French International Ladies Handicap Tournament 2026
Sponsored for 30 Years by Hotel du Jeu de Paume
| Apart from the sad withdrawal of Milija (Paris) due to a virus, leaving her partner Anne-Laure bereft, the thirtieth tournament since 1994 ran even more smoothly than most, thanks to the sterling preparation, presence, kindness and efficiency of Baudouin and the Bordeaux club, in whose hands I am happy to leave the organisation for, I hope, many more years. For me, it has been thirty years of love and laughter, sportsmanship, suspense and effort on the court – because, whatever our level, we take this game very seriously: witness Lea’s concentration on Monday at match point in a game where she and Amy Wintersteen (Newport) were giving owe-forty, plus thirty, one serve ban the tambour and chase 9…. and fluffed the dedans lob to lose 5-all 40 all, with a smile; where Alex Garside and Bernie Bidouze showed how the game should be played, but lost; and where Jeannette Guardia, 80 years old, partnered newbie Phoebe Connell (20) and got to the final of the plate. As ever, all the players evinced that humorous, modest but nevertheless determined will to win so characteristic of our game, le jeu des rois – non non, le jeu des REINES! There were other ups and downs over the years, of course. Among the memorable moments: the time the restaurant filled the salt cellars with sugar and we sprinkled it on our chips (not recommended)… and Pamela (Lear) and Charles (Wroth) hooked up at the tournament dinner and got engaged a month later ; the times Catriona Allen and Sue Haswell (handicap 22), not to mention Saskia Bollerman (handicap something terribly good) cheerfully succumbed to awed, dazzled but determined weaker players in the singles, but enjoyed their tournament all the same… ; the time we held a competition to guess the age of Dee Dooley’s vintage Fred Perry skirt ; the time the local TV news channel came to rue Lauriston, filmed Sheilagh Owen on court and announced that she demonstrated that you could play this game till you were at least seventy like this lady (she was furious – she was 63 at the time). Then there were the downers, the times when the draw required change after change due to nosebleeds, broken ankles, stomach upsets, and once, the organiser laid up with pneumonia (again, thank goodness people helped me in Bordeaux)… not to mention the time when the Paris court was carpeted with hailstones during a storm. Needless to say, everyone mucked in to dry the floor – it’s a ladies’ tournament, after all. There were many players who enjoyed coming to Paris, but also those who loved Fontainebleau and its wonderful market, and in recent years, everyone has discovered the charms of the new court (and the waiters) in Bordeaux. And what of the players? Pam and Chantelle, fresh from their regular evening drinks parties, on the doubles court, with Pam enjoining Chantelle « now take the pace off, Chant »… while Chantelle carried on returning services straight into the dedans ; our lovely Dutch friends Lucie , Feijke and Kim who always played magnificently despite their lack of realers training ; the Australian contingent who arrived, guns blazing, only to founder because they were giving huge handicaps to weaker players, but still managed to enjoy their visit to Paris ; the American ladies over for (sometimes) just the weekend, from Tuxedo, Newport, Washington and Philadelphia (some will remember Evelyn’s generous invitations to fashionable Paris venues), and, of course, the large English contingent who were regulars for years and formed the backbone of the tournament. My friends, I was the only female player in Paris for most of the time, and the only way I could play against other women was to organise this tournament. I would say the investment paid off – because in terms of kindness, generosity and sporting spirit, I have been rewarded a million times. Thank you all! P.S. Oh, and by the way, the results : Kim Walker, accompanied by Jessica and Darcy, arrived in peak form and produced steady, efficient tennis to arrive quite logically in the final, which she won after a hard-fought match against Sarah Stanley, a very promising new player from Newport. The doubles was won by a whisker, Bordeaux player Typhanie teaming with Sarah (again) to defeat Kim and her daughter Jessica. The plate singles and doubles both featured local star Jeannette Guardia, who finally came up against more determined than she in Beth Winthrop (Newport), and in the doubles Sarah Sullivan and yours truly. For the thirtieth time, many thanks to the Hotel du Jeu de Paume, Paris, for its kind sponsorship. Gabrielle Smart Fourquet |
| THANK YOU GABRIELLE! |
| On behalf of all the players who have enjoyed this tournament over the years, we want to say a huge thank you to Gabrielle. For 30 years, she has done an amazing job running the tournament, ensuring everyone had a great time despite some challenges along the way! |
