Albany Tennis Club News

The third Albany LTC Winter Series Red Ball Competition took place last Saturday.  Eight of the club’s mini tennis players  took part in a two group round robin event. Group A winner was Hugo Cruz-O’Dwyer with 3 wins and Oliver Wait taking runner-up spot with 2 wins. Group B winner was Charles Kinrade with 3 wins and Patrick McCord was runner-up with 2 wins.  In the semi-finals Hugo bt Patrick 10/6 and Charles bt Oliver 10/4.  The final was a repeat of the January Final with Hugo overcoming strong resistance from Charles before winning 7/3 7/3. Charles had been a winner in December.  These two boys are quite heartening to watch. They are keen, quite skillful for their age, with all the strokes, including over-arm serves, and a competitive edge.  No doubt they will meet quite often in the next few years and their abilities will also be an incentive to the other boys and girls to work a little harder and try to beat them.. Thanks go Colin Hanbidge, Chris Buxton, Martin Feely, Bryan Sharp and Paul Jarvis for umpiring and running the event.   

The next mini tennis red event will be on March 6th at 1pm and players born 2001 or later can enter on line on the club’s website or contact Colin on 436739 or 627720.  He is particularly looking for 2 or 3 more girls so that Francesca Sharp and Kitty Thomas aren’t battling the boys on their own. After the Final the players adjourned to the clubhouse to sample Zac Walker’s chocolate 6th Birthday cake!!

The Winter Series Orange Ball event was also held at the weekend and attracted the best entry for this series with 16 players taking part. Sadly there was only one player from another club – this series is open to non-members.   In the Semi finals Max Walker bt Alex Conti  10/8, 10/5 and Oscar Cruz-O’Dwyer bt Jay Skelcher-Maxwell 10/7,10/8. In the 3rd/4th place play-off Alex bt Jay 10/6,9/10,10/8. In the Final Max bt Oscar 10/0 10/9.  Max has won all 3 finals in this winter series.
There is a break for two weeks now and Early Years, Red & Orange sessions re-start Saturday Feb 27 and Junior club Sunday 28. The Early Years sessions are for children from 4yrs old to come and try.  If you like it then you are invited to join the club and further sessions will be included as part of your membership fee. More details from the Club Coach, Colin (627720/436739)

The Bradford & Bingley International Invitation squads resume on Monday 22 Feb.

A group of young players are off to compete in the City of Liverpool Junior Indoor Tournament this weekend. The squad is under 12 Boys – Sean Drewry; Mini Orange – Oscar Cruz-O’Dwyer, Jay Skelcher-Maxwell & Max Walker; Mini Red - Hugo Cruz-O’Dwyer & Zac Walker. The players will be accompanied by the Club’s Coach. Other club juniors away competing this weekend are Katie Harris – under 12 girls in Leicester for a Winter Series event and Laura Feely in the Scottish Indoor Championships. Club Coach informs me he was a finalist in the Boys 18 & under in 1975!! That’s a long time ago.

All this information is also available on the club’s website albanyltc.co.uk