A move from the traditional April slot to a summer date in June proved the perfect tonic for the annual Bradfield Society Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament in support of the charity Give It Your Max with increased participation on the sun-soaked courts. The clay courts looked splendid and the new marquee on the mound between the two sets of courts provided welcome shade and shelter as the sun beamed down on Bradfield.
This year twenty pairs competed as the Society welcomed current parents and pupils, prospective parents and pupils and, with the help of Kirsty Richardson (K 97-99), many players from fellow Bradfield Group school St Andrew’s Prep where Kirsty is now a parent.
It was a pleasure to welcome back several Old Bradfieldians including Anna Moss-Gibbons (I 95-97) who came along with her son, Annie Stratford (J 95-97), Aidan Meynell (D 88-93), Christian Ward (F 15-17) and former member of staff Nickie Moss-Gibbons who joined to watch the morning’s play.
As usual it was a fun and friendly tournament with each pair playing a series of 18-minute matches in four ability-graded groups. Winners of the groups proceeded to the knock-out semi-finals and the competition was eventually won by Henry Beddard and his daughter. The runners up were the Cowan family who are Friends of Bradfield and work with the charity.
The Bradfield Society would like to thank everyone who took part and the generosity shown in raising £660 for Give It Your Max. There was also plenty of support for the raffle later in the day which raised further funds for the charity.
The event couldn’t have taken place without the help of Give It Your Max’s Lorna Cowan, the Bradfield Tennis Club for the use of the courts and donation of tennis balls, and also Freddie (C 93-98) and Mike Stotesbury (E 56-60) who brought many friendly faces along with the former competing in the tournament too.
