MENS VETS FOR 2005
The men’s veterans’ teams entered 2005 with great hopes after the fine achievement of the O45’s in 2004 when they reached the semi-final of the National Clubs Knockout Cup Competition. For 2005 the Club has entered teams in the National Knockout Cups for the Over 45, Over 55, Over 60 and Over 65 age groups.
In their very first match the Over 55’s came up against a strong Caversham team and were beaten 2-0 when bad weather intervened causing an early curtailment of the match. The team, comprising Mike Cook, Bob Duncan, Bob Reynolds and Alan Frampton, will now again enter the Consolation Event where they reached the Final, losing to Solihull LTC, in 2004.
The Over 65’s have safely negotiated their first round match beating Chesham Bois LTC. We were represented by Dick Trevor, John Adcock, Peter Herke and Charlie Coish.
Our Over 60’s team comprising Ced Egby and Dick Trevor at first pair and John Adcock and Mike Davison at second pair were drawn away (in a supposedly regionalised draw) to Roundwood LTC (Ipswich). Fortunately the 280 mile round trip was worthwhile with the team returning victorious 3-1. Their reward is another away match in the second round albeit a very attractive fixture against The Queens Club.
The Over 45’s due to their sterling efforts in 2004 have been granted exemption until the later stages of the competition and will not enter the fray until the last 16 stage.
In the Berkshire Men’s Vets Leagues MLTC has three teams in Division 1 and the “A” team kicked of their season with a close win against Berkshire County Sports. The”B” team despite conceding an average of about 8 years per man (and that’s considerable once you past 50!) asserted their authority over the youthful “C” team winning by one set after the match finished 2 rubbers all. The “D” team in Division 2 started with a match at Wargrave LTC in which they won the first rubber by default, lost the next two through the power of the opposition, then …. Watch this space (I had to leave the match before it was over)
Previous mens vets teams info:
Our over-45 mens veterans team has reached the quarter-finals of the National Knockout Cup, and will be hosting Queens Club on Friday 8th October, the match starting at 6.15pm. The team has had victories in the 4 previous rounds of the competition against The 45 Club, West Herts, Cumberland, and Churston. Please come along and support the team in what promises to be a very tough match!
Maidenhead’s O-45 mens veterans team has reached the 4th round of the National Knockout Cup. Having entertained and beaten The 45 Club, and West Hertfordshire, Maidenhead visited the Cumberland club, based in Hampstead, London on Sunday August 25th. Maidenhead’s 1st pair of Nigel Mann and Gareth Jackson continued their excellent vein of form and beat both opposing pairs with the loss of only 4 games. Maidenhead’s Chris Gray and Mike Bottomley comfortably beat the opposing second pair in straight sets and split sets with the first pair. As the match had been won by that time by Maidenhead, an honourable draw was agreed.
The seeded teams make their appearance in the 4th round of the competition, so Maidenhead are now looking forward to a clash with seeded Churston, based just outside Torquay. There is an excellent incentive to win that match, as the winners will (more than likely) face the mighty Queens Club.
ALAN FRAMPTON WRITES:
Attached is a summary of our results in 2004 which I assume will leave us in 3rd position behind Maidenhead "A" and Caversham "A". Not a bad effort as the four mainstays of the team total 238 years - an average of nearly 15 years of aching bodies above the minimum age for the League. Well done to everybody especially for keeping the Maidenhead "C" team at bay. Thanks to Mike Bottomley and Craig Thomson for stepping in when the Bobs were unavailable. Particular highlights of the season were:-
1. Mike Cook's performance as Catering Manager - all of our visitors were very appreciative of his efforts (as were his own team) and I am sure that Di also enjoyed staying late to keep us well watered from the Bar.
2. The efforts of Mike Cook and Bob Duncan, firstly for beating Jeff Sears and Dave Scarbrough to set up the overall win against Maidenhead "C" and secondly for beating Bill Blesset and Nigel Hunt of Berks County Sports which again provided a platform for our team win. This is the first time for some years that we have got the better of BCS.
3. Watching the skills of Maidenhead "A" when they played us, and I do mean watching, as we didn't hit much. Personally I cannot recall ever, not in any match at any level over the last 40+ years , having come off court having been beaten 6/0 6/0 and 6/0 6/0. A very salutary lesson.
Here's to another year in the top flight,
Alan
The analysis is not attached as I need to find out how to import Excel spread sheets into the web site.
Ed
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