The Chief Executive’s Report

Chris Davies, Chief Executive and Secretary

What a difference a year makes? Real Tennis and Rackets are very much back for a post-covid resurgence. Rackets thrived at virtually every Last year saw the T&RA’s rebranding process, with a fresher, more dynamic, new look. This year we proceed to the next step with a Marketing Strategy aiming to find a sponsor for school, showcased by the National Schools Championships at Queen’s running at capacity. The recovery in Real Tennis has been slower, perhaps because more players were unable to play regularly for around 18 months, but most clubs are starting to see their court We build our future on bookings increase. Also, a full season’s history, but let’s make it competition for both sports, professional vibrant and exciting.and amateur alike. International travel facilitated the RT Masters being played in France for the first time, and what a show the organisers put on, with an incredible performance by the British players. The Under 26 Team has just returned from Down Under with the Van Alen and Limb trophies, triumphant against their US and Australian opponents. Fabulous year for John Lumley, winning the British Open for the first time, amongst other wonderful achievements overseas, while the brilliant Claire Fahey successfully defended her Open and World titles, not for the first time. Husband Rob, finally defends his world title in September. Tom Billings and Richard Owen travelled to New York to claim the Rackets World Doubles title after a mercurial performance at Queen’s. As new world champions, they were near unplayable in the British Open, while Tom was rarely troubled in the Open Singles. Ben Cawston also completed another stellar season and will challenge for the World Singles crown in November. For the Ladies, Lea Van der Zwalmen was back successfully defending her Singles title (and challenging Claire in Tennis). But the chasing ladies are making real progress as their game goes from strength to strength, with a first British Open title for Georgie Willis too. It has been business as usual for the Board and Games Committees, as many key projects either continued to develop or evolved to new levels. In particular, the Investing in Professionals (IiP) programme has seen its first apprentice (Jack Josephs) securing a job at Hampton Court, three other apprentices in training, and one more starting at Petworth as the first of Tranche 2. There are still some improvements to make in the programme; key will be to secure roles for the future graduates. David Watson, having stepped down as T&RA Chairman, has taken the leading role to drive the programme forward. Rather less publicised is the fact that 16 of the current professionals have been accredited by our partners, Sport Structures, with more not far away. The next question is whether the same can be emulated for Rackets professionals, equally as vital to the future of the sport. There has been much discussion and Fred Satow, the new T&RA Chairman, has taken a close interest in this development. As for Tennis, the T&RA has pledged support to facilitate the training and a number of options are being explored including taking on undergraduates on coaching courses at university, while continuing with training pipelines such as at Eton, Harrow and Wellington. Real Tennis, to work alongside us to enhance the future of the games. We already have terrific sponsors for Rackets in Brown Advisory, with who we share a first-class partnership. Our links with Pol Roger are as strong as ever, and it is not only the world champions who enjoy Pol as their drink of choice. I should also thank Situ for their support for the Ladies Rackets World Challenge, even more remarkable to see the brilliant Cesca win through to the final stages. Aside from the very many volunteers connected with the above programmes, there are a handful who should be singled out. The much-travelled Howard Angus must have worn out a set of tyres as he travelled relentlessly around the country as the T&RA Technical Adviser. Similarly, Simon TalbotWilliams took over the role of Court Development Director, now reaping the rewards of Richard Dalzell’s early work, and making genuine progress. Paul Weaver has been the face of Junior Tennis for longer than most of us remember, and what a brilliant job he does and will shortly be hosting the Junior World Championships at Seacourt (a tournament he created and designed). Jamie Bruce sits as chair of the Finance Committee and works with our investment managers to safeguard the investments, enabling the T&RA to provide valuable grants. Ben Geytenbeek has emerged as a streaming expert and already offered advice to many UK clubs; he has also written a first class guide available on the T&RA website. There are so many more of you running events or working as officers in your clubs, for which the games are very grateful.

As we approach next season, fresh challenges lie ahead. But we move forward without one vital member of the team, Andrina Webb, who sadly passed away in March. She had been membership secretary for over eight years and touched the lives of most of us. Her memory burns brightly and she will not be forgotten. My personal thanks to Jemima Murray-Poore, who continues to excel in all she undertakes, to the everreliable Olga Nechaeva, keeping our accounts on track and a warm welcome to Kambra Clifford as the new Communcations Coordinator and Membership Secretary. Finally, my co-editor, Tory Wall, who, in two words, is simply brilliant. A small team, but absolutely perfectly formed. We build our future on history, but let’s make it vibrant and exciting.