IC OF USA - TED AVORY CUP

Match Result: IC of GB 21 - IC of USA 38
Date: Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September 2015
Venue: Charleston, South Carolina

The 2015 Ted Avory Cup was hosted by the IC of USA at Wild Dunes resort near Charleston, South Carolina. Fresh off the plane the British team were warmly welcomed with dinner around the pool with the US team but had to acclimatize quickly to the soaring temperatures and high humidity of the deep south. Both teams fielded 20-strong squads, featuring two players in each age category: Men's Open, 35s, 55s, 60s and 65s; and Ladies Open, 35s, 50s, 55s and 60s. Thirty matches were scheduled for the first day's play and the US team took a commanding 20-10 lead with a dominant display coming from their doubles pairings. They followed up with an overall 38-21 victory after the reverse singles and mixed doubles matches were completed on the second day.

At the gala dinner Craig Edmondson and Toni Thompson where privileged to receive honorary membership of the IC of USA. The gesture was reciprocated when Dan Waldman, President of the IC of USA and current men's 60s world champion, was also made an honorary member of the IC of GB. Of particular note - ladies on both the home and touring teams, along with guests, where each presented with a stunning piece of jewellery by the IC of USA; designed and made by Alice Neely and Linda Nash, which is a long held tradition of the event.

The choice of venue, hospitality, and feeling of being made so welcome in a foreign country was greatly received and often commented on by the British players. In particular, our thanks go to David and Linda Nash for their efforts in organising such a wonderful event and for embodying the IC spirit of friendship and camaraderie so well. Our thanks must also go to the Wild Dunes resort for presenting such a great facility; as well as Dan Waldman and Joe Dippell who so kindly helped to organise tickets to the US Open for many of the team who travelled home via New York.