* Amateur Singles and Doubles Championships 2023

Amateur Singles - Semi Finals

Some notable performances in a strong entry this season. Henry Henman took a set off veteran, Peter Wright, before falling in four. Bertie Vallat successfully navigated into the quarter-finals, before running into top seed, Jamie Douglas. Bertie managed to take a set and then run Jamie close in the fourth too, before he was finally beaten. Will Flynn sailed into the quarter-finals and then beat second seed and defending champion, Ed Kay, surprising everybody except the Seacourt faithful who have watched Will’s game develop over the years. Rob Shenkman breezed comfortably into the semi-finals, despatching Rory Giddins in the quarters. Finally, Jamie Giddins beat Peter Wright in the other quarter-final, in a match cut short when Peter retired towards the end of the second set.

Thursday evening saw two exciting semi-finals. In the first match, two Bathurst Cup players went head-to-head, and it was super-sub, Rob Shenkman, who beat team captain, Jamie Douglas. Rob steamed ahead in the first set and carved out a good lead to take an early advantage, winning 6/2. The second set was far tighter but Rob was able to counter the powerful trademark boasts from Jamie, picking up seemingly winning shorts and hitting his targets. It was Rob in the ascendency at the end of the set, winning 6/4, to take a two-set lead. At this point, Jamie was unable to continue, and Rob reached his first Amateur Singles final.

The second semi-final was equally mouth-watering, with Jamie Giddins pitched against Will Flynn, hoping to emulate his success in the quarters. Will started extremely well and was almost unplayable for the first five game, before Jamie settled into the match. From 0-5 down, Jamie slowly clawed back the games to level 5-5, before Will once again raised his game to take the first set, 6/5. However, the next two sets were Jamie at his best, playing a fast tempo game, comfortably winning these 6/2 6/1 and take the lead in the match. The fourth set seemed to follow the same pattern with Jamie ahead, but now Will dug deep, levelled at 4-4 and then took two hard fought games to win the set 6/4 and level the match. The first two games in the final set could have gone either way, but ultimately Jamie played the winners, and then once again took a commanding lead. Will fought back again and the busy dedans wondered if yet another reversal was on the cards. But then Jamie sealed the match with a dedans winner, while Will defended chase a yard. A great match between two great competitors, but ultimately Jamie reached his second successive amateur singles final.

Amateur Singles -Final

Saturday’s final guaranteed a new winner of the magnificent Amateur Championship bowl, when Rob Shenkman took on Jamie Giddins in a match which was difficult to call. Jamie Giddins, started the stronger, unlike earlier in the tournament and established a well-deserved, 4-0 lead in the first set. But Rob is a fighter and gradually began to set the pace with good length serving keeping the pressure on Jamie’s return of serve. At 5-5, the first set hung in the balance but it was Rob who won through to take the early lead.

Rob was now much more relaxed and his serving was just that little tighter than Jamie’s, which he used to good effect to take a dominant second set 6-1. Both players were playing remarkable recovery shots to stay in the rests, with much exception Tennis for the busy Dedans to enjoy. Jamie mixed his game but Rob was able to play a series of superb volleys defending the Dedans.

The third set was perhaps tighter than the score suggested, as Rob swept into a commanding lead, eventually sealing the set 6/2 with yet another well-crafted shot to the grille, a fine way to win the match and his first Amateur Championship.

Howard Angus presented the Amateur bowl and praised both players for a wonderful display of Tennis. Rob proudly accepted the trophy and noted that he was the first player from Manchester to win since the great Peter Kershaw in 1948 and 1951.

Amateur Doubles

A strong draw with some new names in the mix for 2023, although it was the more seasoned pairs which generally came through to the semi-finals. New pair Will Flynn and Rob Shenkman were too strong for Nick James and Tom Seymour-Mead, while Rory Giddins and Henry Mullan had a tough match with Tasmanian, Oli Pridmore, and Queen’s own rising star, Bertie Vallat.

Friday evenings semi-final saw a couple of classic encounters. First match saw defending champions, and top seeds, Jamie Giddins and Ed Kay take on Rory Giddins and Henry Mullan. The match ran true to form in the first set, 6/2 to Ed and Jamie, but Rory and Henry reversed the tide in the second, winning 6/4, to level the match. A tight third set seemed to hang in the balance but the top seeds were too strong, winning 6/3, and then raced away in a dominant fourth, 6/0. They are looking to take their fourth consecutive doubles championship.

The second match didn’t disappoint, unless anybody wanted an early night. Second seeds Jamie Douglas and Peter Wright are a well-established pair, and used their combined skills and understanding to take the first set 6/4. But the new pairing of Will Flynn and Rob Shenkman were a force in their own right and settled in the second set and took it 6/3, to level the match. A tense third set ensued and at 5-5, both pairs had their chances; however, the senior pair snatched it, and the momentum. They carried this into the fourth and seemed to be closing on the all-important set but Will and Max played well to level 4-4 and then take two very close games to win 6/4, and once again level the match. With the clock ticking, it was the younger pair who had the legs to see their way through the fifth and final set, winning comfortably 6/1 and secure a place in the final against the favourites.

Final

Sunday’s final saw four clubs represented. Jamie Giddins (Queen’s) and Ed Kay (Cambridge) vs Will Flynn (Seacourt) and Rob Shenkman (Manchester). The old guard looking for their fourth consecutive doubles championship or first-time winners - a great match lay in wait.

Will and Rob started the stronger and looked comfortable as they surged ahead in the first set. Game followed game as soon they were playing for the set, which they duly won in style, 6/1. The scene was set for Rob to emulate yesterday’s success in the singles. However, Ed and Jamie have pedigree and soon reversed the tables in the second set, as they started to work themselves back into the match. Serving tighter, they won the key points and set about reversing their woes of the first set, which they did, winning 6/2 to level the match.

The third set was the closest, as the pretenders won a couple of games, and then the champions levelled. This was the pattern of the third, which eventually reached 4-4 and lay in the balance. Ed and Jamie nailed the vital nineth game and then secured their second set point in the next game. Great play by four terrific players, playing the highest standard of doubles. The fourth, and what was to be the final set, was one-way traffic. Ed and Jamie were now in full flow, hitting winners with ease, despite a valiant defence by Rob and Will. The games slipped by and the set was won comfortably, 6/0, with Ed and Jamie crowned the amateur champions again, their fourth successive title. Commiserations to Will and Rob, who had started so strongly.

T&RA Chairman, Fred Satow, presented the famous Bailey Cup, along with Pol Roger champagne. Special mention to Ben Geytenbeek for streaming so brilliantly once again, as the T&RA Media channel soared past 1,000 subscribers.