Players required: LRTA v Newmarket Saturday 17th May 2025 – CANCELLED
WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THIS MATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO A FIXTURE CLASH WITH CAMBRIDGE on Saturday 17th May at Newmarket Real Tennis Club, Philippa Wells the Match Manager.
2025
New Joint Chairs Appointed at LRTA AGM
At the recent LRTA Annual General Meeting — the last to be held at Seacourt — members approved the appointment of new joint Chairs, Juliette Lambert and Sarah Sullivan, who succeed outgoing Chair Katie Leppard after her dedicated six-year tenure.
The joint chair ship will be in place for up to one year, providing an opportunity for newer committee members to settle into their roles and gain valuable experience in preparation for future leadership transitions. With extensive experience on the LRTA committee and a strong commitment to women’s real tennis, Jules and Sarah are well-positioned to lead the Association from strength to strength.
Reflecting on the evolving committee, Katie Leppard commented,
“The newer committee members have brought some renewed energy and enthusiasm, which has been refreshing to see. So keep it up, team — and thank you, as ever, for all that you do.”
Sarah Sullivan has been playing real tennis since 2005. She was co-opted onto the LRTA Executive Committee in 2019 and elected Treasurer the same year — a role she will continue alongside her new position as Joint Chair.
Juliette (Jules) Lambert, a former elite player, has been instrumental in developing the LRTA Junior Programme, leading the Academy and supporting the growth of the girls’ game to help ensure a strong pipeline of top-level players. She will remain in her role as Junior Development lead in addition to serving as Joint Chair.
If you’re interested in making a difference in the future of Ladies’ Real Tennis, feel free to get in touch with the Joint Chairs.
Entries Open for LRTA Mixed Handicap Doubles 2025
We are now inviting entries for this popular tournament at Seacourt from 5th – 8th June kindly sponsored by Belcher Addison.
The format is a limit of 32 pairs divided into 8 round robin groups of 4, each taking 3 hours: 1 group from 6pm on Thursday; 4 groups Friday from 9am, 12noon, 3pm and 6pm; 3 groups Saturday from 9am, 12noon and 3pm. Winners and runners up go through to knock out play offs on Sunday.
There will be a dinner preceded by a drinks party with canapés on the Saturday evening. You are more than welcome to make use of the other sporting facilities at the Club during the weekend: squash, lawn tennis, rackets and padel.
Places in the tournament will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so please apply early. And for all those hard workers during the week who would like to play but can’t make it down to Seacourt until Saturday, no problem, just ask to be in a Saturday group and our fabulous tournament organisers will try to accommodate you.
The entry form is here. Closing date for entries: Friday 16th May.
If you have any questions, please contact Alex Garside on 07860 653711 or email Alex.
British Ladies Open 2025 Tournament Report
The early matches in the Singles competition showed us how much the junior training programme had improved the standard of our young players, two from Wellington and one from the Oratory. For these three competitors, it was their first time competing in the British Open. It is so impressive to see all the training and money that has been given through The Dedanists and LRTA Academy programme really making a difference.
The first couple of rounds in both the Singles and Doubles competitions proved rather one-sided, the exceptions being the match between Lucie Grosset and Georgia Toosey which Georgia won in a very tight match 6/5, 6/5 and Lydia Compton-Burnett who pulled off a surprise win against Rachel Hollington winning 6/2, 6/4. It was noticeable that both Georgia and Lydia were playing better than their handicaps suggested. Moving onto the second-round matches, Georgia and Lydia came up against formidable opponents in Alexandra Bryant and Jess Garside and although both put up a brave fight, they failed to progress to the next round. The match between Sophia Lewis and Katherine Carney turned out to be a lengthy close game which Katherine managed to win 6/5, 2/6, 6/3 – this was a fabulous match to watch! The final singles of the day resulted in a win for Georgie Ingham who defeated Jane Taylor.
The quarter finals on Friday featured Alexandra Bryant playing Jess Garside – this had the potential of being a lengthy match, but Jess had other ideas and it was her strength of shot into the corners that proved too much for Alexandra resulting in Jess winning 6/1, 6/2. Nicola Doble faced the improving Katherine Carney and won the first set 6/2, however, the second set proved to be much closer with Nicola just winning it 6/5. Georgie Ingham put up a brave fight against Tara Lumley, but Tara proved just too strong without losing a game.
The Doubles quarter final match on Friday between Rachel Hollington & Alexandra Bryant against Sophia Lewis & Kureha Yamaguchi was a 3-set thriller finishing at 11.30pm resulting in a win for Rachel & Alexandra 6/5, 5/6, 6/4.
Earlier in the day the Handicap Doubles began which produced some close matches even with the lower handicap ladies having to give large handicaps. Those who progressed to the Knock-Out stage were Lydia Compton-Burnett & Georgia Toosey, Nicola Doble & Katherine Carney, Sophia Lewis & Kureha Yamaguchi and Rachel Hollington & Alexandra Bryant.
Saturday saw Claire Fahey playing in the Singles and Doubles semi-finals and, once again, she gave a really flawless example of how to play the game losing only one game to Jess in the Singles and one game to Rachel & Alexandra in the Doubles. Most of the other matches on that day were rather one-sided except for the Doubles semi-final between Nicola & Katherine and Alex & Jess which although only two sets, proved to be a close match with Alex and Jess losing the first set 6/3 and despite being 4/0 up in the second set, they squandered their lead and a set point to lose the second set and match 6/5.
Sunday was finals day starting with the Plate Singles in which Rachel Hollington beat Lucie Grosset quite comfortably 6/2 6/1. The Doubles Plate proved slightly closer with Jane Tayor & Caroline MacDowell beating Sarah Sullivan & Rosie Law in 2 sets, 6/4, 6/3. The British Open Singles was won, once again, by Claire Fahey beating Tara Lumley in straight sets without losing a game although that score did not reflect just how hard Tara fought all the way with some superb rallies only to end with Claire finally putting the ball away. The Handicap Doubles final brought on court the two youngest players Lydia & Georgia against Sophia & Kureha. Although Lydia & Georgia played some good points, Sophia & Kureha proved too experienced and more tactical and won the final 8/3. There is no doubt that the two Wellington girls are going to be ones to watch in the future under the watchful eyes of Dan Jones & Adam Player, and with Claire Fahey overseeing their Academy training. The final match of the day was the Open Doubles which Claire & Tara won comfortably without losing a game beating Nicola Doble & Katherine Carney.
This year’s competition was the last British Ladies Open to be held at Seacourt after 34 years. It will be played again in November this year at The Queen’s Club alongside The British Open at the request of the female elite players but with a reduced draw in both the Singles and Doubles competitions. We wish them every success in this new venture.
Thanks must go to the three professionals Andrew Lyons, Adam Player and Tim Armstrong for overseeing the marking of the matches, to Jon Cobon and his bar staff who worked tirelessly to ensure everyone was well supplied with drinks and to Fiona Branwhite for offering fabulous bar meals and a delicious Championships Dinner on Saturday evening. Our thanks also to Ben Geytenbeek and the T&RA for the top-quality streaming of the competition. Lastly, our thanks to Alex Garside, Viv Dawes and Jess Garside for overseeing the organisation of the competition, all of whom deserve a well-earned rest!
British Ladies Open 2025 Results
Open Singles
Winner: C Fahey Runner-up: T Lumley
Open Doubles
Winners: C Fahey & T Lumley Runners-up: N Doble & K Carney
Open Singles Plate
Winner: R Hollington Runner-up: L Grosset
Open Doubles Plate
Winners: J Taylor & C MacDowell Runners-up: S Sullivan & R Law
Open Handicap Doubles
Winners: S Lewis & K Yamaguchi Runners-up: L Compton-Burnett & G Toosey
National Schoolgirls Level U15 Singles & Doubles Championship 2025
There was a wonderful large entry from Wellington College in the tournament with representatives from five other schools. At this level the game is so frequently dominated by whoever gets to serve. In the first group, 12-year-old Zoe Neville (Bohunt School) sailed through the group dropping only one game with an awesome sidewall serve. Moving up to the second group Zoe won two matches but came across Erin Hartman (Hayling College) who was just that more experienced a player and made sure she returned serve to get a chase and hold the serve. Erin winning a very tight match 5-2.
In this next group Erin came through again as group winner having two very well contested matches against Florrie Blackburn (Canford School) and Tabs Bridgeman (Wellington); both Florrie and Tabs showing excellent footwork although inexperience with the varying angles that the game can produce.
The final group became an interesting affair. Riya Bharwad (Cambridge College of Science and Technology) came out of the blocks flying against Rose Kay (Colyton Grammar School) with some awesome spinning serves and beautiful return of serves into the corners, winning 5 – 0. Rose got her timing going in the next match and beat Tabs 5 – 1. Tabs then took on Riya and playing superbly, getting every ball back and volleying beautifully, winning 5 – 3. This left the last match in the group Rose v Erin to decide who would go through to the final. It was a close game even though the score didn’t reflect it, with Erin getting to deuce several times but failing to win the vital point with Rose winning 5 – 0.
So, the final was Rose v Riya. Rose got off to a good 2 -0 start with some lovely volleys. It was soon back to 2 all then 3 all. Rose started creeping ahead 5 – 3, winning a vital game to take her to 6 – 3, getting every ball back and punishing any slightly loose serve to at least chase 3 yards, if not better. Riya couldn’t quite find the super length and spin on her serves that she had used so effectively in their group match. Rose showed great determination in not being put off by her loss to Riya in her group match taking the final two games and the match 8 – 3. This was a really close match won by
Rose rather than lost by Riya, with many games going to deuce and you were not sure of the final outcome until the last point had been won.
The doubles final was a seesaw affair with Welington pair underdogs Tabs and Florence getting off to a cracking start with some super serving and a 2 – 0 lead. Erin and Rose had teamed up and overcame their initial slow start and came back to 2 – 2, then it was 3 – 3. At this point Rose and Erin relaxed a little, played consistently and served to a very good length and marched through to an 8 – 3 win.
In all the groups the players noticeably improved through playing matches.
Our thanks go to the The Dedanists’ Society for sponsoring the tournament, Wellington College for allowing us to play the competition at their school and in particular Simon Roundell who marked the matches throughout the day.
Jill Newby
National School Girls Level U19 Singles & Doubles Championship 2025
Singles
We had eleven players enter the tournament from 5 different schools. Winners and runners up of the groups would go into the group above. In the first group of four players there was only a seven points difference between all the players. As the girls settled into playing, the rallies became longer. The last match of the group, Alice v Erin would decide who would go through as group winner. It was a close contest, both players have improved especially with their ability to return serve. In the end Alice came through 6-3.
The first match of Group 2 between Isabella v Alice was an amazing match. Playing first to 8 games, it went game for game until 6-6 with both girls hitting some good length serves and Alice in particular some nice shots into the corners. Eventually, Isabella pulled through making slightly fewer errors than Alice just in the last two games plus 3 shots into the Dedans! Isabella then had to play Erin which was another close match with lots of deuces. The final match, Erin v Alice was yet another tight game with Alice coming through 8-5 through tighter shots hit into the corners of the court.
Isabella and Alice joined Clemmie and Martha in Group 3. The first match featured Martha against Clemmie. Martha stormed into a 3-0 lead with some strong overarm serving and although Clemmie managed to win the fourth game, Martha proved just too strong winning the match 6-1. Martha then went on to just concede a total of 3 games against her two remaining opponents – her strength of shot together with a glorious double-handed backhand proving just too much for them. Martha proceeded into Group 4 as the winner.
Martha joined Katherine, Georgia and Lydia in Group 4. Just as Martha had achieved in Group 3, Katherine dominated this Group by winning all her matches conceding just 4 games. The scores certainly didn’t reflect the closeness of the games, all girls demonstrating excellent volleying skills along with cut shots into the corners. The improvement they have all made since last year was clearly evident. The runner-up of the Group was Lydia which meant she progressed into the final with Katherine.
The final was an eight-game set between Katherine and Lydia. Katherine started out the stronger going 40-15 up. Lydia then laid a chase of better than one-yard which Katherine couldn’t beat, making it 30-40. Unfortunately, Lydia lost the next point giving the game to Katherine. In the second game, Katherine surprisingly made hard work of it by doing two double faults, one when defending a chase of better than 6. This game went to 40 all and one point which Lydia took, making it 1-1. Both girls were hitting the ball at a good pace into the corners and served and volleyed well but it was Katherine who went on to take the match 8-1. An excellent final which again didn’t reflect the closeness of the games!
Doubles
In the first of our group matches Martha and Isabella took on the experienced Lydia and Katherine. Martha and Isabella hit some lovely volleys and Martha hit some excellent serves but Lydia and Katherine would come back with a great length shot winning 8-0. Martha and Isabella then proved much too strong and consistent for Alice and Diya winning 8-0. Alice and Diya then had to play the might of Lydia and Katherine. They came second but this time they got a game. All played in a great spirit.
To the final. Had Isabella and Martha learnt from their first encounter with Lydia and Katherine. It was an excellent and entertaining match. Isabella and Martha were much more aggressive and attacking on this occasion which caused more mistakes to come from Lydia and Katherine. However, Lydia and Katherine are extremely good at returning the ball to a great length and width off any loose serve, consequently gaining good chases and keeping the serving end. The final score was 8-3 to Lydia and Katherine.
A big thank you to Dan and Adam for marking the matches and to Wellington for hosting the competition and for supplying the prizes and delicious sandwiches. Our thanks also to Alex and Jill for overseeing the competition and to The Dedanists’ Society for jointly sponsoring the competition with the LRTA.
Jill Newby and Alex Garside
Ladies British Open 2025 draws
Ladies British Open at Seacourt Tennis Club, starting on Wednesday April 9th until Sunday April 13th 2025.
Updated 02/04/2025