Sports Clubs
Newsletter - April 2003
Oliver Harry (Pe B 1991-98), Peter Bloomfield (Pe B 1944-51), Richard McGregor (Ma B 1948-57) and Robert Muir (Col B 1966-72) at Merton College, Oxford, 30 March 2003.
The Old Blues Real Tennis Club won their first match of the year by 3 games to 1 with all the "oldies" chalking up victories. Peter's win was over old rival Tony Verdin (Pe B 1944-51), who plays for Oxford. Oliver Harry, who is at Merton College, was a very welcome new recruit - particularly as he brings our average age down by several decades! He has recently taken up the game and shows great promise.
Richard got stick from Wally (sorry, Robert) for arranging the game on Mothering Sunday, the Grand Slam final and the day the clocks went forward! However, the good news was that we were well entertained by Oxford and were able to watch the rugby after most of us had finished playing.
Our next match is at Holyport, near Maidenhead, on Sunday 8 June, where all the above hope to be playing - plus others if they can be persuaded! Visitors are welcome!
For further information, please contact Richard McGregor by email or telephone 01628 626258.
Website content from 2002
For previous website entries, see below.
Fixtures for 2002
- Sunday, 21 April at Merton College, Oxford
- Sunday, 30 June at Holyport, near Maidenhead
- October TBA
During the year 2001 the Old Blues Real Tennis Club played three matches.
On 3rd May, Peter Bloomfield (Pe B 1944-51), Robin Lawson (Ma B 1950-57), Chris Harding-Edgar (Pe B 1962-69) and I turned out for our usual enjoyable fixture against Oxford. We lost the match by 3 games to 1 with Peter chalking up our victory against fellow Old Blue Tony Verdin (Pe B 1944-51), who plays for the Oxford Club.
On 1st July we enjoyed probably our most successful fixture ever in winning 4-1 against the Holyport Club, near Maidenhead. We were pretty pleased for a start to have five players - Peter Bloomfield, Chris Harding-Edgar, Andrew Reid-Thomas (Pe A, Pe B 1985-92), Paul Simms (Pe A 1978-85) and I - and even more so that all the matches were closely fought encounters. By the way it is not true that you have to have been in Peele or Maine to play this game - all Old Blues are welcome! In fact we were glad to have Keith Lugton (Mid A 1953-60) as a guest to witness our strange rituals!
Our third match this year was on 25th November at Prested Hall near Colchester, where there club is owned and run by Michael Carter (Th B 1956-65). Peter Bloomfield, Robin Lawson and I were supplemented by two stalwarts from the Holyport Club. The two courts enabled a variety of singles and doubles matches to be played and we enjoyed ourselves despite losing by 8 games to 1.
We are sorry not to have seen John Butler-Rees (Th B 1957-66) this year. John has been unwell for the past year and we send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
For 2002 we have arranged fixtures at Oxford on Sunday 21st April and at Holyport on Sunday 30th June, with a third one to be arranged for October. Will any new players, or persons who would like to try out this addictive game, please contact Richard McGregor by email or telephone 01628 626258.
Website content from 2001
For previous website entries, see below.
Fixtures for 2001
- Sunday, 6 May at Merton College, Oxford
- Sunday, 1 July at Holyport, near Maidenhead
- Sunday, 14 October at Prested Hall, near Colchester
Old Blues Real Tennis still playing on but in need of a (new) blood transfusion
Notes from 2000:
The Old Blues Real Tennis Club was founded in 1993 following a chance meeting between Neil Simms (Staff 1960 -1993) and Richard McGregor (Ma B 1948 -1957), who found that they both played the game.
Every year since 1993 two regular matches have been played at Merton College, Oxford and at Holyport, Berkshire against the members of those clubs. Occasional matches have also been played at Lord's, Cambridge, the Harbour Club and Bridport.
This year Neil Simms has retired as Secretary, as he thinks his playing days are over, and Richard McGregor has taken over as Secretary and Match Manager. Many thanks to Neil for getting things going.
At Oxford on 7th May, Andrew Reid-Thomas (Pe A, Pe B 1985-92), Chris Harding- Edgar (Pe B 1962-69) and Richard represented the Old Blues (see picture overleaf) where we lost an enjoyable match by 2 games to 1. Andrew, who recorded our victory, represents our youth policy although he has played for us since our inaugural match in 1993!
On 2nd July only John Butler-Rees (Th B 1957-66) was able to join Richard and this time we lost both matches against old opponents. John is another stalwart who has played in most of our matches. Keith Wharton (Ma B 1947-54) also joined us as a purely social member!
Real Tennis originated as "jeu de paume" played by monks in France in the fourteenth century! In England it was popularised by Henry VIII who built a court at Hampton Court. It is the game from which all racket sports were developed. There are currently 25 active courts in the UK. The game is a fascinating mixture of athleticism, cunning, eccentricity and luck which can be very addictive! It can be played by all ages (and most conditions) of men and women. It is most likely to appeal to those who have played other sports in the past and would like to try something completely different!
If there are any more players, or potential players, out there please contact Richard McGregor. Supporters are also welcome for any of our matches which always include a social element.
Stop press:
Michael Carter, an Old Blue (1960's), has built a couple of Real Tennis courts at Prested Hall near Colchester. We have arranged a match there for Sunday, 22nd October 2000. Will all current players (listed below) or prospective players please let me know whether it is likely they will be able to join us in October.
The following persons have played for us in the past and may well do so in the future:
- Michael Beare (Mid A 1959-1968)
- Peter Bloomfield (Pe B 1944-1951)
- John Butler-Rees (Th B 1957-1966)
- Chris Harding-Edgar (Pe B 1962-1969)
- Robin Lawson (Ma B 1950-1957)
- Richard McGregor (Ma B 1948-1957)
- Andrew Reid-Thomas (Pe A/B 1985-1992)
- Paul Simms (Pe A 1978-1985)
- John Ward (La A 1949-1957)
- Keith Wharton (Ma B 1947-1954)
Richard McGregor, 19 July 2000
For further information, please contact Richard McGregor by email or telephone 01628 626258.