Durham University Fives Courts
Saturday/Sunday, 4-5 November 2023
STOP PRESS At these fifth Durham Ladies Championships Camille Beattie won the Championship Singles for a third consecutive time, and then Camille and Imogen Wright retained the Doubles title they first won last year. There were 22 competitors in all, from the City of Durham Club past and present, Durham University, the London Executioners and a sizeable contingent from the Edinburgh Academy. Huge thanks to Hector McFarlane, Phil Beattie, Tom Wakelam and RFA President Julie McIntyre for the work they did in organising and running this event, the standard of which rises year on year.
Julie McIntyre reports: The sun finally returned to Durham just in time for the Durham Ladies this year. The entry numbers recovered from covid, led as ever by a substantial squad from Edinburgh Academy, and joined by current and past Durham students and club players, plus some senior women new to the event. This meant 18 in the singles and 11 pairs in the doubles, so Hector and I were kept busy, ably supported by Richie and Anna from the Academy.
The draw was supplied by Tom, who got us underway, and for (most of) the whole event one court was live-streamed on YouTube by Phil Beattie, whom you may remember from the Mixed Open in Cambridge, the match between left-hander Imogen and Lizzie being the highlight: it went the distance, with Lizzie edging it 11-3, 7-11, 11-1. Lizzie went on to play her semi-final tie, which was the game of the day, against Rosa. Superb hitting by both provided a super spectacle for the enraptured crowd. Lizzie took the first game 11-7 before Rosa stormed back to take games two and three – 11-9, 11-4. This set up a ‘three-peat’ final for Rosa versus local favourite Camille, who had sailed through the top half of the draw.
Catering was excellent as ever, with homemade food including sushi, parkin and Becky Geere’s recipe flapjack. Saturday’s dinner turned out to be rather more engaging than expected, with the live singer providing opportunities for dancing and even a conga line. Luckily I have no photos of this, but I think all 22 of us had a good time, either taking part or being entertained.
The Singles finalists were in action at 10am on Sunday, with a very entertaining game between Rosa (EA) and Camille (City of Durham) which was won by Camille 11-0, 11-2, while the third place play-off in the U18 group was won by Chrissie, who beat Olivia (both EA) 16-14.
Kirsten, Lizzie and Imogen were 1, 2 and 3 in the Open group; Camille, Rosa and Chrissie likewise in the U18s; and Amelia, Isabella and Anya won Gold, Silver and Bronze in the U16s.
The Doubles was won by Camille & Imogen (CoD/Bristol Uni.) in a closely-contested final against Kirsten & Lizzie (DU/Alumni) – 11-9, 11-8. Outrageous serving by all four competitors made for a superb final, where points were hard to come by and unforced errors were a real rarity. The semi-finals involving Helena & Savanna and Rosa & Olivia had both been top-class games also, and there were many nails bitten by the coaches, friends and family watching.
It was great to see the next generation of younger girls also coming through, getting to know each other, and to watch them improve throughout the day – the Plate winners were Chrissie & Roseanna (EA) whilst the Bowl went to the scratch pairing of Sofia & Amelia (CoD/EA). Other than the Shield, the prizes were much sought-after gold and silver medals, followed by a City of Durham beanie and two new-style club mugs for 3rd place. Even better were the three club bucket hats handed to Hector, Richie and Anna to be fought for at a future EA event, which were quickly snaffled for photo opportunities.
It was sunny inside and out!
Scores
Championship Singles
1st round: A Wilson bt A Robertson 15-8
2nd round: C Beattie bt C Lonie 15-0; C Clark bt R McNaught Davis 15-2; K Bell bt M Smart 15-1; O Smart bt M Wells 15-4; I Wright bt I Davidson 15-0; L Ware bt C Davidson 15-5; A Bailey bt J McIntyre 15-12; R Ogilvie bt A Wilson 15-0
Quarter-finals: C Beattie bt C Clark 11-1, 11-1; K Bell bt O Smart 11-7, 11-6; L Ware bt I Wright 11-3, 7-11, 11-1; R Ogilvie bt A Bailey 11-4, 11-5
Semi-finals: C Beattie bt K Bell 11-2, 11-1; R Ogilvie bt L Ware 7-11, 11-9, 11-4
Final: C Beattie (City of Durham) bt R Ogilvie (Edinburgh Academy) 11-0, 11-2
Open Age group: K Bell bt L Ware
U18 Age group: C Beattie bt R Ogilvie (as above)
U16/U14 Age group: A Wilson bt I Davidson
Championship Doubles
Group A: 1st C Beattie & I Wright 44 pts; 2nd K Bell & L Ware 35 pts; 3rd C Clark & R McNaught Davis 29 pts; 4th C Davidson & I Davidson 16 pts; 5th S Vallascas & A Wilson 9 pts
Group B: 1st R Ogilvie & O Smart 55 pts; 2nd S Leboff & H Tunks 50 pts; 3rd A Bailey & M Smart 39 pts; 4th E Vallascas & L Mackay 33 pts; 5th C Lonie & A Robertson 13 pts; 6th J Dunnill & E Terry 12 pts
Semi-finals: Beattie & Wright bt Leboff & Tunks 12-11, 11-2; Bell & Ware bt Ogilvie & Smart 11-5, 9-11, 11-4
Final: C Beattie & I Wright bt K Bell & L Ware 11-9, 11-8
Plate: C Clark & R McNaught Davis
Bowl: S Vallascas & A Wilson
A selection of photographs celebrating a wonderful day of competitive Fives
The competitors
The Edinburgh Academy squad
The Singles Champion
Singles finalists
The Doubles Champions
Silver medallists in the Doubles
and, below, several more medal winners
Below, the RFA President does the honours
Below, a special trophy!
