Tennis down in Exeter

  Exeter, United Kingdom
Sunday, October 15, 2006

Tennis Travel Trip to Exeter
15 October 2006 - Sunday

Firstly, to mention that since summer last year (2005), I've been a member of the Wilton Lawn Tennis Club which is based in South Wimbledon. It's a relatively small tennis club but with quite a variety of members. The club members boast players from English, Australian, New Zealand, Malta, Bulgaria, South Africa, Spain and I'm sure I'm missing a couple more nationalities.

Well, last year we entered into the Insight Interclub Tennis Tournament but managed to get Wilton disqualified as the rules state that the players partaking have to have been a member of the club for at least a year. This year I've been lucky enough to captain the side and NOT get us disqualified. The tournament works that we have to play one ladies doubles, and one mens doubles match. If we've won both then it's a win, however, if we manage to win one and lose one then a mixed doubles has to be played to be the decider. For this year's tournament we've had to play against Byfleet, Godalming and The Avenue. Wilton made it through to the National Quarter Finals and our next match was away in Exeter. The losting team of the quarter finals already wins £100 prize money!!

We, consisting of Terry Oaks(Wilton Manager), George Gecheva (Christa's dad), Greta Musu (supporter and fellow tennis player), Ben Grozier (one of the men's players), Ashley Balm (another of our men's players), Christa Gecheva (14 year old ladies player) and myself) set out pretty early on Sunday morning (7am) to head out down towards Devon. We drove passed Stonehenge where we did a half an hour pitstop though didn't manage to get a close up view of the stones as the site was only to open at 9.30 and we'd arrived there just before 9. We arrived in Exeter just after 12 and headed down to St. David's train station to pick up Kay Crooks (1st Team Ladies Captain).

Our match started at 1pm. Ben and Ashley had a hard match and unfortunately lost. Christa and myself also struggled but after a lot of hard work and concentration managed to pull through in two sets. Ben and Christa were then to take on their mixed pair but unfortunately didn't manage to pull out a win.

It really was an enjoyable day. Quite the distant field trip and only managed to get back home at 22.00 after leaving Exeter just after 17.00.

Well, already did better this year so who knows what'll happen next year though not so sure I'll still be around to play.