Well done, Team Seacourt!

Drew fed balls from the corners, while Will Flynn managed the laptop and Katherine counted the winning shots. The competition winnowed down to the final two teams: “Searching for the Morgan’s,” consisting of Marta, Jack, and Daniel, and “Dave Search,” teaming up against the “Oldlands & the Young,” comprised of Doris, Geoff, Ryan Wallace, and James Lewis.

It all came down to the last drill, which required hitting the grille or winning gallery. The Morgan’s and Dave needed to score five targets from the group stages to catch up. Each team faced the challenge of hitting 60 balls, which was tough as Doris and Geoff casually hit several winning gallery shots to increase their lead. Meanwhile, Ryan struck the grille with pace, and James added a couple of hits as well. The Morgan’s and Dave put forth a great effort, but ultimately, the winners were the Oldlands & the Young!

Congratulations to everyone for a fun event and for enjoying the spirit of competition!

Antoine lives in Paris and is 18 years old, although he will be turning 19 this Saturday—Bon anniversaire! He has been playing tennis since he was four years old and loves the game. In addition to tennis, he also plays handball and serves as an umpire for both sports. In 2022 and 2023, Antoine was a ball boy at Roland Garros. He also volunteered at the Paris Olympics.

Antoine has just completed his first year at university in Paris, where he is studying engineering. He has one sister who is studying architectural engineering. His father works for Air France, and his mother is a history teacher.

Please welcome Antoine to Seacourt. He is eager to play as much sport as possible and is happy to hit with anyone. Antoine will be assisting James Green with some coaching. If you would like to schedule a hitting session with him, please arrange it through James.

Seacourt hosted the Belcher Addison LRTA Mixed Handicap Doubles tournament from Friday, June 5th, to Sunday, June 7th, with 16 pairs competing for this prestigious title. Players from across the country participated, and we were thrilled to welcome Bernadette Bidouze from Bordeaux, often regarded as a national treasure!

There were some incredibly close matches throughout the tournament. In the semi-final stage, the first match featured Marta and Daniel Morgan against Georgie Ingham and George Fowler. The Morgans received a handicap, and it was a tightly contested affair all the way, but they managed to win 6-4 and advanced to the final. In the next semi-final, Mark Gillespie and Bernadette Bidouze had a much easier run, defeating the Harrison pair from Newcastle with a score of 6-1.

The final was played first to 8 games, with the handicap in favor of the Morgans. Mark and Bernadette took a strong lead, reaching 5-2, but the Morgans fought back valiantly and ultimately won the match 8-5!

Congratulations to Marta and Daniel on winning their first tournament title together!

Special thanks to Alex Garside for organizing the event smoothly and successfully. We also appreciate Fiona at the Seacourt kitchen for providing a fantastic three-course meal for over 30 people on Saturday evening. Thank you to Jon Cobon and his bar team for keeping everyone refreshed throughout the tournament, and a huge thank you to our sponsor, Chris Halliwell of Belcher Addison, for his unwavering support throughout the event.

In the final match, Andie Harding and Pete Robinson faced off against Pete Wilson and Bruce Gordon. Ultimately, Pete and Bruce emerged victorious and lifted the Bedford Cup!

Additionally, the ‘Having the Most Fun’ award was presented to Mia Gordon.

It was a wonderful day filled with sunshine, all organised by the three individuals named James.

Seacourt finished in 2nd place in the division and will compete again in June. There are still two dates remaining, and it’s a fantastic environment designed for players under a 3.0 DUPR and newer players to meet others, experience friendly competition, and build their confidence. If you’re interested in joining the team in June, keep an eye on the group chat for updates. Alternatively, feel free to come along, support us, and see what it’s all about!

Great job to the Seacourt Team: Captain Kaylee Brasher, Anthony Scanes, Steven Young, Pete Hope, Louisa, and Debbie. It was a wonderful team effort, filled with laughs, great rallies, and a solid result!

Many of you may know that Paul oversees our junior real tennis section at Seacourt and has been instrumental in the success of many Seacourt juniors who have gone on to play professionally. He is also the Director of Junior Real Tennis UK, where he organizes all T&RA junior tournaments throughout the year.

Among his many achievements is the establishment of the World Junior Championships, which are held biannually at various locations around the globe. This year, the championships will take place at Seacourt in August.

Congratulations, Paul!

The players representing Seacourt included Ryan Wallace, Daniel Morgan, Jack Morgan, Zach Levy, and Xavier Levy, all of whom were participating in their inaugural match for the club. Despite the significance of the occasion, the team showed remarkable composure, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the event.

The matches showcased excellent skill, with Seacourt demonstrating resilience in each game. The high standard of squash was a pleasure to witness, and the players should take great pride in their conduct both on and off the court.

This fixture marks an exciting milestone for junior squash at Seacourt, highlighting the potential within this group as they continue to gain match experience.

A special thank you to the 300 Club for generously providing the team with match shirts, which made the players look professional and represent the club brilliantly.

Well done to everyone involved!

Exciting tennis was played throughout the event. In the quarter-finals, James Law defeated Nick Warner with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Brook Hazelton from New York overcame professional Jez Brodie, winning 6-2, 6-3. In a thrilling match, James Law faced fellow professional Tom Durack, the 4th seed. James fought hard to take the first set 6-5, but Tom responded by winning the second set 6-1. The final set was closely contested, but ultimately Tom prevailed 6-1, securing his place in the semi-finals.

In the other half of the draw, 3rd seed Adam Player competed against Brook Hazelton. Adam started strong with a commanding 6-0 win in the first set and led 4-2 in the second. However, Brook played exceptionally well and fought back to level the score at 5-5. He ultimately snatched the second set from Adam and won the final set 6-2.

The first semi-final featured the holder and number 1 seed, Rob Fahey, facing Tom Durack. The level of tennis heightened, with Rob emerging victorious at 6-3, 6-1. In the second semi-final, Bryn Sayers, the 2nd seed, challenged Brook Hazelton, winning decisively with a score of 6-0, 6-1. Brook put up an impressive fight in his first tournament.

As we reached the final, fans witnessed an intense match between the top seeds. The first set was tightly contested, but Rob edged out a victory at 6-5. Bryn responded by tightening his game and took the second set 6-3, leading to a decisive third set. In the final exchange, Bryn stepped up and won the match with scores of 5-6, 6-3, 6-2.

We were all privileged to witness such a fantastic display of tennis! Congratulations to Bryn on winning his first Over 40’s title!

A special thank you to Jon Cobon and his dedicated staff for taking care of everyone throughout the tournament. Fiona deserves recognition for keeping everyone well-fed; you know the food is good when silence falls over the crowd!

We appreciate all our members for coming out to support us over the three days; your presence means a lot. Lastly, a huge thank you to John Ward for generously sponsoring the tournament, supporting the matches, and presenting the prizes on court. His dedication to the game is commendable. Thank you, John.