It has not been the two weeks I had entirely expected. Freeing up the house for son to relax with university friends, we decamped to Dorset to stay with relatives for the week.
It seemed a good opportunity to train each day. As it worked out this was optimistic, without giving thought to local routines and rhythm of another household. Probably for the best as I slept longer if not entirely comfortably in a strange bed and started to feel refreshed.
In numbers I managed one run, one mini weights workout with half a breeze block in the garden, and one session on court.
Many thanks as well to the players at East Dorset Tennis Club for accommodating me into their afternoon doubles practice. This was after first discussing that awkward thing about my playing standard over the phone and the fact that it was a members only club.
How do you explain to a total stranger something appropriate, that doesn’t sound too boastful or on the other hand make you sound like a total beginner. We settled on age and rating as the less than perfect way of describing my game. It worked out well. At least with age there are sufficient touch points to make everyone feel comfortable socially. In the end it was three and a half hours on court, spanning the sessions of two different groups. A perfectly pleasant evening rounded off with a swift half in the bar.
There was also time to witness the fascinating social dance clear to the visitor but maybe less so to the regulars. It goes something like this. Two club night doubles games are proceeding on adjacent courts as part of the same session, the idea being at some point, in this case unspoken in advance, but apparently at the end of a set, that everyone will mix in and then play another set. Repeat until tired. A scenario familiar to club players up and down the country.
Equally familiar is that one court will be very comfortable (better standard) with how their match is progressing, but aware of the custom and practice, will halt at the end of their set, to ask across to the other court how the other game is going. The answer comes back …
“4-2, 30 – love, but we’ll be finished in a few minutes”
“We’ll carry on until you have finished then” comes the reply, more statement than question
Well 4-2, 30-love quickly becomes, 6-2 as predicted. Looking across to the other court, the other players have started their next set.
“Well we might as well carry on here then as well” decide the players of the just finished set.
All in all a very satisfactory outcome and on this occasion perfectly reasonable, as the standard on one court was visibly a notch higher than the other.
The County Closed tournament is that traditional end of August event to crown the county champions. A time when by appearance a good proportion of the ‘best’ adult county players go into hibernation. Equally this year there are some returnees making appearances after several years absence. If all these players appeared at once what a week we would have!
Day one. Have arrived early in fact the first player on court for practice, not bad for an oldie, being on court before those super keen juniors. It is also a perfect day for tennis, not too windy and not too sunny. The nets are being checked, the scoreboards positioned and chairs placed by each court. The pre tournament anticipation, before a ball is struck in anger is a moment to savour, before ambitions are put to the test.
Soon enough, dreams meet reality. The weekend brings me results of 1-6, 2-6 and 1-6, 1-6 in the open age category. No doughnuts this year so that’s an improvement. And 6-2, 6-3 and 6-4, 6-1 in the over 60s category. I am announced quietly, as the over 60s county champion, to the few people sitting in the vicinity. With only three players competing there is no real sense of achievement. However I played better as the weekend went on and achieved a good level of consistency on my serve which was pleasing. Over the two days I felt physically fine apart from a slight tiredness, and could have played a third day without a problem. Despite feeling that my physical conditioning work had reduced considerably, this was reassuring for matches ahead.
Life very much as normal on the tennis court, while off it Newquay has become the Covid capital of the country. Strange times indeed!
After a day’s rest we held an over 60s county practice for the forthcoming match versus Avon. It’s life affirming to be on court with others of similar age who still have a fierce desire to compete. The desire to compete cannot override the undeniable fact that we are slowing down, a little slower of foot, a little slower in reaction and that ball to the side well the maturing body no longer quite stretches like it used to.
On conclusion of one particularly uninspiring rally, after around 90 minutes of play, one of our number is of the opinion that ….
“we are playing like old men!”
The minds remaining sharper than the bodies come back in unison with the immediate retort
“we are old men!”
And on that note we did the only sensible thing and retired to the bar, to talk about whatever it is old men talk about. I would tell except I can’t quite remember! Probably just the usual stuff.
A run and stretch follow on the next day. The sore knee is slightly less sore today, though there’s an almost imperceptable feeling in my upper arm, the right wrist is similarly imperceptibly not quite 100% and the sore ribs remain sore. Otherwise described as the usual aches and pains, monitored and kept under review on a daily basis. With a good stretch the vertebrae in my spine click up and down, which I take to be a good sign and everything feels looser. I arrive for tea feeling two inches taller. Great feeling.
The week closes with an unusual occurrence, standing side by side with my better half in a social game of mixed doubles on friday evening. A perfect summer’s evening with all eight outdoor courts full and musical accompaniment for those closest to the clubhouse. The mixing of players and formats perfectly orchestrated on a regular basis. On evenings like this I am reminded that there is much more to be gained and enjoyed from this game of tennis than merely winning.
Tougher challenges ahead. Competition in London next week. Can’t wait.
