U15 Tennis
W J Perry
Middle school tennis hit fine form this season and yielded substantial victories at local and national level. Twelve school players contributed to the success of the team throughout the summer and gave U15 Tennis at Nottingham High one of its best seasons to date.
Friendly matches kicked off the term with convincing wins over Stamford, KES Birmingham and Rugby. After these early wins confidence was building in the team and greater challenges were sought.
In the Nestle Cup, the U15 team successfully saw off competition from Colonel Frank Seeley, Bramcote Hills, Fernwood and River Leen Schools to get into the County final. So it was that on a blisteringly hot day in June at the Nottingham Tennis Centre that the pairs of Simon and Nicholas Killips, and Louis Resnick and Sam Travell beat Tuxford in the final to become County Champions for the third year running.
In a perfect end to the season, Alex Henderson and Nicholas Killips secured the Phillips Trophy at the Independent Schools Tennis competition at Eton. A fantastic result to end what has been an exciting and rewarding summer of tennis.
Overview
2006 has proved to be an enjoyable and successful season.
These achievements rely on the hard work and enthusiasm of the staff – Messrs. Hecht, Perry, Holding, Coldicott, Brumby and Sourbutts.
I would also like to thank James Ellis, a mature and helpful captain, who made the season go smoothly.
Tennis within the school
Over twenty players competed for the coveted school tennis trophies.
In the Duddell Cup for years 7 and 8 Ethan Lewis produced a very mature performance to beat the greatly improved John Jenkinson by 6 games to1. The plate event was won by Joe Travell who beat Simon Crowther in a match of high quality.
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Sam Travell produced some exciting tennis against the obdurate play of Stuart Wells to win the Britton Shield for years 9 and 10.
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The Attewell Cup for U18s saw Arran Solomonsz produce the more consistent tennis to beat Teodor Peytchev who served with great ferocity. Jonathan Maddock beat Patrick Holden in a well-contested plate final.
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1st Team
Fixtures
Trent College W 3-3(56 games – 49)
Warwick L 7.5 – 1.5
KES Birmingham L 8 -1
Repton L 8.5 - .5
Stamford W 7 – 2
Loughborough G.S. L 6 - 0
Rugby L 9 - 0
Uppingham
2nd Team
Warwick L 9 – 0
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For the friendly fixtures, a first team was fielded consisting of different combinations of James Ellis (Captain), Arran Solomonsz (Vice-Captain), Teodor Peytchev, Andrew Nowell, Elliot Fry, Sam Smith, Sam Ader, Leo Fisher and Jonathan Hooper. The first team this year contained many good players but, with the exception of Andrew Nowell, no outstanding ones. James Ellis proved to be a quality tennis player and Arran Solomonsz played some great matches, notably against Trent College. Teodor Peytchev has added greater consistency to his game whilst still retaining a cannonball serve. Sam Smith and Sam Ader played well, notably against a powerful Warwick team. Elliot Fry made a promising start to his first team career. Many others have also represented the senior teams and their enthusiasm has been greatly appreciated.
We played some tough matches against Birmingham, Repton, Rugby and Uppingham, but the highlight of the friendly season was a convincing victory over Stamford.
The highlight of the season was the exciting win over local rivals Trent College, thanks mainly due to a superb performance by Andrew Nowell. The match could not have been closer, see-sawing throughout. The tennis was of a high quality and, despite the tightness of the match, was played with great enjoyment and spirit throughout.
Overall this season has been thoroughly enjoyable, with some great tennis played by all, and thanks go to Mr Saperia (team manager) and all the staff who gave up their Saturdays to organise us. We wish next year’s team every success.
Team A.J.Nowell, J.M.Ellis, W.A.Solomonsz, T.E.Peytchev, S.D.Ader, S.C.Smith, G.Ullas, R.O.Williams, P.J.Thurston, E.J.Fry, A.D.Henderson, R.S.Ayling, N.J.Killips, J.M.Y.Choudhury, L.J.Fisher, T.R.H.Farr, W.K.Twemlow, J.M.Hooper, D.J.Marshall, J.H.Wilson
James Ellis
Independent Schools’ Championships
U18
The senior team of Andrew Nowell, Teodor Peytchev, James Ellis and Sam Travell arrived at Eton in optimistic mood. The first match was against Haberdasher’s. The second pair of James and Sam lost 6-1, 6-1. The first pair of Andrew and Teodor played superbly with Teodor’s ferocious hitting combining well with Andrew’s guile. The match was balanced on a knife edge in the final set tie-break but in the end Haberdasher’s won by the smallest of margins. A truly memorable match.
The senior team then entered the plate event. Just ten minutes after the draining defeat by Haberdasher’s the boys were back on court to play a strong Rugby team. James and Sam played some fantastic tennis which visibly rattled their opponents. Eventually Rugby won 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Andrew and Teo were inspired by the brave play of James and Sam and produced tennis that was a joy to watch. They won a tense tie break in the third set and so the match was tied at one match each. Andrew was left to play a deciding singles set and, like England’s penalty shoot out against Portugal, the result was heartbreak.
After seven consecutive sets of competitive tennis Andrew was left on his knees with beads of sweat, or perhaps tears, running down his ruddy face. Not only had he played his last match for the School but he had also missed dinner!
Sam Travell
U15
Nottingham 1
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Alex Henderson and Richard Ayling played their first match against a formidable duo from Guildford losing 7-6, 0-6, 6-3 and so entered the Phillips Cup. Crushing victories against Whitgift, Reigate, and Hampton saw them reach the semi-final where Winchester awaited them. They played nearly faultless tennis to win the first set 6-1 and in a nervy second set remained calm enough to win 7-6.
The final was against Colston’s and followed a similar pattern with a second set tie break win by 8 points to 6 securing the trophy for the first ever time – a superb achievement.
Alex Henderson and Richard Ayling
Nottingham 2
Simon and Nic Killips began very well, beating Hampton 6-2, 6-1 but then faced a very strong St.George’s team losing in 3 sets. Simon still has two more chances in the competition and so stands a great chance in the future.
Nic Killips
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