All the winners at Moor Park

The clouds may have settled over Henman Hill that day, but at Moor Park we were exceptionally lucky as the skies cleared and we enjoyed a good day’s tennis on the grass with a large entry in the tournament.

A form of Richmond system was in operation with initial groups of five or six. The box winners emerged as Penny Wyatt and Ian Johnson, Di Gellender and Phil Hope, Michelle Barber and Mike Marsh and Glynis Lambert and Norman Church. Semi-finals and finals were played out between those who had finished in the same position in their respective boxes.

Ian and Penny had their chances in the main final against Norman and Glynis, leading 5-2, but the lead was eroded and Norman and Glynis eventually won 7-5.

In the second group, Bob Harrower and I just won through our semi with Colin Barber and Julie McLean, 9-7 in the tie-break, and then repeated the tie-break success against Ray Jones and Merete Collins in the final this time winning 7-5.

Mike Mower and Pascaline Frame struggled with a couple of their matches in the morning, but a medicinal glass of wine improved matters and they went through to win the third box final against David Evans and Anne Williams.

Len and Pam Campbell proved that it is possible for a husband and wife to play harmoniously together and emerged as winners in Group 4. A scratch pairing of Natalie Bowman and a new member, Peter Davidson, proved successful in the fifth group, whilst John Moody and Jill Vaughan won the sixth.

Our thanks to Dinah Kane for organising such an enjoyable day and to the Moor Park Club for being so welcoming and allowing us to use their wonderful facilities.