Play tennis at the friendly club wherever you live.
Ormskirk Tennis Club draws its members from Ormskirk, Town Green, Aughton, Bickerstaffe, Burscough, Tarleton, Hallsall, Southport, Mawdesley, Croston, Maghull, Lydiate, Rainford, Skelmersdale, Sefton, Crosby, Formby, Parbold, Newburgh, Rufford, Aughton, Tarlscough, Town Green and other surrounding areas of West Lancashire.
There was standing room only at County Road for Finals Day at Ormskirk Tennis Club. In blazing sunshine the first event, the Gents Singles, went on court. This was contested by Phil Thompson and Rod Birchall, and it developed into a gladiatorial contest between fearsomely hit top-spin from Phil and the solidly consistent ground strokes of Rod. Phil's service was on song as he led 4/1 in the first set. Rod clawed back to 4/4 only to go behind again 4/5. Eventually it was all square and a tie-break was necessary, which went to Rod. At 3 all in the second set Rod pulled away to 6/3 to claim the Alice Entwisle Men's Singles Trophy.
The Ladies Singles by contrast was a somewhat lack-lustre affair. The finalists were Jackie Birchall and Fiona Sunners. In the hot dry conditions Fiona's powerful ground strokes and usually dominating service deserted her. Frustration set in as she found no answer to the wonderfully consistent, solid game that Jackie produced, a percentage game of very few errors, good tactical awareness, and an infinite capacity to return the ball to make her opponent hit one more shot until an error resulted. Jackie retained her title 6/0,6/0 and received the Alice Entwisle Ladies Singles Cup.
The club's oldest competition is the Rydal Shield which is a drawn handicapped Mixed Doubles event. Reaching the final this year were the Club Secretary, Phil McConnell, partnered by Val Jones, and the Club Captain, Janet Crompton, with one of the club's brightest young prospects, Mark Winrow. As it happened both pairs were on identical handicaps so the match started level. The first set went to Janet and Mark 6/3. Phil and Val responded well taking the next three games, but Janet and Mark staged a comeback and there was nothing to divide the pairs until 6 all. No tie break was played but Janet and Mark held their nerve to win 8/6 and take the Shield.
The spectators were then rewarded with a match of the highest quality. This was the Ormskirk Advertiser Trophy for Open Mixed Doubles. Phil Thompson again figured playing with his regular 1st Team 1st Couple partner Jenny Watling. Their opponents were the 1st Team's second pair, Rob Staziker and Judith Temple. There were some wonderful rallies, each point hotly contested, the first set going to Phil and Jenny. Rob and Judith set about the second set with renewed vigour and were justly rewarded 6/4. The final set was worthy of a greater stage with some fine ground strokes from the ladies and powerful overhead smashes from the gents. At 4 all a nervy game from the server gave Phil the chance to serve out for the match, an opportunity he did not waste; so he and Jenny took possession of the Advertiser Trophy.
One of the ladies in contention to reach the Ladies Doubles Final was forced to pull out and it was agreed that the waiting semi-finalists should go through to play. This pairing was Fiona Sunners and Shirley Iliff, set to play Jenny Watling and her sister Sarah Lawton. It was a splendidly hard-fought match, Fiona having recovered her form and putting away smashes which came her way. Shirley covered the ground to mop up at the back but Sarah's good net work and Jenny's solid ground strokes gave them the first set by a narrow 6/4. The second set followed the same pattern, going all the way to a tie-break in which Jenny and Sarah just had the edge to win and take the title 7/6.
It was not possible to play the Gents Doubles Final at this time, and it is to be re-arranged for a later date.