The warm weather training camp in Portugal in the last
week of the Easter holidays proved an ideal springboard
for the season's tennis matches. Sam Church, Beth
Beale, Holly Hands, Anna Crocker, Tasha Spiers, Tara
Bell, Anna Denton, Elena Close, Leea Dodd and Grace Murray all
enjoyed five days of intensive tennis training and tournaments,
together with relaxation at the pool and beach.
The U15A team of Beth Beale, Sam Church, Anna Denton, Tilly
Everard, Holly Hands and Tasha Spiers, had particularly convincing
wins against Blundell's, Queen's, Wellington, West Buckland,
Millfield, Taunton and Canford. Special mention should go to
Sam Church and Beth Beale for their individual accomplishments
and winning doubles combination, with impressive performances
by Holly Hands, Anna Denton, Tilly Everard and Tasha Spiers.
Girls' Tennis
By Adrian Simcox
The U18B team had a convincing win against Queen's College,
taking home an 8-1 victory. The partnership of Jamie Turvill and
Will Bishop played particularly well on a tricky surface. Conor
McKenna and Albert Healey also played their part.
The U15A team played most impressively against Heathfield
School in the LTA regional league match, with the team of Devell
Stevens, Ben O'Neill, Rudi Smith and Toby Vickers. The older,
more experienced Heathfield side performed powerfully in the
singles, winning three of the four matches. Ben O'Neill kept King's
in the tie by winning his match at No 2 singles. King's then staged
a spirited come-back in the two doubles matches, displaying
fine team work and camaraderie in both pairings, winning both
matches and leaving the match to be decided by a championship
tie break. Devell Stevens and Rudi Smith deserve much credit for
holding their games together in a nail-biting tie-break in which
King's came out the winner 10-8. Very well done to the boys.
Special mention to Jordan Clayton, who has gained a tennis
scholarship at Middle Georgia State College. He is studying
international business, and training for 25 hours per week. This is
an amazing opportunity for him to continue his studies alongside
his sport.
The prestigious annual ISTA National Schools Competition at
Eton College saw the Senior Boys progress to the last 16 of the
U18 Youll Cup, eventually losing to No 1 seeds, Reeds School.
Jordan Clayton, Joe Merriweather, Will Potter and Conor Sailes
deserve credit for their efforts, while Devell Stevens and Flynn
Oliphant represented King's in the Thomas Bowl (U15).
Most Improved Senior Player was Will Potter, and Most Improved
Junior player was Ben O'Neill.
Connor Sailes against Millield
Jordan Clayton and Joe Merriweather at the Independent Schools
Championships at Eton College
Beth Beale and Sam Church with Amanda Cox and the Asbury Bailey sheild
Sport
66