Fixture: IC of GB v Fitzwilliam Club
Date: 20th April, 2024
Venue: Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin
Result: IC of GB win 8-1
On Saturday 20th April, The Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin played host to the IC of GB in an annual fixture comprising four men and two women. Unfortunately the IC's Dearbhla Kelly would have to miss the opportunity to compete against her former childhood club as she spent most of the weekend bed-ridden due to illness. IC stalwart Laura Morrill showed no hesitation in offering to play both #1 and #2 singles, and paired up with a Fitzwilliam substitute for the doubles round.
The IC team's decision to resist the full offering of Dublin's night life on the Friday night paid off during their singles matches, as they battled hard to win 5 out of the 6 singles rubbers. And even a hearty lunch in the Fitzwilliam restaurant couldn't halt the IC's momentum, as they went on to claim all three doubles rubbers in some very hard-fought matches, rounding off an 8-1 victory which belied the closeness of many of the individual matches.
True to form, the remainder of the day was filled with exceptional Fitzwilliam hospitality: drinks on the terrace, "steak-on-the-stone" for dinner, guest list entrance to one of Dublin's best night clubs, and an awful lot of laughs... The IC-Fitzwilliam relationship continues to be a strong one.
Results:
Matt Kirby bt Brendan Dempsey 6-3, 6-0
Sam Ashcroft bt Peter Fleming 6-4, 6-2
Ben Rogers lst Damon Gaffney 6-4, 6-4
Paddy May bt Ben Dillon 6-0, 6-3
Laura Morrill bt Caitlin McCullough 8-4
Laura Morrill bt Gigi Lynn Browne 8-2
Kirby & Ashcroft bt Dempsey & Gaffney 6-3, 6-7, 6-4
May & Rogers bt Fleming & Dillon 7-6, 6-4
Morrill & Fitz sub bt McCullough & Browne 8-6