Dumfries Tennis Club played host to the 1st Dumfries Mini Tennis Open on Friday 2nd June. With all kids in the region on holiday and the weather again being extremely sunny, there were 31 kids playing in 3 events, Red ball (8s and under), Orange ball (9s and under) and Green ball (10s and under). There were 5 kids from Cumbria, 1 from London, 3 from Lochmaben Tennis Club, 4 from Annan Seaforth, 1 from Langholm, 6 from Beechgrove Tennis Club Moffat and 11 from the host club Dumfries. In the red ball event the final was won by Oliver McKnight (Moffat) who edged past Blake Edwards from London 10-6 in an excellent final, in the consolation final James Wilson (Moffat) won 10-7 against Jack Patterson (Lochmaben). In a high standard Orange event Annan’s Daniel McKenna took the title as he controlled the final from start to finish by beating Cumbria’s Oscar Pickering 10-3. In the consolation final Eve Crombie (Dumfries) edged past Langholm’s Ethan Dunmore 10-4. In the green ball event Cumbrian Archie Agnew outclassed the whole field by winning all his 4 matches without dropping a game. Fergus Reynolds-Lewis (Dumfries) came second followed by Rose Brown (Moffat), Flynn Dalgliesh (Annan) and Will Ferguson (Dumfries).

Dumfries Mini Tennis Open results

On a glorious sunny weekend for tennis, Dumfries Tennis Club hosted the D&G Senior Confined Championship. This year saw 14 players enter the singles and 7 pairs in the Doubles, all hoping to take home the trophies.

Colin Dunbar

Lister & Dan McKiddie

The early rounds in the singles on Saturday went as ratings suggested as the four seeds made it through to the semi finals. In the first semi final defending champion and former Dumfries Tennis club coach Colin Dunbar edge a long encounter with current Dumfries Tennis club coach Richie Cunningham. Although records will show a 6-2, 6-2 loss for Richie, the match was closer than this but Colin’s experience, patience and court coverage was enough to hold Richie off. In the second semi final Dan McKiddie took on the current South of Scotland over 45 singles champion Paul Boardman. Again, in another tight match Paul using all his experience to keep in touch with Dan’s raw aggressive power and powerful top spin shots but in the end Dan proved to powerful as he came out on top by taking the match 6-4, 6-3. The Sunday final on paper looked tight and so it proved. Dan raced out the block to take the first set 6-4 and got an early break in the second before Colin started to find his range as he levelled the match by taking the second set 6-3. The championship tie-break started with Dan starting well but Colin’s experience started to pay dividends as he started to win the big points before eventually winning the match by taking the tie-break 10-6 to get his hands on the title once again. In the consolation final Ruairidh McRoberts edged a long tense match against Steven McCracken as both players struggled to contend with the windy condition before Ruairidh took the match 6-1, 6-3.

Again the sun was shining as the doubles got under way on Sunday with an early shock as Martin Wilson and Kyle Singh fought back after losing the first set 6-1 to singles champion Colin Dunbar and his consolation winning partner Ruairidh McRoberts to level the match by taking the 2nd set 6-4 and went on to edge the championship tie-break 10-5 to book a place in the semi final. In the first semi experienced Dalbeattie duo pushed the 2014 father and son pair of Lister and Dan McKiddie all the way after losing the first set 6-2 before taking the second on a match tie-break before running out of steam as Lister and Dan completed the win by taking the championship tie-break 10-4. In the second semi Martin and Kyle couldn’t repeat their success as 2013 champions and former Dalbeattie Stalwarts Fraser Paterson and Brain Litster powered past them 6-1, 6-2. This left a final with Dan McKiddie and Brain Litster both chasing their third win having both won the event previously with different partners and Brian was the defending champion having won last year with Richie Cunningham.

In the final Dan and Lister took an early advantage as they took the first set 6-2. In the second set it was more nip n tuc as it went all the way to 5-5 before Dan and Lister took the final 2 games to secure the title. In the consolation doubles final Chris Topping and Michael Goldie held of a comeback from the singles champions Colin and Ruairidh as the took the match 6-3, 4-6 and 10-8.

D&G Senior Championship results

Dumfries Men’s Tennis Team (Lister McKiddie, Richie Cunningham, Les Harkness, Chris Topping, Graeme Cross and Lewis Gilmour) have been competing in the second round of the National Scottish Cup.  They played Hamilton which is a very strong West of Scotland team.  On the day Hamilton proved too strong winning 6-0, with the Hamilton first couple proving to be a different class.  The other matches were close and the Dumfries team as a whole battled hard to the end and pushed the Hamilton second and third couples with some close sets.  The Dumfries team will now focus on the Dumfries and Galloway League with the benefit of this experience.  They are aiming to win the League for the 7^th year in a row. 

The Club would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in playing tennis and welcomes players of all ages and abilities.  Coaching is available from qualified coaches.  For more information go onto the website – www.dumfriessportsclub.co.uk or email – tennis@dumfriessportsclub.co.uk

Scottish Cup Results, article and draws

This week saw Dumfries B lose their unbeaten start to the season as they lost their home match 0-4 to defending champions Dumfries A. On the other courts at Nunholm Dumfries C were also being taught a lesson by an experienced Dalbeattie side. After an even start Dalbeatties experienced foursome started to win the small battles on court to eventually take the match 0-4.

In the ladies league Stewartry CSC kept the unbeaten run going as they secured a home 3-1 win against near rivals Dalbeattie. In Moffat, Beechgrove welcomed Dumfries ladies, who were keen to avoid the trickiness of the Beechgrove Blaes and they managed to do this as they secured a 1-3 victory.

This leaves Stewartry CSC top of the ladies league with Dalbeattie in second, in the men’s leagues Dumfries A and Dalbeattie share top spot.

In the D&G Junior leagues, both Beechgrove and Annan Seaforth 10s and under boys secured away victories at Dumfries. Seaforth edge a close match by beating Dumfries 1-2 whilst defending champions Beechgrove earned a 0-3 victory over Dumfries B.

D&G Doubles League Fixtures and Results

D&G Junior Leagues Fixtures and Results

This week saw 4 of the 5 scheduled matches completed. In the ladies league only one match took place as Dalbeattie travelled through to Kirkcudbright and edge a tight match. Dalbeattie took the first 2 rubbers with Kirkcudbright winning the third on a championship tie-break before Dalbeattie sealed the match with the forth rubber (1-3). In the gents league Dumfries A entertain Kirkcudbright and after the opening match rubber, which took over 2 hours, Dumfries completed a 4-0 win to preserve their unbeaten start in the league. Elsewhere Dumfries B and Stewartry CSC fought out a 2-2 draw and Dalbeattie edge out Beechgrove 3-1. This leaves Dumfries A, Dalbeattie and Dumfries B all undefeated in the gents league with all three on 5 points. In the ladies league Dalbeattie sit top on 4 points with Stewartry CSC second with 3.

Dumfries Tennis Club is running its first mini tennis open on the 2nd June. Entries are open to all for Red ball, Orange ball and Green ball players.

Players can enter online using the link below or by completing the entry form. The closing date for entries is the 30th May.

Dumfries Mini Tennis Open 2017

Dumfries Mini Tennis Open June 2017

Entries are now being taken for the D&G Senior Confined Championship 2017. The year you can enter via the online system and pay on the day or just drop an entry form to the organiser.

The gents single event has been dominated by Colin Dunbar for the previous 7 years unlike the gents doubles which has had several different winners over the last 6 year.

Unfortunately there hasn’t been a ladies event since 2010 so hopefully this year.

D & G Senior Confined Online Entry

D & G County Confined Tournament entry form 2017

D & G County Confined Tournament Poster 2017

Week 2 saw the welcome return of the ladies league with newcomers Kirkcudbright entertaining the well travelled Beechgrove Ladies from Moffat and Dumfries hosting current champions Stewartry CSC. All eyes were on Kirkcudbright to see how the ladies faired in the first ever match in the D&G leagues. They would have know it took their male counter parts 22 matches before securing their first points, however not for the ladies. One match in, one win. A good start at home saw them win their first match 4-0 against Beechgrove to ease their nerves for the rest of the season. Elsewhere Dumfries ladies secure a point against Stewartry CSC with the match finishing 2-2.

In the men’s leagues Dumfries B edge a close one against neighbours Dumfries C and they won two vital match tie-breaks to win the match 3-1 and secure top spot for the second week. The current champions Dumfries A got back to winning ways with a 4-0 away win at Castle Douglas against Stewartry CSC and Dalbeattie gents kept the undefeated start to the season with a 4-0 home win against Kirkcudbright.

D&G Results and Fixtures

Over the next few weeks there are 2 junior competitions taking place in D&G.

First up on the 1st May bank holiday is the “last year on Blaes” event at Moffat, this is open to 12s & under, 14s & under and 16s & under both boys and girls events. It is £6 to enter with all proceeds going towards the court fund. Further details can be found in the link Junior BBB Poster[7828]

To enter please contact Katharine using the details on the poster or enter online by using this link Last year on Blaes entry , we would all like to see a good turn-out to support the club and see out the old blaes courts…

Then Dumfries is hosting the Dumfries Mini Tennis Open which is scheduled for the 2nd  June on the Teacher inset day. This is for a red mixed event, plus boys and girls events for the 9s and 10s events if numbers allow.  You enter using this entry form Dumfries Mini Tennis Open June 2017 or online using this link. Dumfries Mini Tennis Open entry

Lets play tennis…….

Does anyone remember what they were doing on 22nd May 2013? Why is this date relevant I hear to ask! this was the last time Dumfries A men’s team lost any points in the D&G Men’s league, until last night.

On a great night for the opening men’s matches of the season, Dumfries A entertained an experienced Dalbeattie team who rolled out the experience duo of Dan Donley and Paul Burley who were joined on court by returning pair of Paul Boardman and Stephen White. On paper the bookies didn’t give Dalbeattie any hope but we all know that tennis is not played on paper. The first result in, saw Chris Topping and Graeme Cross coast home with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Paul Burley and Dan Donley but shortly after that Stevie and Paul Boardman levelled the match by beating Lister McKiddie and Richie Cunningham 7-6, 7-5. Lister and Chris restored the lead with a narrow victory in their match against the 2 Paul’s, taking it 5-7, 6-4, 10-4. This left Richie and Graeme against Stevie and Dan to battle it out under the floodlights at Dumfries. With the clock showing 9.30pm and the match finally balanced  with Dalbeattie taking the first set 2-6 before Dumfries A levelled by taking the second set 7-6, then it was down to the champ tie-break and it went to the wire before Dalbeattie edge the rubber to complete the overall draw as they took the tie-break 10-8. Welcome back boys..

Elsewhere Dumfries B overcame Beechgrove 4-0, whilst Kirkcudbright took the first rubber off Dumfries C before Dumfries came back to secure the win 3-1.

Next week (26th) sees the return of the ladies as newcomers, Kirkcudbright playing host to Beechgrove ladies with Dumfries entertaining the current championship Stewartry CSC. In the gents league last years runners-up Stewartry CSC taking on the defending champions Dumfries A at Castle Douglas, Dumfries C play host to neighbours Dumfries B and Kirkcudbright travel through to Dalbeattie.

D&G Summer Doubles League 2017 – Results & Fixtures