Over the weekend of 3rd and 4th May, Seacourt hosted the British Open Over 40s Singles Championship, competing for the Ward Cup. Eleven players from across the country battled for this prestigious title, which has been held since 1983, with the first winner being none other than John Ward!
In the early rounds, Mark Gillespie defeated Richard Henman with a score of 6-3, 6-5, before narrowly losing to the professional player from Bridport, Jez Brodie, with a score of 6-3, 6-5. Adam Player triumphed over Nigel Pendrigh with a decisive 6-0, 6-4.
Moving into the semi-finals, Rob Fahey beat Jez Brodie 6-1, 6-3, followed by Adam Player, who defeated Rich Smith 6-3, 6-3.
This set the stage for an exciting final with a packed crowd as Rob and Adam fought for the title. The first set mostly went Adam’s way, as he took a 5-4 lead. However, Rob managed to snatch the game back to tie it 5-5. Adam then went ahead 30-love, but Rob showcased some sublime shots to take the set 6-5. He continued his strong performance in the second set, winning the match with a score of 6-5, 6-2. This fantastic final was played in great spirit, and Rob successfully retained his title for the second time. Congratulations to Rob Fahey!
Special thanks to our resident chef, Fiona, for organizing a lovely buffet for all the players on Saturday evening, and to the bar staff for keeping everyone refreshed throughout the weekend. A huge thank you also goes to John Ward for sponsoring the event and giving the presentation on court in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Overall, it was a fantastic tennis weekend!
Drew