T&RA Annual Dinner
Rackets Prize winners
We are delighted to award the Renny prize for most improved player to Theo Taylor. Theo has been a credit to the Manchester Racquet club not only during the 2021/22 season but throughout his 3 years at university. He won the national u21s singles, reached the Manchester gold racquet final and was a driving force in encouraging students to play in Manchester - inaugurating the Rackets society at Manchester university. He enters the wide world of rackets looking set for a career at the top of the amateur game and will be sorely missed by everyone at Manchester.
We are delighted to award the best performance by an Amateur, the Negretti Cup, to Richard Owen. Richard’s highlight of the 2021/22 season was winning the World Doubles title with partner Tom Billings. This was some achievement against the holders, the fabled pair of James Stout & Jonathan Larken. Richard played brilliantly in both legs; the scores being 4-0 at Queens Club in the first leg and 1-1 in New York in the second leg. He will be defending this title in November 2023. Richard had a successful wider season where he won the British Open Doubles for the 4th time and the British Amateur Doubles for the 5th time. In Singles, Richard got to the final of the Invitational Singles, where he lost in a closely fought final to Ben Cawston. Incidentally, he had beaten Ben in the group stages on the route to the final.
The Latham Trophy is awarded to the Professional who has demonstrated the best performances over the last year. Ben Cawston produced a superb level of Rackets throughout the season. He won the Manchester Gold Racket Singles and Doubles, The Invitational Singles, Pro Singles and both the US and Western Open Singles. His performances left him Ranked No 1 in the world and earned him the right to challenge for the Singles World Championship – a fitting end to an exceptional season. Congratulations, Ben
Cesca started playing rackets when she arrived at Wellington in September 2016. She won the Junior Girls Doubles in 2019, the Senior Girls Doubles in 2021 and the Senior Girls Singles in 2022. While still at school she reached the finals of the British Open Singles, the British Open Doubles, and challenged for the World Title. In the 2022-2023 season she reached the final of the British Open Singles, and won the British Open Doubles.
Real Tennis Prize winners
More info coming.....
The Warburg Salver. Awarded to Claire Fahey for the best British professional performance during the season. Claire successfully defended her singles and doubles Open titles and is the reigning world champion. She has also championed Real Tennis to the Oratory youngsters
Baerlein Cup. Awarded to Jamie Douglas is for the best British amateur performance during the season. Jamie was the successful Bathurst Cup Captain and won the MCC Gold Racquet.
The Greenwood Trophy. Awarded to Bertie Vallat as the most improved professional or amateur player. Bertie dropped 15 handicap points to just below 20, and has continued to improve.
The Henry Johns Cup. Awarded to Levi Gale as the Under 29 young professional who have contributed significantly to the game and dropped his handicap to 3.