Press Release 30/04/2008

The Prudden Road Surfacing Tennis Charity Cup Final

All the Cup Finalists with Lin Cleary (Prudden Group) centre presenting cup.

The  Prudden Road Surfacing Inter-League Tennis Charity Cup Final was held on Saturday (21st June), the venue courtesy of Shipston-on-Stour Tennis Club, between last years' Summer South Warwickshire Prudden League Champions Stratford-on-Avon and this year’s Stratford & District Winter League Champions Beckford.

The handsome trophy was supplied by Prudden Road Surfacing, who also donated a cheque for £250.00 to the charity nominated by the cup winners.  This was added to by a further £100.00 cheque donated by the Summer League and the runners-up would decide to which charity this cheque should be donated.  The Winter League paid for commemorative medals for all the players and the match balls.  Hosts Shipston, apart from allowing complimentary use of their courts supplied a free barbecue.

A Stratford side severely weakened by injuries, holidays and National League matches nevertheless were determined to try and retain this trophy which they won for the summer league last year.  However, a full strength Beckford team proved too strong and despite some good rallies the result was never really in doubt.  Nigel Stanton & Simon Philiatrault cruised to victory in the opening rubber over Stratford’s Martin Rees & Cesar Toro 6-0, 6-1.  They then had a tougher time beating Mark Denby & Dave Mountford (Stratford) 6-2, 6-4, having to recover from 3-4 down in the second set.  On the other court Beckford Captain Paul Smith & partner Jamie Morrow beat Denby & Mountford 6-1, 6-2 and then defeated Rees & Toro 6-0, 6-1, to win the Charity Cup 4-0.

The Trophy was presented by Lin Cleary, Manager of the Skip Hire side of the Prudden Road Surfacing Limited business group.  She also presented the cheque for £250 to Beckford on behalf of the sponsors which they donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Society.  The Secretary of the Warwickshire Lawn Tennis Association, Tony Eskew, presented players with their individual awards on behalf of the Winter League.   A £100 cheque was presented to the runners-up on behalf of the Summer League by their Secretary Corin Bishop and Stratford decided they will donate this to the Starlight Foundation children's charity.  Also in attendance for the presentation ceremony was Alan Colbourne the Secretary of the Winter League and his wife Jill.

From L to R:- Martin Rees; Cesar Toro; Dave Mountford; Mark Denby (Stratford-on-Avon T/C)

Captain Paul Smith receiving Trophy; Jamie Morrow; Simon Philiatrault; Nigel Stanton (Beckford)