REAL TENNIS
NEWS......NEWS......NEWS
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presents an award to Academy Junior
Max Warner, a member of our Academy Intermediate Squad, has received the 2024 award for “Best Junior Performance of the Year”. He was presented with a top-of-the-range Grays racket by HRH Duke of Edinburgh at Queens Club after the recent British Open Doubles final.
Max, who started playing at 5 years old, is thriving in the Academy Intermediate Squad and is now a 25-handicap player at the age of just 13! During 2024 he won the British U16 & U18 Singles titles and then went on to win the World U19 Title in Bordeaux.
Well done Max and well done the Academy!
Academy Boys Win the Henry Leaf Cup
The Henry Leaf Cup is a Real Tennis tournament where two players represent their old school or college as a team.
The 2024 event took place at Queens last weekend and among teams from all the top private schools in the country was a team representing Havant College. The Havant boys were Academy Performance Squad members, Will Flynn & James Medlow.
Will & James reached the final where they came up against last year's winners Rory & Jamie Giddins playing for Eton. In an incredibly close and exciting final Will & James won 6/5 in the 3rd set.
Photo: Left to Right, Will Flynn, James Medlow, Jamie& Rory Giddins
.jpg)
The next generation of Academy players excel at the British and World Junior Championships
Two members of our newly formed Academy Intermediate Squad Max Warner and Laszlo Garson dominated the recent batch of junior championships. Despite being just 13 (Max) and 14 years old (Laszlo) the 2 of them reached the finals of the U16 & U18 British Open at Queens and the U19 World Championships in Bordeaux. Players of this age have never before reached the finals of any of these prestigious events and they truly are the new kids on the block!
On this occasion, Max came out on top in all 3 tournaments but all of the finals were extremely close. Their friendly rivalry will I’m sure drive them on to new heights and it won’t be long until they are bothering the illustrious 19-year-old Academy players in the elite Performance Squad.
Left: Max receiving the U18's British Junior Championship Trophy from Ronald Paterson, Chair of the T&RA.
Above: Max with the U18 & the U16 trophies.
Above: Presentation at the end of the Junior World Championships, sponsored by The Dedanists Society.
Right: Max Warner, Junior World Champion & Laszlo Garson, Runner-Up.
The New Season gets off to a Flying Start for the Academy!
The 2024/25 season started with more of the same as Academy player James Medlow won the Category “B” tournament held at the Hyde on the 8/11th September.
James defeated Jonny Whitaker (Queens) in the final 6-1 6-2.
Well done James!
British Junior Championships 2024
Many of the members of our British Junior Academy will be taking part in the Junior Real Tennis Championships being held at Queens this coming weekend. The draw for this event can be seen on the following link:-
You are more than welcome to come along and enjoy watching the future of Real Tennis!
Paul Weaver
***NEW FIXTURE LIST IS AVAILABLE!
Please go to 'Fixtures & Match Reports' tab to see 2024/25 Fixtures***
The Dedanists Pro-Am 2024
We held the 18th annual Dedanists Handicap Doubles Pro Am on 3rd July 2024 at Queen’s. It was a great success and raised funds to be shared by the Dedanists’ Society and the Dedanists’ Foundation. The Society runs the British Real Tennis Academy for the best young players in the country. The Foundation funds clubs to recruit new young players and schools into the gameSixteen amateur players, mainly Dedanists, paid £550 each to play and donate. With handicaps ranging from 24 to 65, they were representative of the amateur game as a whole. They each played three round robin matches against amateurs of similar handicap for a place in the semi-finals - and played with four or more different professionals in the process.
We are especially grateful to the pros for playing in this tournament. Their very presence persuades amateurs to enter and donate. They moderate their play to bring out the best in amateur partners and opponents. They entertain us with the quality of their play and banter. They encourage us with gems of good advice. It’s great fun to be on court with them.
The players were as follow:
Professionals Amateurs
Fahey, Rob Richard Compton-Burnett, Graham Marks
Gale, Levi Simon Cripps, Simon Martin
Jones, Dan Guy Egerton-Smith, Francis Moore
Lyons, Andrew Iajn Harvey, Richard Moore
Taylor-Matthews, Ben Ian Hawkey, Richard Prosser
Williams, Lewis Stewart Licudi, Luke Readman,
Academy Players & Alumni
James Medlow * Michael Llewelyn-Jones, John Saunders
Robert Shenkman * Andrew Lowenthal, Willie Wilks
Markers: Howard Angus & Neil Mackenzie
* James Medlow and Robert Shenkman are Academy amateurs. They played as ‘acting professionals’ on the day to demonstrate to donors the quality of the Academy coaching programme and its players.
Stewart Licudi, Luke Readman, Graeme Marks and Richard Prosser won through to the semi-finals. Richard Prosser beat Stewart Licudi in the final. Howard Angus reported that the standard of tennis in this year’s tournament was as high as ever. At dinner, Josh highlighted the special achievements during this season of the British Academy. David Mills, chairman of the Dedanists’ Foundation, spoke of the achievements of the Foundation, presented the trophy and awarded consolation prizes.
Thank you to Josh, Carl, Tony and David for organising such a splendid day.
Finalists
.jpg)
Semi-Finalists (2)
Semi-Finalists (1)
A good day was had by all!
Dedanists Real Tennis Charity Pro-Am
Winners
2004 Simon Talbot-Williams
2005 Josh Farrall
2006 David Mills
2007 Richard East
2008 Guy Egerton-Smith
2009 Ronald Paterson
2010 Julian Wilkinson
2011 Gordon Woodman
2012 Richard Moore
2013 James Wilson
2014 Nick Browne
2015 Colin Butler
2016 James McDermott
2017 David Phillips
2018 Frederika Adam
2019 Francis Moore
2020-1 Cancelled for Covid
2022 Stewart Licudi
2023 Michael Llewelyn-Jones
2024 Richard Prosser
The Dedanists’ Society
Annual Tournament, Dinner & Awards
8th May 2024 at Queen’s
The Dedanists’ Society held its annual tennis tournament and awards dinner at the Queen’s Club on Wednesday 8 May 2024.
The event consisted of:
- Handicap doubles tournament (Lowenthal Trophy).
- Members’ forum (over pre-dinner drinks).
- Dinner
- Award of the Josh Farrall Trophy for junior real tennis.
TOURNAMENT - The Lowenthal Trophy
The real tennis tournament for the Lowenthal Trophy is a handicap doubles competition for 16 pairs with individual handicaps in the range 30 to 72. Doubles pairs play three round-robin league matches of 25 minutes each to qualify for knockout semi finals and the final. Scheduling was tight. The players were punctual. Game-to-game sliding handicaps kept the tennis competitive, moderated the impact of bandit handicaps, helped those who were losing to recover and stopped early leaders from becoming complacent. The finalists were from across the handicap range.
Note: The trophy is named after Laurie Lowenthal, a founder member of the Dedanists’& its first treasurer.
Tournament Results & Prizes
The Final
Candida Nicholls & Sebastian Wood beat Steven Bishop & Jonny Saunders. 4 - 3
Candida and Seb played consistently well throughout the day.
The finalists were presented with engraved tankards at the dinner.
Semi Finalists / League Winners
Steven Bishop & Jonny Saunders beat Graeme Marks & Graham Findlay 4 - 3
Candida Nicholls & Seb Wood beat Richard Prosser & Ian Harris 4 – 3
MEMBERS’ FORUM - with Lea Van Der Zwalmen
Over pre-dinner drinks, our Chair, Simon Roundell gave members an opportunity to ask questions and introduced Lea Van Der Zwalmen to give members a player’s personal view of the Academy and its value. Lea is the ladies world rackets champion, the ladies world real tennis # 2 and the general manager of the Bordeaux Real Tennis club. She has been in our real tennis Academy programme for the last six years as so, as she has striven to become world champion at both real tennis and rackets. Lea explained how valuable to her was the range and quality of Academy support from technical coaching through physical training and sports psychology to match tactics and help with costs. Lea thanked the Dedanists’ members for providing the funding to make this all possible. She also gave us a quick update on the status of saving the Paris court, converting the Pau court back to real tennis and rebuilding the Chinon court.
THE DINNER
Forty Dedanists’ and guests attended the dinner. Simon Roundell was in the chair. Josh Farrall presented his eponymous trophy. Carl Snitcher moderated. Tony Friend monitored.
THE JOSH FARRALL TROPHY - for junior real tennis
Background
The Josh Farrall Trophy (JFT) is a new award created by the Dedanists’ Society to recognise one person each year who has delivered exceptional service in any capacity to junior real tennis. The trophy is named after Josh in recognition of his own contribution to the game in general, The Dedanist s’ Society, and the junior game in particular. Josh founded the Dedanists’ Society in 2002 and was executive chairman for its first twenty one years. He also founded with others the British Real Tennis Academy in 2005 and the Dedanists’ Foundation in 2011. The JFT is a de facto national award. You don’t have to be a Dedanist to win it. It’s the only real tennis award that recognises those who support and run the junior game as opposed to those who play it. It’s therefore especially appropriate that this should be a Dedanist award. The winner of the award is selected on the basis of Josh’s recommendation as endorsed by the main committee of the Society.
Winner
The 2024 inaugural winner of the Josh Farrall Trophy for junior real tennis is Graham Tomkinson. Graham and Josh launched the British Real Tennis Academy in 2005 and, for the last 19 years, Graham has been a leading light in running it. The Academy has been a tremendous success. Today, 60% of the world top 10 and top twenty players are either current Academy players or alumni. Current Academy players dominate world and UK junior championships. The position is the same in the ladies game.
Graham’s contribution has been unique. He designed the curriculum and timetable for the first Academy coaching weekends - and recruited many of the coaches. He included from the start many of the innovations that are now standard practice including physical training and nutrition, sports psychology, matchplay tactics, strategy and the winning mindset. He included from the start a special relationship with the Sports Science Dept of Brunel University, with heads of department helping to design the Academy training programme, with postgraduates helping to deliver it and Brunel giving us contact with Olympic champions to lead sessions on how to train and win. Graham continues to play a leading role in running the Academy, designing coaching programmes, selecting players and mentoring them. The recent explosion in awards and championships won by Academy players is substantially a result of Graham’s work over the years. Right from the start, thanks to Graham, the Academy has been a class act able to attract and retain the best players and the best coaches.
Graham Tomkinson receiving the Josh Farrall Trophy - for Junior Real Tennis
THANK YOU
To Queen’s for allowing us to use both courts as well as the splendid hospitality and wonderful staff.
To the markers, Ged Parsons and Neil Mackenzie, who kept to schedule, applied the sliding handicap with rigour and did a splendid job.
To our 32 members who played in the tournament and the 40 including guests who attended the dinner.
To Freddy Adam for the photographs which give such a good feel for what happened on the day.
To Simon for chairing the evening with such a light and effective touch.
To Lea Van Der Zwalmen for speaking so eloquently about the Academy.
To Carl, Josh and Tony for organising the day.
Winners of the Lowenthal Trophy - Sebastian Wood & Candida Nicholls with their engraved tankards & Champagne
Lea Van Der Zwalmen talking at the Members' Forum
The Dedanists, Summer Edition No. 8 Newsletter is out!....
go to 'Newsletters' to read
Academy Players Triumph in the Pol Roger Final
Three members of the Academy Performance Squad represented Seacourt in the final of the 2024 Poll Roger tournament held at the Royal Tennis Court on Saturday 2nd of March. Max Trueman, Will Flynn, and James Medlow all won their singles matches to give Seacourt a 3/2 win over Queens Club.
These young players are only 18 to 21 years old and their performance owes a great deal to the coaching and support supplied by the Dedanists Society and the British Academy.
For more details on the work done by the British Academy, please click on the “British Academy” tab in the header.
The Carl Snitcher Trophy
A group of Carls Friends across the Real Tennis Community banded together to donate a trophy in Carls name to be awarded to the winning team at the annual Dedanists' v MCC fixture at Lord's. The MCC and Dedanists' are very important to Carl. Chris Swallow, Assistant Head Professional at Lord's presented the Trophy to Carl in front of a mixed assembly of Dedanists' and MCC members.
As you will all know Carl has contributed so much to our fantastic game, being central to the formation of the Dedanists' Society, Foundation and the Real Champions Club. He has done all of the work for our sport without asking anything back.
Carl started playing Real Tennis in the early 1990's on the Green Court in Cambridge, his first lesson was with Brian Church, Carls's lowest handicap was 40.6 and his playing greatest triumph was winning the David Cull Trophy with Mark Ryan and as a result his name will be on the Lords honors board in perpetuity.
Academy Boys Triumph at the Amateur Championships
Held at the Queens Club
James Medlow and Max Trueman have become the youngest ever winners of the prestigious British Amateur Doubles Championships in its 100-year history. James and Max defeated the No. 1 seeds Rob Shenkman & Jamie Giddins in the semi-finals in a historic 4 hour match which they finally won 6/5 in the 5th set!
The real winner last weekend was the Academy with Performance Squad member Will Flynn also reaching the final playing with Queens member Rory Giddins. In his victory speech, James Medlow took time to thank the Dedanists Society and the Academy for all the help we have given them.
British Amateur Doubles Champions!
Academy Players Triumph at the Seacourt Silver Racquet.
Academy Performance Squad members, Will Flynn and Max Trueman both had brilliant runs at the Seacourt Silver Racquet tournament, which culminated in an all-academy final between the two of them. En route, the boys defeated many professional players despite having to play off artificially, low handicaps of 7.4 to allow for home advantage. Between them, they defeated, Lewis Williams (Leamington), Vaughan, Hamilton (Prested), Josh, Dodson (New York), Levi, Gale (Prested), Louis, Gordon (Petworth), and Rob, Fahey (Oratory). In a thrilling three-set final Will came out on top to lift the coveted trophy.
BRITISH REAL TENNIS ACADEMY
The New Year saw a continuation of Academy coaching sessions with our Academy Squads.
Cadet Squad
On January 2nd the Cadet Squad met up for a full-day session at Queens Club working with Ben Ronaldson and Dan Jones. Two non-Squad members were also invited along for the day to experience the Academy as both have the potential to join the squad next season.
Performance Squad
The Performance Squad met up at Seacourt had had a very full day focussing on match play and training drills. In between these sessions their physical trainer, Stefan Antanasov worked with each member of the squad individually in the gym for an hour. In the gym, Stefan covered fitness, health and diet. This was Stefan’s third opportunity to work with them and he has now developed really good relationships, working on their strengths and weaknesses.
Left: Ben Ronaldson together with some of the Cadet Squad.
Below: Ben Ronaldson giving Frankie some wise coaching tips.
Max, Bertie, Will, James & Henry with Stefan Atanasov, the Phyical Trainer
The Performance Squad going through their warm up routine before the training session begins.
The Dedanists' Society Christmas Lunch
It’s the most wonderful time of year…The Dedanists’ Society Christmas Lunch at Lemonia!
As you walk into Lemonia you are engulfed in the warmth of happiness, and wonderful smells of cooking, it is a special restaurant.
Everyone gathered for drinks and chat before sitting down to begin lunch, however…somebody was missing….Josh was, on cue, late. ‘Eventually’ he arrived and received a huge round of applause for getting there!
We were treated to plentiful plates of Greek specials which continued to arrive. This was followed by beautifully cooked main courses accompanied by huge bowls of colourful Greek Salad, chips & rice – just perfect.
Simon Roundell, our new Chairman, said a few words to welcome everyone, followed by Josh who detailed some of this year’s highlights, particularly the great successes of our Academy Squads. David Mills went on to say thank you, on behalf of the Foundation, to all for their continued support.
Everyone seemed to be in a festive mood, the wine flowed, and the room was filled with happy conversation and laughter.
It was especially good to see Peter Luck-Hille looking and feeling so well and apparently back on court!
Thank you to Valerie O'Donnell for producing all the very useful name labels!
All in all, such an enjoyable lunch and afternoon and a huge thank you to Carl for his organisation and hosting of another successful, happy Christmas lunch at Lemonia.
I’m already looking forward to next year!
Thank you, Carl.
Christmas at Lemonia
NEWS STORIES FROM 2023...
Academy Cadet Squad player receives prestigious award
Laszlo Garson, a member of the Academy Cadet Squad has won this year's Grays presentation racket for the best junior performance of the year. Laszlo won both the U14 and U16 British Junior Singles titles at Queens in August. In doing so he became the first ever 13-year-old to win the British U16 title.
Camden Riviere presented Laszlo with his prize racket after the final of The British Open Doubles.
A Great Day with Rob Fahey for the Academy Cadet Squad!
On Tuesday 24th October, four members of the Academy Cadet Squad were privileged to spend the day being coached by former World Champion Rob Fahey at the Oratory.
This coaching day formed part of the season-long coaching plan for the squad which takes them to different clubs to be coached by some of the game's top coaches.
Max Warner, Alex Boulton, Caspian Rugg, and Laszlo Garson really enjoyed their day despite some tough training routines! These sessions provide a great basic platform for these promising 12-14-year-olds who should go on to be the Academy Performance Squad stars of the future.
Each of the boys was presented with their new personalised Academy training tops.
Paul Weaver
Academy Director
The Cadet Squad with Rob Fahey. The new personalised Academy tops were really well received!
Words of wisdom from Rob Fahey
to young Max.
The Academy Performance Squad meet up for this season’s first training session
The Academy Performance Squad on their first training session of the season.
On Sunday 17th September the highly successful Academy Performance Squad regrouped at Seacourt after their summer break.
The focus for this session was on doubles play in preparation for the upcoming British U15/U19 Doubles Championships at Holyport.
Stefan Antanosov, the Academy’s preferred fitness trainer was invited down for the day. Before any tennis was played Stefan supervised a group warm-up and stressed the importance of pre-match preparation. Throughout the day he spent an hour individually with each member of the squad in the Seacourt gym. In conjunction with the players he will present each of them with a fit and diet program for the coming season and progress on this will be reviewed at the session planned for early January 2024.
Performance Squad Director was also in attendance and all agreed that “we go again” in the 2023/24 season and aim to emulate or surpass the feats of 2022/23.
Stefen Antanosov putting the Squad through a tough warm-up before the playing session started...and it was tough!
The Dedanists’ Society
Report on the Special General Meeting, Annual Tournament & Dinner
held on 10th May 2023 at Queen’s
For a report & photographs please visit the Fixtures & Match Reports Tab
Overseas Success for a member of our Cadet Squad
Caspian Rugg (age 14) from the Bristol club, is a member of the Dedanists Society Cadet Squad. Last weekend he went over to Fontainebleau to play in the French Junior Championships. Caspian had an incredible tournament and ended up winning the lower age group to become the French U15 Champion. He was also runner-up in the U19’s!
BIEN JOUE Caspian!
More success for young Max Warner
The rise and rise of 12 year old Max Warner continued at Wellington over the weekend of 18th - 19th March.
Max, who is a member of the Dedanists Society Cadet Squad, played some great tennis to win the National Category E Tournament against some stiff all-adult competition.
He followed up a junior hockey tournament on Sunday morning by then dashing to Wellington to beat Ben Geytenbeek (Cambridge) 6/1 6/5 in the semi-final and Richard Ramjane (Prested) 6/3 6/5 in the final.
Well Done Max!
2nd February 2023
Your committee has been assiduously involved in succession planning for some of the key roles in the Society starting with the chairman and the fixtures secretary.
CHAIRMAN
Josh founded the Society 20 years ago and has been chairman ever since. He is generally acknowledged to have been an excellent leader. Time moves on and the next generation are needed to lead the Society forward.
Your committee has therefore taken the following two key decisions:-
1. Josh will step down as Chairman. He will become President of the Society. This is a new position and will require a change to our rules and regulations.
2. After an exhaustive search amongst the membership, the committee has unanimously decided that Simon Roundell will be its preferred candidate for Chairman.
Both of these decisions require the formal agreement of members. A Special General Meeting (SGM) of members is therefore called for 7 pm on Wednesday 10th May 2023 at Queen’s Club.
Other members may put themselves forward for election as the new chairman. They will need to submit an application to me, as honorary secretary of the Society, at least 21 days before the date of the SGM. Their application will need to be supported by a proposer and two seconders, all of whom must be members of the Society.
Formal notice of the SGM will cover all these matters. It will be issued in due course and good time.
Please note that the Society’s annual handicap doubles tournament ( for the Lowenthal Trophy ) and dinner also take place at Queen’s on Wed May 10. We hope that this will encourage attendance at the SGM.
FIXTURES SECRETARY
Chris Marguerie has taken on the honorary role of Fixtures Secretary Designate. Guy Egerton-Smith continues as our Fixtures Secretary. Chris will work in support of Guy and take over in due course.
Best regards,
Carl Snitcher
Hon. Secretary, the Dedanists’ Society.
Please click on this button for the Annual Real Tennis Tournament (Handicap Doubles) & the Dinner on the 10th May 2023
Max Trueman wins the Tuxedo Gold Racquet!
Max Trueman, just 18 years old has won the prestigious Tuxedo Gold Racquets tournament in Tuxedo Park, New York. The tournament is open to all top level amateur players. Max is a member of our hugely successful Academy Performance Group. This win follows on from Max winning the Seacourt Silver Racquet just 10 days ago and fine performances from fellow Academy players Will Flynn and Bertie Vallat in the Amateur Championships last week at Queens Club.
Well done to all!
A Tremendous Week at the Amateurs
L to R: Jamie Giddins, Ed Kay, Robert Shenkman & Will Flynn
Rob Shenkman is part of the Academy High-Performance Squad No.1. From a very strong field in the British Amateur, Rob Shenkman emerged as the overall winner of the singles. The first time a winner of the British Amateur Singles has emerged from the Manchester Club since 1951. Rob's handicap has now moved to plus 2! A plus handicap is a target that many top players strive for but very few amateurs or professionals achieve. Rob, in handicap terms, is now rated 11th in the World.
Rob won a very long five-set doubles on Friday night that finished well after 11 pm and then on Saturday morning played Jamie Giddins in the final of the singles winning in three straight sets
L to R: Rob Shenkman, Howard Angus & Jamie Giddins
Academy Performance Squad member Will Flynn had a tremendous week at the recent British Amateur Open at Queens Club. In the singles, Will had a famous victory in the quarter-finals defeating the number two seed Ed Kay (1 handicap!), followed by a thrilling semi-final losing only narrowly 6/4 in the 5th set to Jamie Giddins (4 handicap).
In the Doubles, Will went one better to reach the final. Playing with Robert Shenkman they defeated the number two seeds, Jamie Douglas and Peter Wright in the semi-final to go through to the final against number one seeds, Ed Kay and Jamie Giddins. It wasn't to be for Will, but he is the fastest-improving single-figure player in the UK, and I am sure his day will come very soon!
Other notable performances by members of the Dedanists' Society Academy program came from Henry Henman, who took a set of Peter Wright and Bertie Vallet, who reached the quarter-finals of the singles, taking a set off the number one seed Jamie Douglas. The Academy Performance Squad has gone from strength to strength this year. In early February, Max Trueman, won the Seacourt Silver Racquet Tournament, defeating Petworth professional Louis Gordon in the final, where Max was actually giving a small handicap to his professional opponent!