Harry Dry emerged triumphant after a hard-fought three-set match against Carl Pendle to decide Fishbourne Tennis Club’s 2021 men’s singles champion.
A large crowd was enthralled by superb tennis action as the pair battled it out in brilliant sunshine at the club’s Finals Day on Saturday 4 September, the first time the championships have been held since 2019.
Dry and Pendle, with around a quarter of a century difference in their ages, put on a sparkling display of quality tennis over almost two hours, the younger man finally emerging the winner 7.5, 2.6, 6.4. It is the second time Harry Dry has won the title, following victory in 2018.
Another previous FTC singles champion, Gilly Perrin, took the ladies’ singles title. Multiple titleholders Sue Lord and Katy Bracher dominated in the ladies’ doubles while in the men’s doubles, a new and exciting pairing of JJ Bone and Joe Rawlings despatched Chris Gosden and Lewis Minett - but not before Gosden and Minett had stolen the second set. In the mixed doubles Sue Lord and James Willson proved too strong for Phil Tite and Cressida Williams.
For the first time the club spread its finals day matches over two days, with the Vets65 tournament playing out on Sunday 5 September. Past men’s champion Bill Cove playing with Nikki Scott didn’t put a foot wrong to claim the trophy.
All the trophies were presented by FTC Championship organisers Jazz Kimbell and Kate Gurl. Both days attracted good numbers of members new and old who enjoyed not just the tennis but also complimentary strawberries, glasses of Pimms, ice creams and a barbecue lunch.
“After having to cancel the FTC Championships last year owing to the pandemic, we decided this year to really push the boat out and have a proper party, in recognition of our Fishbourne members’ incredible loyalty to the club,” said FTC vice chair Bob Murray.
“A huge vote of thanks must go to Jazz and Kate and all the other volunteers who made this a Finals Day to remember – including not just the winners but everyone who took part in the competition and showed just how much we all enjoy our tennis in Fishbourne.”
Fishbourne Tennis Club 2021 Championships results:
Men’s Singles, Harry Dry beat Carl Pendle 7.5, 2.6, 6.4; Ladies singles, Gilly Perrin beat Faye Jones 6.3, 6.4; Men’s Doubles, JJ Bone and Joe Rawlings beat Chris Gosden and Lewis Minett 6.1, 3.6, 6.2; Ladies Doubles, Sue Lord and Katy Bracher beat Priscilla Pendle and Suzie Upton-Brown 6.1, 6.1; Mixed Doubles, James Willson and Sue Lord beat Phil Tite and Cressida Williams 6.4, 6.4. Vets65 Mixed Doubles, Nikki Scott and Bill Cove beat Dick Nicholson and Sue Bargery 6.0.
