To members of HLTC
As the summer season has begun, I would like to take this opportunity to inform the members of the success in and around the club during the winter season.
Wirral Winter League
Congratulations to our Ladies B and C teams, as they both won their respective leagues this winter. The B team now move up into the second division and the C team up to the fourth.
Players contributing to the teams’ victories: Fiona Campbell, Liz Stringer, Louise Brown, Sam Howden, Charlotte Westhead, Helen Roberts, Coral Richards, Fiona Lalloo, Amalie Hughes, Poppy Crouwel-Welburn, Bianca Hehir, Liz Towersey and Wendy Giardelli, Sally Lazar, Lynda Arnold, Moya Locke, Liz Stockley, Karen Hope, Emma Hughes & Jean Parry.
National League
In addition, congratulations and commiserations go to the Men’s Winter National League team. Hoylake beat Bowden II, Hoole, Cheshire Oaks and Knutsford in the round robin to go on to play Bowden’s first team in the final to see who progressed to the North West competition.
- Dave Parry (a mate of Dave Callanan, who jumped at the chance to represent our wonderful club) lost in straight sets to Bowden’s highest ranked player on the day.
- Dave Callanan fell to their number 2 man in a tough and gruelling match.
- A classic case of student becomes teacher, saw an old protégé (who spent some of his early years learning from our loyal coach) beat Craig Longman at 3rd man.
- Callum Leach managed a victory down at number 4 in a 3rd set championship tie break 12-10.
- Both Daves, had a close encounter at top pair doubles but could not find their way past two phenomenal players.
- Craig managed to get his revenge on his singles opponent by winning with Callum in the second pair doubles in a championship tie break.
Hoylake were ultimately overpowered and lost the final 4 rubbers to 2.
George Watts, Adam Melling and Mace Abedin played in the same competition in matches leading up to the final. Without the matches they won in earlier rounds Hoylake would not have made the final in the first place.
Cheshire Seniors and Super Seniors Championships
Individual accolades go to Guy Ellis Clark, Rich Mcauley, Geoff Forster and Vicky McNeight.
Guy and Rich made their way to the final of the over 50’s Cheshire seniors after a convincing 6-3 6-2 semi-final win over Roger Grimshaw and Mike Wake. Through to the final, toward the end of the first set the pair had to unfortunately retire from the match with the score at 3-5 due to an injury to the knee of Rich.
A similar story with a hero’s ending. The same two members of HLTC competed in the over 55s Cheshire senior’s doubles. Rich and Guy “came up trumps” against a strong Cheshire Oaks pair in the semi-final, winning the championship tiebreak 14-12. The two then sealed their Cheshire championship with a victory over two men from Alsager with a straight set’s win 6-3 6-2.
Cheshire super seniors this time and our very own Geoff Forster competed in the over 65s senior championship. He and his selected partner John Hilton took the trophy after a routine victory 6-1 6-0.
Vicky McNeight took on the over 40’s category at the Cheshire championships. Vicky and her doubles partner played against the over 50 and over 40 Cheshire captains in their final, walking off court to the trophy with a somewhat convincing 6-2 6-1.
Partners became opponents in the final of the singles over 40s where Vicky triumphed over Caroline Harrison. Lifting her second trophy of the week after a 6-3 6-2 victory.
Long may long reports of recent successes continue.
Club Captain, Callum Leach.