NORTH AMERICAN RACQUETS ASSOCIATION

BOSTON	CHICAGO	DETROIT	MONTREAL	NEW YORK	PHILADELPHIA	TUXEDO

Tonbridge School needs support from friends in North America

The Tonbridge School in the UK is organizing an effort, via a capital campaign, to build a second rackets court at the school. The organizers are looking for gifts/donations of ANY size and all donors will have their name on the wall to memorialize their generosity. A few key points:

--All gifts will be tax-deductible per IRS. But check with your tax advisor just the same

--Gifts can be staged in over four years

--Groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for mid summer

For more information please contact Rupert Owen-Browne at 011-44-7917-357-620 or at Rupertob@hotmail.com

Alex Titchener-Barrett bests James Stout in 2010 British Open

                  -World Champion Stout suffers painful cramping in 6^th game

                    -New Yorker came within 2 points of successful title defense

               -Game scores: 9-15, 15-10,12-15,15-12,4-15,15-13,15-7

                Down 11-3in the third game, World Champion James Stout won that third game to take a 2 games to one lead in the best of seven on January 31^st at the Queen's Club. Not to be outdone, AT-B took the fourth game from a 9-3 deficit to put the match at all square at 2 all. Alex was playing in a very controlled fashion and also served very well. At this point Stout appeared slightly frustrated at the lack of court space offered by his opponent.

              Stout dominated the 5^th game and quickly crushed ATB 15-4 in the fifth and then jumped to a 7-1 lead in the 6^th game. His level for that game and a half was untouchable. However he was struck by cramping (this affliction cost him a possible US Open Championship in 2009, as he was forced to retire in that finals against ATB).

              Miraculously, James was able to take a lead in game 6 at 13-11, only two points away from Championship hardware. Stout's movement was extremely limited but he varied his serve well. At 13-11 there was an unbelievable rally that provoked applause (and more!),  from even the calmest of spectators. The World Champion made 3 or four seemingly impossible retrieves and the point ended with ATB getting a dubious let as James crumpled to the floor in extreme agony.

              After a lengthy delay, Alex regained serve and won the game in his next hand 15-13 (no set). The 3 hour + match now entered the final and deciding game tied at 3 all.

              Jamie somehow kept the 7^th game close up until 8-7 down. Spectators were particularly impressed as Stouty was effectively playing on one leg. Alex pulled to a 11-7 lead before appearing to cramp himself and this led to another delay. Upon reemerging on court Alex took the game 15-7, reeling off at least 7 straight points.

              Alex, with 2 significant victories over James (2009 US open and 2010 British Open) will be gunning for US Open gold even more now as rumors of a World Championship Challenge swept through the gallery at Queen's. The next possible showdown may happen March 7^th in court number one in Chicago, the finals of the US Open. Stay tuned. (photos courtesy of Tim Edwards)

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NYR&T pro James Stout rolls to second straight British Open victory

         -Overcomes 1st game drubbing by former World Champion Harry Foster

                  -Aims for 2nd consecutive US Open in Detroit next month


Despite an opening game thrashing by former World Singles Champion Harry Foster (QC, 2nd seed) 15-4, top seeded James Stout (NYR&T, 1st seed) rebounded with 4 straight wins in games 2,3,4,and 5 to capture the 2009 Lacoste British Open singles title. The Queen’s Club gallery saw Stout demolish the highly talented and much regarded Foster in those games 15-5,15-0,15-9 and 15-5. Total points in the match favored the New Yorker 64-34 in 63 minutes.

In the first game, and down 4-3, Foster got in gear and scored 12 unanswered points to grab that first game win. He then sprinted out to a 3-0 lead in game two and seemed invincible and looked well on his way to a 2-0 lead in games. Alas, James himself then rattled off 13 straight for a 13-3 lead, eventually winning 15-5. Momentum shift now underway. In game three, Stout threw the bagel at Foster and demoralized the lanky right-hander 15-0. Games four and five were fairly uneventful and the outcome was now sealed. “Here’s your hat…..”

In the post-mortem to the rackets gallery, John Prenn, noted as he addressed James, “you made it look so easy, it seemed like you had so much time to hit your shots.” Indeed, James tracked down many seemingly impossible-to-retrieve shots by Harry that frustrated the former World Champ. At one point, Foster yelled out “come here!”, while still in mid-point and only inches from trying to return a shot, albeit unsuccessfully, an apparent futile attempt to coax the ball onto his racket strings.

In earning a finals berth, Foster avenged last year’s semi-final British Open loss to Al Titchener-Barrett (3rd seed) by beating fellow Harrovian 4-1 while Stout crushed fellow pro (and current World Doubles Champion and 4th seed) Mark Hubbard (Radley) 4-0. According to form, the top four seeds made the penultimate stage of the 10 day tourney.

Some mild upsets occurred in the round of 16 as unseeded players Will Hopton, James Coyne and Charlie Danby ousted Ali Robinson (5th seed), James Beaumont (6th seed) and Tim Cockcroft (7th seed), respectively. There was a very healthy draw of 41 entered in the highly-prized contest.

Marking the semi-finals was Howard Angus while Andrew Lyons provided the duties at the final. James Beaumont provided little-needed policing as referee for all three matches.
 

Submitted on 2/2/09 by: Jeffery Durkes

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-----Photos courtesy of Plough Studios & Tim Edwards.

 

 

The British Open Singles Championship
 

Queen's Club Feb 3 2008
 

Marker- Andrew Lyons
Referee- James Beaumont


The future ain't what it used to be--Yogi Berra, famous baseball player


Judge: "Bailiff, please call in the jury"

Bailiff: "Yes your Honor."

Eight jurors enter the courtroom.

Judge: "Mr. Foreman, have you reached a verdict?"

Jury Foreman: "Yes Your Honor, we have."

Judge: "Will the Defendants Alex Titchener-Barrett and James Stout please rise for the jury verdict?"

Defendants rise.

Jury Foreman: " We the jury, in the above entitled action of Titchener-Barrett and Stout versus all opponents guilty of possessing devastatingly great rackets ability and also displaying extraordinary sportsmanship to the highest degree."

Judge: "So say you one, so say you all?"

Jury collectively: "We do"

Judge: " Mr. Foreman, thank you. The jury will now be excused"

Judge: Now I would like to address you two, Messrs Stout and Titchener-Barrett. Mr. Titchener-Barrett, how dare you? What were you thinking when you beat the current World Champion, Harry Foster? I should hold you in contempt !

Titchener-Barrett: "Your Honor, I must have had a good day."

Judge: And for you Mr. Stout and by the way, thank you for having a monosyllabic surname. Sure makes it easier when writing these reports for NARA. You are responsible for creating carnage and wreaking havoc. You won 15 out of 17 games, held opponents to single digit totals in 8 of those 17 games. This is supposed to be the height of rackets competition man! What do you have to say for yourself?

Stout: " Judge, 90% of the game is half mental."

Judge: I am upholding the verdict rendered by the jury and sentencing you two to elevating the game to even higher standards going forward. You will bring new energy and excitement. Godspeed. You are released to your nearest rackets court."


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    Indeed the rackets gallery at Queen's Club was treated to a fabulous late morning/early afternoon of championship rackets.  James Stout overcame a first game loss to capture this highly coveted crown by game scores of 11-15; 15-4;15-6;15-6;18-13 over Alex. Alex was up 13-10 in the 5th game but at 13 all called for set 5. James went straight through winning all overtime points 5-0. The match displayed  the highest level of sportsmanship and integrity as both players called perhaps 6-7 balls down on themselves. The marking and refereeing were superbly handled which helped to minimize any disputes.

    To gain finals status, Alex brought the necessary "A" game to defeat current World Champion, Harry Foster, 4-3 (game scores were 15-1,10-15,13-18,15-11,15-7,6-15,15-7. James had little trouble dispatching Mark Hubbard 4-0 (game scores were 15-14,15-8,15-3,15-8) for the other semifinal victory.

    Summarizing the match at the on-court awards ceremony, former World Champion John Prenn remarked about James' play that he "conducted an almost faultless performance. He made probably the fewest unforced errors I've ever seen." And as for Alex's performance, John congratulated AT-B for a huge semifinal win over Foster, the current World Champion and praised Alex for his outstanding play this day and all the way up to the finals.

You can observe a lot just by watching--Yogi Berra
 

Submitted on 2/4/08 by: Jeffery Durkes