‘Handicap Hundred’ Tournament, Sunday 10th July 2005

An Event to Turn Back the Years

Unfortunately only seven pairs entered the clubs first ‘American’ Tournament, where participation was restricted by age.

Pairs could enter in any format (men’s, ladies’ or mixed) provided that the combined age of the pair added up to 100 or more.

Pairs played matches of 6 games against each other pair and the matches were handicapped such that if you lost the first game of the six you started the next game 15-0 up. If you lost the next game you started the third game 30-0 up and so on. Winning a game meant that the handicap came back down by a point.

There was much discussion beforehand about how much everyone would have to concentrate, especially as each game would start from the deuce court even if the score, as a result of the handicap, was 15-0!

All this and a blazing hot sun and a stiff breeze to contend with too.

After much hard-fought competition and several 3-3 draws, where the handicapping had worked really well, Mary D and Sue T came out on top just ahead of Chairman, Peter H and Caroline H; whilst Richard L and Val L came third.

Being far too chivalrous, no checks were made by the organiser, Club Captain Mark T, as to the actual ages of the entrants. But if they had been made, then a prize for the largest total of years might have been on offer. Perhaps next time!

Play was followed by the usual English Tennis Club ‘tea’ and prizes of bottles of wine were presented to the winners.

For those with an arithmetical bent of mind, the table below gives a blow by blow account of the scoring.