Miles-Thomas bags eighth singles title

HENLEY Tennis Club held its finals day last Saturday which was the culmination of the season for the
81 players that had entered the club championships.

First up was the U8s finals which included numerous rallies. After an hour of fierce round-robin play, little separated the competitors. Sammy Andrews edged past Seth Drummond with a sudden-death point, while William Scott defeated Finley Green to set up the final. Andrews stormed ahead 5-2, but Scott battled back to 6-6, forcing a deciding point. A 20-shot rally sealed it, with Scott proving just too strong to claim the title.

In the veterans’ doubles, Jim Neale and Gordon Stoddart secured a straight sets win over Robert Dickie and Tom Tuite Dalton, though the rallies were far closer than the scorecard suggested. Meanwhile mixed team captain James Cudd and partner Hannah Thompson fought a thrilling three-setter before falling to the father-daughter duo — and overall club captain — Matt and Millie Hallam to secure the mixed doubles title.

In the ladies’ doubles, Rowan Hampson and Lucy Wilson overcame Fiona Huggard and Sarah Gilbert in straight sets to secure the title. The men’s doubles final proved the nail-biter of the day. In a gripping contest, Michael Whorrell and Jeremy Wright triumphed 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 over Julian Milne and Tim Spriggs. In the singles finals Cath Drummond was crowned ladies’ champion after a strong win against Lizzie Miles.

In the men’s singles final, long-time champion Max Miles-Thomas lifted his eighth title with a tough but decisive victory against Tom Raynor. The day ended with applause as The Henley College principal, Simon Spearman, presented the trophies.

This has been a memorable year for the club, under interim chairman and head coach Tom Scott, as it has attracted numerous new players, had a revamped hard court installed and two new artificial clay courts being installed by the end of the year and having a packed calendar of social events all put together by an enthusiastic committee.