Rackets growth continues at Sandhurst
Defending champions pull them in!
The Army T&RA held its annual event at Sandhurst this weekend, with so many contestants entering that the court at Wellington also had to be used. The event attracts a friendly mixture of Army players, [serving and retired], club players, top seeds, and a few Pros, playing Doubles. Defending champions Will Hopton and Barry Aitken prevailed, although not without a good fight from James Coyne and Derek Barrett. Former Commandant Tim Toyne-Sewell made an appearance partnering Deane Pennick, who is about to move to Paris for a couple of years. One or two of the cadets had barely been on court a dozen times, but their latent ability and enthusiasm were obvious, and weekly coaching from Derek Barrett is paying dividends. Stalwarts like James Illingworth and Paul Tennant are doing a great job whipping in the talent.
The Sandhurst court has often been talked about as being under threat of closure but on Sunday the Commandant publically stated that all such threats have been removed. No doubt it suffers from the fact that public access is restricted, there is no resident Pro [although Derek Barrett goes along most Saturday afternoons], and the officer cadets spend only a year at Sandhurst, and have little free time. They face a huge choice of leisure activities to compete with rackets. I was given a tour of their old gym, now masquerading as a modern health club with countless rowing and running machines and several huge flat screen televisions - not for Sandhurst cadets the old routine of push-ups in a puddle...!
The Army T&RA is going on tour in a year's time to the East Coast of the USA, playing both games.
The Sandhurst event was the latest this year to attract a large increase in playing numbers, especially young players, which is very encouraging. The Open Doubles will soon be upon us; social events include Tom Pugh's Singalong after the semi-finals on Friday 19 March, and drinks after the Final on Sunday 21 March WHICH STARTS AT 1400.
James Walton
Post script from Charles Dunphie, who did such a great job organising the weekend:
Amusing to read James Walton's article - if only he knew; mud and puddles was very much the order of the day at 0730 this morning during the 55min endurance comp (strechers, logs, knee-deep bog, cold wind and driving snow/rain) - Jamie Gibbs and Robbie Thorne went from yesterday's sublime to today's ridiculous and still managed to be in the winning team!
