Junior Tournament

The day kicked off with the Junior tournament in the morning with numbers down this year to 24 due to clashes with other events. Nevertheless it was as competitive as ever. Stuart introduced a new format with players awarded a percentage score based on the number of games won over the total number of games played.

The final saw Katie Reid (63%) and Tom Beatty (71%) beat Joanna Bamber (68%) and Adam Gowdy (70%) six games to three.

Senior Tournament

The Senior tournament was then played as a team event, consisting of 8 teams of 6, based on a World Cup theme. Teams played for 20 minutes on a knockout basis with the winner being the team which won the most games in their 3 doubles matches. All teams played three matches giving placings down to eighth - the wooden spoon going to Stuart McQuitty's Spain.

The grand final saw Holland v Germany with Steven Morgan's Holland emerging as winners.

Holland - Steven Morgan (capt) , Alwena Johnston, Catherine Law, Ruth Logan, Tim McLean, Brian McQueen

Germany - David Mills (capt), Collette Borland, Jennifer Dickson, Rachel Gillespie, Lynn Morrow, Terry Patton

The draw saw some unusual combinations - Wolfgang playing for England ;Kimiko and Vanessa turning out for Brazil instead of Japan and Australia respectively and Carlos playing for France !!!!!

The final placings were

1. Holland

2. Germany

3. Brazil

4. France

5. England

6. Australia

7. USA

8. Spain

I would like to thank all who turned out and gave their all to make this one of the more memorable tournaments of the year.

BBQ & Dance

Earlier in the year the committee approved the ordering of a marquee for the Captain's Day evening function. This proved a great success allowing over 100 adults and 50 children to partake in what turned out to be a great evening. The food was once again of a very high standard with the meat supplied by Wilbert from Massey's of Saintfield and the salads organised by the catering committee.

I started to panic when only half of the duet "Recall" turned up because the other singer was down sick, but I needn't have worried as Alan soon had the dance floor full and the atmosphere hit a new high. Time flew and with Barry's gentle persuasion the music continued to 1am with the singer asking if none of us had homes to go to!

I believe some people weren't fit to play on Monday never mind Sunday!!!!

During the evening a very successful ballot and auction of a Neil Shawcross print and a lesson & lunch with Stuart took place to raise money for the junior's trip to Irvinestown. Thanks to all members and friends who gave so generously to these.

Finally a big thank you to all who helped make this a very memorable Captain' s Day for me and also, I hope, for you.

Robert Sergeant