Ryan Stockham of Coventry’s Phoenix club was crowned Leamington Men’s Singles Champion on Saturday when the Finals of the Leamington Closed were staged at Kenilworth Wardens cricket club. In the semi-final he defeated Rugby’s Jesse Kendrick-Hill in 4 and then collared St Georges’ Mark Jackson also in 4.
In what was to prove a marvellous night for him Stockham also partnered Alan Hewitt, St Georges, to the Men’s doubles against the young Free Church duo of Timmy Cooper and Lee Dorning and paired with Colebridge’s Kate Hughes to take the Mixed Doubles over Tracey Fletcher, St Georges, and Deepak Chandrababu, FreeChurch. A 4th title was added in the Grade 1 Singles when he again overcame Kendrick-Hill in 4.
Kate Hughes was a double Champion as she retained her Ladies Singles title with a straight sets victory over Tracey Fletcher.
Reigning Youths Singles’ Champion, Rugby’s Ryan Lines, proved too strong for his younger Free Church opponent, Sam Weaving though Weaving unexpectedly won the first set.
Kendrick-Hill put aside three reversals on the night to take the Junior Boys’ crown against the highly thought of Sam Henderson from Colebridge. The Birmingham club did take the Junior Girls’ title in the shape of Lisa Rinnhofer who beat Free Church’s Olivia Fletcher, a feat she repeated in the Cadet Girls’ Singles. The Cadet Boys’ Final was an all Free Church affair with England number 21, Timmy Cooper, triumphing against Adam Cofler. Cooper also took the Junior Boys’ Doubles with Lee Dorning, seeing off Henderson and Kendrick-Hill despite losing the first set.
Ciara Hancox, FC, won the U13 Girls’ Singles in another 4 setter against Sophie Rinnhofer, Colebridge, but Rinnhofer junior did bag a title in the U11 Girls against Milly Green, FC, reversing last year’s result.
Simon Griew, WCC, beat Men’s Finalist Jackson to retain his Veterans’ title. Phil Paine of WCC won the over 50s Final against club mate Nilton Green and then grabbed the over 60s crown when beating Snitterfield’s Tim Fell.
The Eathorpe club won the handicap for the second successive year, this time in the shape of Callum Pickering who beat Emily Beasley, FC, 41-33.
More silverware for the Rinnhofers came in the Parent/Child doubles, Mike and Lisa getting the better of Nilton and Jack Green in 5 sets.
There was an upset in the grade 2 Singles Final when Cofler beat his club colleague Sam Wiggins 13-11 in the 5th. Cofler also took the grade 3 Singles, beating another club mate, the rapidly improving James Robertson in 4.Rugby’s Milly Bradshaw is the new Grade 4 Champion, defeating Tom Fletcher, FC and Robbie Fitchford, FC took the grade 5 singles, coming back from a set down to win in 4.
A huge word of thanks must go to Richard Grover who astonishingly umpired every Final.
