Oxshott is a new venue and a very pretty one, but all we could see when we started was grey and rain.  Endless heavy drizzle which we played through most of the time, but when it got too heavy we joined Pam Campbell, our esteemed organizer,  huddled under a canopy.  A salad lunch was served in the clubhouse, when all we really wanted was steaming bowls of hot soup!

     And then a miracle.  The wind got up, blew away the rain and the canopy, literally – a moment of high drama – and the sun came out.  By this time there had been two casualties.  John Cole, when questioned about his injury, muttered, !I’m just too old.”  He was replaced by David Tomlinson who just happened to be passing, and Sue Gregory was replaced by Zyreida Denning, an Oxshott member.

     The final results were:  Anne Williams and Ian Johnson beat Lettie Gingell and David Tomlinson 6-2 in the Consolation final, and in the Championship group, Betty Maitland and Bob Gasston beat Penny Wyatt and Bob Harrower.  I won’t mention the score as it was somewhat one sided.  Let’s just say Betty and Bob played a blinder and – well, I blame the wind!!

     After all that, hot showers were definitely in order, but owing to a temporary glitch with the boiler, they were cold – very invigorating!  However, a delicious dinner was served in the very cosy clubhouse followed by birthday cake.  Yes it was Bob Gasston’s birthday and he won the tournament!

P.S.  I spotted Pam tripping over as she left the club, no doubt celebrating the successful completion of a very well organized tournament.

Penny Wyatt