Woodfield Grove wins the Millennium Cup for the first time

Points Standings

The Committee was confirmed as follows:

Woodfield Grove Tennis Club won the Millennium Cup on Saturday for the first time in the thirteen year history of the competition, defeating Wigmore Lawn Tennis Club in the final, which was postponed for two weeks as a result of inclement weather.

The creators of the local team competition conceived to provide a friendly, competitive environment between members of the five local clubs of Streatham, south London, Woodfield Grove has never made it to the final before this year.

“To manage to win the Millennium Cup on the club’s first appearance in the final against such illustrious opponents as Wigmore, who have won the competition on three separate occasions, is quite a feat for us,” said Barbara Wancke, Vice Chairman of Woodfield Grove and the founder of the Millennium Cup.

“We now have to figure out how to best display the trophy in the clubhouse!”

The coveted Millennium Cup trophy, which was donated in 2001 by the three inaugural clubs, Telford Park, Wigmore and Woodfield Grove, is a beautiful crystal vase centrepiece measuring 215cm in height and 145mm in diameter set on a wooden base with a silver sleeve.

It has been won five times by Telford Park, and three times by Wigmore, while Grafton and Norbury Park have each won it twice. Now Woodfield Grove ‘s name is to added to the honours list of champion clubs engraved on the sleeve.

The idea behind the competition is to encourage new members into match play under friendly conditions and more experienced players, who already compete in the Surrey league, are discouraged from playing under a Standard of Play criteria devised by the Organising Committee on which representatives from each club serve.

On Saturday, Wigmore took the opening match when Sharleen Hussey defeated Anna Thompson 6-2 6-3 in the Girls under 16s singles match.

Woodfield Grove levelled when Aiden Doyle and Jason Proctor saw off a spirited challenge from Wigmore’s men’s doubles team of Keen Chung and Leigh Singer, 6-3 2-6 6-3.

It took a long three-setter for the ladies doubles pairing of Esme Kyle and Aimee O’Hanlon to overcome Wifmore’s Sharon Gould and Sue Jeffries, 7-6 0-6 7-6, to put Woodfield Grove up 2-1.

An unfortunate Wigmore no-show in the Men’s Over 45s singles gave Mark Epton a walkover and Woodfield Grove a 3-1 lead, which was then converted to a 4-1 lead when Lenka Dohnalova had too much fire power for Nell Lindsell, winning 6-0 6-3.

The Ladies Over 40s singles produced an evenly-balanced contest between Woodfield Grove’s Maggie Hodges and Anne Boucnik from Wigmore until the latter ran out of steam and retired to hand over victory, 7-5 3-6 3-0 retired.

With the outcome of the final already decided in Woodfield Grove’s favour, Jason Proctor produced some excellent tennis to defeat Wigmore’s Peter Lilley, 6-4 6-1, and extend the points scoreline.

Wigmore pulled back a point by winning the mixed doubles, when Alex McAdam Clark and Keem Chung convincingly beat Claire Lean and David Snook 6-3 6-3, but Woodfield Grove’s Ben Thompson took the final point against Dylan Morley in a shortened Boys Under 16 singles match to give the club a resounding 7-2 victory.

The Millennium Cup trophy was presented to Alex Kyle, Captain of Woodfield Grove’s team, by Murray Sutton, Chairman of Grafton Lawn Tennis Club.

“It’s fantastic team effort to win this trophy,” said Alex. “Despite the two conceded matches, the team came through some really tight contests and deserve the win.”

Hosting the final for the first time, Woodfield Grove offered the teams and supporters a fine barbecue and tea throughout the afternoon.

“Congratulations to Woodfield Grove,” said Murray. “It’s really good to see them make the final for the first time and to win it!

“It’s been another closely contested competition this year and one that all the many participants from the five Streatham clubs have thoroughly enjoyed.”

2013 LEAGUE TABLE

Grafton LTC

Norbury Park LTC

Telford Park LTC

Wigmore LTC

Woodfield Grove TC

TOTAL POINTS

Grafton LTC

Norbury Park LTC

Telford Park LTC

Wigmore LTC

Woodfield Grove TC

Voting Members: Chairman: Nigel Flay (Norbury Park LTC), Peter Risdon (Referee), Sharon Goulds (Wigmore LTC), Juliet Griffiths (Telford Park LTC), Kenny Govan (Woodfield Grove TC) and Murray Sutton (Grafton LTC)

Alternates: Alex Kyle (Woodfield Grove TC), Sue Lovejoy (Norbury Park LTC), Alexandra McAdam Clark (Wigmore LTC), Marvyn Torres (Telford Park LTC), Liz Wickham (Grafton LTC) and Barbara Wancke – Admin