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The tournament line-up at Wavertree didn't contain either Kevin Dolder or
Keith Williams, the latter the ten times Closed men's singles champion,
decided instead to enter the Northern Masters veteran event in Blackpool,
the decision paying off in grand style when beating Tomasz 15-13 in a fifth
game decider in the final. Tomasz, not wanting to miss the Closed, then
sped to Wavertree, albeit, too late to take part in the doubles with team
mate, George Lennon but, in time for the singles group matches. Jonathan
Taylor enjoyed another success last season when winning the Wirral Closed
men's singles title, a feat not achieved in the same season since Barbados
international Trevor Manning beat Keith Williams in the Closed final having
also annexed the peninsular league crown in 1983. The league's management committee, are extremely grateful for the continued financial assistance provided by Fawley Construction together with the support from Bill Fawley throughout the season and tonight when we shall see him and his wife. Don Davies League Chairman |
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Another Liverpool Closed Tournament over, with a fairly good turnout of entrants, but the same old problems, not so much of setting up, but taking down. Saturday's collection from Park Road Sports Centre was well organised and attended by about 10 helpers, transporting on the one large vehicle with tail lift went well, offloading and access into the Tennis centre was easier with using the other than normal half of the building, everything was set up quickly because of the number helpers, and everyone went away satisfied that a good job had been done.
Sundays events went well, but finished later than expected, for the usual reason's, lack of willing to umpire after playing. Thanks must go to Stephen Smith and Russell Thornton for their parts of Referees trying to keep things moving.
But at the end of the day, dismantling and moving everything to the corner of the building ready for collection the next day, was left to one, sometimes 2, and finally 3 helpers, the usual stampede to the exit to get away 'handy' occurred, leaving the last helper to finish about half eight. Monday's collection was a disaster, only two helpers from the L&DTTL turned up to move everything, the vehicle did have two, driver and helper who stored the gear on board, but thanks to League Chairman Don Davies and brother Rob, these two got stuck in to move all the equipment from inside the centre to the van, 15 tables, approx 180 surrounds, 16 umpires tables, boxes of nets and misc. stuff, all the P.A. equipment. I must admit that I didn't make the Monday morning having booked a few days break months before the closed date had been decided, but still felt 'I had let them down', others may have had similar reasons for not making it, but it brings to the fore once more that this tournament is provided by the League for the enjoyment of the players of the League, who constantly refuse to accept the fact that these events don't happen with the wave of the wand, and continue to adopt the attitude of "can't someone else do it", sadly, those 'someone else's' are running out of patience. So whether the Closed can continue in this format in the future without more commitment from rank and file members, or a more slimmed down multi venue format can be introduced which doesn't entail moving large amounts of equipment, is food for thought. Is it just Liverpool who has this problem!!
p.s. My thoughts only Roly Wright |