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rainbow over Hamptworth (Photo: Brian Fisk)

This is a two day tournament between the CA and the CA of Ireland for the McWeeney Trophy.

We started Friday evening with a 'fish and chip' reception kindly hosted by Richard & Diana Stevens. Saturday we breakfasted at the club before venturing out into the damp weather. Despite the weather, the Hamptworth courts were playing well. Timings were very tight as daylight is in short supply at this time of year. However we managed three rounds of level-play advanced before the day ended with a beautiful rainbow follwed by a great sunset. We then trouped off to sample the delights of the 'Cuckoo' pub before a tournament dinner at the Royal Jaipur Restaurant. Day two was bright and sunny all day.

CA of I Team

Nathaniel Healy (0)
Frank Martin (5)
Gerard Osborne Burke (5)
Alan Looney (5.5)
Daniel Bennett (7)
John Francis Martin (8)

CA Team

Richard Dickson (0)
Alison Girdlestone (5)
John Bee (6)
Frances Colman (7)
Brian Shorney (7)
Richard Stevens (7)

Day One

Results were as follows (Irish players first)

Round 1

Nathaniel Healy & John Francis Martin lost to Alison Girdlestone & Richard Stevens +11T
Gerard Osborne Burke & Daniel Bennett beat John Bee & Frances Colman +8T
Frank Martin & Alan Looney lost to Richard Dickson & Brian Shorney +18T

Round 2

Nathaniel Healy beat John Bee +19
Gerard Osborne Burke beat Richard Dickson +1
Frank Martin beat Alison Girdlestone +9T
Alan Looney lost to Richard Stevens +17
Daniel Bennett beat Brian Shorney +1T
John Francis Martin beat Frances Colman +12T

Round 3

Nathaniel Healy lost to Alison Girdlestone +9
Gerard Osborne Burke beat John Bee +10T
Frank Martin lost to Richard Dickson +4T
Alan Looney lost to Brian Shorney +17
Daniel Bennett beat Frances Colman +12T
John Francis Martin lost to Richard Stevens +21

leaving the match finely balanced 8-7 in favour of the CA of Ireland

Day 2

The second day was bright and sunny all day making it a real pleasure to play on the courts at Hamptworth. In the first round of the day a second set of doubles were played with the folowing result

Nathaniel Healy & John Francis Martin beat John Bee & Frances Colman +1T
Gerard Osborne Burke & Daniel Bennett lost to Richard Dickson & Brian Shorney +17T
Frank Martin & Alan Looney lost to Alison Girdlestone & Richard Stevens +1T

The last round of singles were completed either side of lunch.

Nathaniel Healy beat Richard Dickson +14T
Gerard Osborne Burke lost to Alison Girdlestone +22 (Alison won a CA Silver Merit Award)
Frank Martin lost to John Bee +1T
Alan Looney beat Frances Colman +1T
Daniel Bennett beat Richard Stevens +5T
John Francis Martin beat Brian Shorney +6T

making the final score 14-12 to Ireland.

On behalf of the CA Brian Fisk presented the Vera McWeeney Memorial Trophy to Nathaniel Healy, the Irish captain. In his acceptance speech Nathaniel paid tribute to the hard work of the Hamptworth Club in hosting the event, to Richard Stevens for stepping in to organise the fixture, to the CA team for making it such a friendly and enjoyable event, and to Brian Fisk for managing, refereeing, and captaining the CA side.

Next year the fixture moves to Carrickmines in August.