Tennis
Over the past week or so there has been two men’s and a ladies doubles in the Autumn Cleveland League, played along with Barnard Castle Tennis Club’s annual Open Competition and a men’s doubles tournament.
For the opening match in the Autumn league Barnard Castle men welcomed Yarm E to the club on a blisteringly hot and humid Saturday morning.
In this league teams play two sets and tie breaks to seven. If the score is one set each, then a championship tie break to ten with two clear points decides the winner.
Lucas Patrick and Sam Everett opened proceedings taking the their first match 6-3, 6-3. Jonathan Kirk with Alex Hannon also got off to a fast start, beating their pair 6-2, 6-1 to give Barnard Castle a 2-0 lead at halfway.
Sam and Lucas made light work of the second pair at 6-1, 6-1, while Alex and Jonathan fought hard, twice coming back from two games down in the first set to force a tie break which they won 12-10.
The second set was also close with players suffering from the heat, but Yarm edged the set to 6-3.
This gave Barnard Castle a 3-1 total and an opening two points on the league table.
Later the same day was the men’s doubles club tournament with eight men taking part in the round robin playing 12 games.
It was a very close competition with Alan Coulthard and Alex Hannan edging ahead as winners with 23 points. Jonathan Kirk and Don Everett were runners up with 21 points.
In the Barnard Castle Lawn Tennis Club Open competition there were 14 couples from various clubs entered.
The format was two round robins of seven pairs, whereby six matches of eight games were played. Everyone hoped the forecasted thunderstorms would keep away and wondered if the trophy would stay at the club or go elsewhere.
A tremendous buffet was supplied by members and everyone enjoyed the socialising and chat between games especially as there were two birthdays to celebrate.
After some fantastic, highly competitive games, the Barney pair of Sam Everett and Yullia Baranova made it into the semi-final to play Rachel Large and Joe Newton from Bishop Auckland.
Unfortunately for the Barney pair the final was out of reach. Sam and Yullia fought valiantly but succumbed with a score of 5-3.
Ann Hatch and Dan McCann from Wellfield, High Coniscliffe, comfortably won the other semi-final against Richmond’s Clare Williamson and Edward Jackson with a score of 5-1.
Spectators enjoyed birthday cake and champagne while watching a very exciting final with Rachel and Joe going 3-1 down only to come back and make it three-all.
Then, with everything to play for, the heavens opened and the remaining games were played in torrential rain while spectators dived for cover in the club house.
It was, overall, a fabulous day enjoyed by all and the presentation took place in a the club house.
The Ladies Autumn league match took place on a damp Friday evening when Barnard Castle travelled to New Blackwell, Darlington.
Their courts certainly gave the home team the advantage, with the Barnard Castle ladies taking time to adjust to the astroturf’s skimming balls.
Sue Hudson and Melissa Sanderson had a rough first rubber, halving the set 7-5, 3-6. Luckily, they remained composed and won the tie break 10-8. Fleur Sanderson and Lucy Brenkley had a more straightforward battle, winning 6-3, 6-4.
As the drizzle continued the teams swapped courts, with Sue and Melissa again battling hard to halve the sets 6-3, 2-6. Another tie break and another composed effort from them saw the Barney pair clinch the tie break 10-7.
Unfortunately, on the other court Fleur and Lucy had a much harder battle and the Blackwell pair proved too strong, taking the rubber 6-1, 6-4.
An overall win for the ladies secures the top spot in their division of the league.
After their opening victory against Yarm E the weekend before, Barnard Castle men welcomed Norton B for the second league fixture. Alex Hannon and Sam Everett opened up against Norton’s first pair taking a comfortable first set 6-2, before a closer second set was won 6-4.
Over on the other court Jonathan Kirk and Stephen Hughes made a slow start to their match, trailing in the first set 3-4 before turning it around to win 6-4. The second set was a straightforward 6-2 win.
Against the second pair Sam and Alex dropped only one game, winning the match 6-1, 6-0. Jonathan and Stephen also comfortably beat the first pair 6-0, 6-3. This gave a clean sweep to Barnard Castle and a two point win to put them joint top of their division in the league.
Barbara Willis
