Ray Hurst “Pox On It” Trophy 2009

Full Report

20 pairs contested this, the fourth, annual Ray Hurst Tournament for the Pox On It trophy at Goring Tennis Club on Sunday 14th June.

Former Goring resident and GTC member Ray, who sadly died in November 2005, named the trophy after his familiar cuss on missing a shot and requested that it be played for annually to raise funds for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Accordingly GTC’s courts, as well as surrounding private courts, saw action from 10-00 onwards in the morning.

This year the weather was spectacular and play continued uninterrupted until the group winners and best placed runners-up emerged to contest the knock out stages at GTC in the afternoon.

During the barbecue lunch break players and spectators were encouraged to part with their money by means of a raffle, bowls of strawberries and cream, a cake stall and sports clothing from Henley Sports who also provided a range of demo rackets for players to test as well as a speed gun to measure service speeds.

It was Ray’s wish that the tournament be for both seniors and juniors so it was fitting that three out of the four semi-final pairings were senior/junior combinations including the uncle and niece combination of Jay M and Charlotte W who played the whole day decked out in Hawaiian fancy dress.

It was however even more fitting that the winners this year should be the senior/senior pairing of Les and Matt Hurst, Ray’s brother and nephew. Having won both their quarter final and semi-final on the tie break they completed a more comfortable victory over talented ten year old Taylor L and his father Mick in the final.