Tennis Club

National Rifle Association Meeting, Bisley: results generally were poor. Two members of last year's VIII were off form and nearly everyone had poor shots at one time or another, some in the Ashburton itself. In all, it was our poorest Bisley for some years, the only bright spots being P. A. 0. Bell's 4th in the Snap (170 entries) and M. W. Poynor's 16th in the Iveagh (over 1,400 entries) while D. F. Richardson won a Schools' Hundred badge and S. K. Pattie was successful in winning a prize for pistol shooting.

Detailed results were:

Position Entries

Ashburton 48 71

Cadet Pair

40 64 Public Schools Snap 12 20 Marling 8 21

Colours were re-awarded or awarded to: P. A. 0. Bell (Capt.), T. N. E. Bowen, M. W. A. Poynor, I. W. Balls, D. F. Richardson, H. M. odwin, J. E. Prowde, M. J. W. Dimelow.

The House match was won by Temple, but scores generally were low nd for the second time some Houses were unable to find a full team. L.C.LeT.

TENNIS CLUB 1972

The 1972 season was one of the most successful that the Tennis Club has ever had. In nine matches the 1st VI, a very experienced side, was defeated only once and finished second in the Yorkshire Schools' Tennis League. Whilst we were of course disappointed not to have been able to challenge Wakefield for the title, this was nevertheless a very gratifying final position.

This was the third year that John Mitchell, the captain, and Andrew Penty had been in the team and at 1st Pair they had a fairly consistent season, winning about 80 per cent of their matches though dropping a few sets that should have been won. The best individual play of the side as a whole came from Andrew Penty. The 2nd Pair, both regulars last season, had a worrying start but once it had been pointed out to Derek Dempsey that he was playing tennis and not squash he settled down to hit some good shots. He and his partner, Chris Beall, a rather more solid if occasionally less inspired performer. achieved some good and important results, including a life-saving win against Worksop's 1st Pair following below-par performances by the rest of the side. Of those who played in the 3rd Pair, Richard Tasker produced some sound tennis and, if he controls his temperament he should do very well next season. He was variously supported by Chris Atkinson, a devastating player on his day, and the deceptively casual John Cresswell who, if he tightens up his concentration and remains free of the back injury that tended to rob some of his shots of power, should also be a success next year.

The beginning of the season was marred by appalling conditions. High winds and rain prevented any solid practice and the first few matches were played in depressing weather and it was only at the end of the 45

season that the conditions finally improved. We had draws with Worksop and Roundhay and defeated Archbishop Holgate's, Ampleforth, Ashville, Pocklington, Scarborough and Bootham, a school that in each of the two previous seasons had beaten us 9-0. The last inter-school match was at Hymer's College, Hull, and a combination of strange courts, the aftereffects of several tough fixtures and, to be honest, some rather scrappy play brought us defeat by 5-4; but we could have won and it was agreed that had we had the advantage of playing at home the result might well have been reversed. On the Saturday of Commemoration, the Old Peterites were defeated in sizzling heat. Our thanks to those who played in this fixture, which can be one of the most enjoyable of the season; but it is to be hoped that rather more Old Peterites will offer their services next year.

The 2nd VI also had a good season. Captained by Chris Atkinson when he was not in the 1st VI and otherwise by David Grice, they won three out of their four matches. Andrew Maycock played regularly for the 1st Pair and if all his strokes had been as strong and reliable as his forehand he would have made the 1st VI. At 2nd Pair, Ian Jamieson and Ian Stephenson both began to play some firm and impressive shots and have improved tremendously. They should give good service to the Club next year. David Grice, John Lucas and Peter Rivers played variously for the 3rd Pair and won far more times than they lost. James Brockbank, on the run from the Boat Club, was blooded this season, and if he takes up full-time tennis will be one of the mainstays of the Club in years to come.

It is to be hoped that those Junior members of the School who have shown an interest in Tennis this term will not allow this interest to be smothered by other demands made on their time. However, the opportunities to play Tennis at St. Peter's are not as frequent as they might be since the number of courts is painfully small, particularly when one considers the number of boys who have indicated a desire 'to play fulltime. Still perhaps one of the poorer relations of the School sporting world, in everything, that is, except skill, enthusiasm and success, tennis may once again suffer because of a clash with other interests since now there is a possibility of the Club being evicted from the premises where it has been so happy for so long. However, a much greater body blow than the loss of the present courts is the loss of Mr. Clark, who will not be nearly so easy to replace as a stretch of concrete. For all the years that he has been with the Club, Mr. Clark's good-humoured guiding hand has been a very great factor in the Club's success and we thank him sincerely for all that he has done for tennis and tennis players at the School and wish him and his family every happiness in the future.

Thanks also to our Secretary, John Cresswell, for his work.

These notes would not be complete without some mention of the Cricket Match fought out on the last Friday of term between a Tennis Club XI and an Invitation XI, kindly produced by Tim Young. The opposition batted first and made, they like to deceive themselves, 137. Of the nine members of our side who bowled, Peter Rivers emerged with the best figures, 3 overs, 1 maiden, 5 wickets 'for two runs, a haul which included several 2nd XI scalps and a stupendous burst of four wickets in four balls. Our batting showed a certain brittleness in the middle order after the dismissal of our guest star K. S. Clark Esq., who made top score. Even a last-wicket stand between Mike Drucquer, batting with all the 46