Normal service was returned with interest at Long Buckby’s annual grass court tournament at the weekend, 12 months after the first ever total wash out in its 113-year history.
Sunstroke rather than flooding was a more prevalent problem as the 13 courts hosted some 250 entries with men’s and ladies doubles and veteran events on Saturday, with mixed doubles fare on Sunday.
The Buckby event is a remarkable piece of intensive timing and tribute to industry as tournament chairman Charles Jackson, one of a 17-strong committee explained.
He said: “The same people have been coming back for years. Most of those travel from within a 40-mile radius although we used to have a couple who came from Cornwall every year.”
Buckby folklore also recalls the one-legged player who once equipped with his false limb proved no slouch around the courts which are transformed from their usual guise of rugby or cricket field inside five days.
“Everyone on the committee knows what they are doing,” said Jackson. We have a meeting on Monday, the courts are marked out on Tuesday, with the grass cut on Wednesday. The lines are painted on Thursday and the nets and posts put up on Friday.
“We raise more than £1,000 every year, most of which goes back to the sports club although we try to invest in something every year such as net posts or stands. By 9.30pm on a Sunday everything is back to normal and they can play cricket here again on Monday evening.”
Heavy roller treatment also ensures notorious grass court bounces are not extreme, something County LTC pairs Dave Garrett/Barry Wilson and Laura Mineards/Catherine Thompson mastered on Saturday in the men’s and ladies events.
Wilson/Garrett were pushed to an 8-6 tie-break limit in their group by Mike Preston and Dave Barrick, while in the other half of the draw some excellent tennis by Kettering’s Jordan Parker and his partner Wayne Tideswell saw them reach a final before succumbing 6-2. Wilson/Garrett beat Jonny Searle/Carl Barrick in the semis, while Tideswell/Parker beat Preston/Barrick.
Saturday’s veteran men’s event saw Dave Brown (County) and Brian Perry (Kilsby) beat Tim Walden/Neil Caswell (Abington). Mineards/Thompson were 6-2 ladies final winners against Amie Norman/Lynn Adams.
Sunday’s mixed final saw the County combination of Dave Garrett/Catherine Thompson beat Josh Winters/Pippa Fisher (Northampton) in the final. In the semis, Garrett/Thompson beat Ben Foster/Laura Mineards while Wintets/Fisher beat Amie Norman/Dominic Sefton (Abington).