 6-5 up, only to drop their service to force the
tie-breaker. The tie breaker was closely fought, only to be
finally lost by a double fault by Kathryn and Alex.
Adrian and Esther had beaten Robert and Victoria in the round-robin stage, and so were favourites for the final. However, it was only a few unforced errors by Robert and Victoria in the later stages that tipped the contest in Adrian and Esther's favour to allow them to win the final 7-5.
Congratulations to Adrian and Esther. It was pleasing for Esther since last year she was a losing finalist when playing with Phil Warr against Alex Wingent and Lucy Collinson. Adrian was equally pleased, since he had already had his name on the Preston Bowl trophy twice before as winner in 1979 and 1980. When asked what was the secret of his success he said "The important thing is to do it with ever younger women as you get older!". Esther's comment was "I wasn't even born when he first played in it."
The enjoyable day's tennis was rounded off by the splendid feast that was laid on for the competitors by Helen Asbury. Thanks go to Helen for all the effort she put in in preparing the food. Thanks too to Lucy Boston for organising the event, and to Tonks Brothers who sponsored this year's event.
Adrian Roberts and Esther Simmonds holding the Preston Bowl, with Ben Tonks from the Tournament Sponsors, Tonks Brothers |
Preston Bowl Finalists Esther Simmonds and Adrian Roberts Victoria Nunn and Robert Pink |
First Semi-Finalists Robert Pink and Victoria Nunn vs Debbie and Matthew Davies |
Second Semi-Finalists Esther Simmonds and Adrian Roberts vs Kathryn Schutterlin and Alex Wingent |
Players relaxing between matches |
Players relaxing between matches |
The Preston Bowl Competition has 70 years of history. The following information was extracted from the club minutes of 1934:
"At the committee meeting on 23 Jan 1934 it was proposed and agreed that the Crescent Tennis Club be renamed the Abingdon Lawn Tennis Club. At the same meeting Mr A E Preston was elected President of the Club. It was agreed that a competition open to residents in Berkshire within a 13 miles radius of Abingdon would be initiated. The winner will be presented with a Challenge Cup to be given by Mr Preston. The competition is to be played on Whit Monday and to be an American Tournament. Play to commence at 11am and the final to be of 3 sets."
(Note that in July 1933 the club applied for affiliation to the LTA.)