Potter Cup, 31st May 2009

 

The GB team of Jeremy Bates, Nick Fulwood, Craig Campbell, Simon Curtis, Nick Brown and Chris Hearne put up a valiant effort in defending the Potter Cup title from 2008, eventually losing however to Spain 4-1 in the final.

 

There were quarterfinal victories over Germany 4-2, and a semi-final win over Italy 4-3, having been 3-2 down after singles. However, the Spanish team were considerably stronger than previous years with former top 20 player Jordi Arrese playing at number 1, and they proved to be one bridge too far. Craig Campbell and Simon Curtis both made their debut in the event, with Craig going undefeated in 3 singles and 2 doubles over the 3 days of the event, which was a terrific effort. Injuries to both Jeremy Bates and Nick Fulwood led to defaulted matches in both the semi-final and final which didn’t make progress any easier, but Craig’s performances together with some strong doubles with both Nick Brown and Chris Hearne enabled us to get through to the final. There was a terrific team spirit as ever and the whole event was played in the best possible atmosphere and character, as befitting the Potter Cup.

 

Needless to say the organisation was excellent; the Polo Club a truly magnificent surroundings in which to play tennis and the hospitality offered was second to none. Allowing 10 teams to play this year caused a logistical problem as far as the draw was concerned but with some creative planning each team managed to play enough matches in the end. Dinner at the Real Club of Barcelona on Friday night was very popular, as was the Polo Club reception on the Saturday evening but in true Spanish fashion, eating at 9.30 pm each evening until midnight with matches scheduled for 9am the following mornings is less than ideal and contributed to a huge amount of defaulting across the board on the last day. This I think was both regrettable and avoidable. That said, the social aspect of this and most of the IC fixtures is critical to their success, popularity and reputation, but it was just a bit of a concern that took the edge off.

 

I understand there is a motion in circulation to revamp the format of the Potter Cup to 3 x over 45 and 2 x over 35 players, from 2011. There seems to be little support for this idea currently amongst the teams present this year as the 37^th Potter Cup in 2009 was truly exceptional as always in its traditional format, and one not to be changed given its history.

 

J Bates

31/5/09

 

 

 

Bates lost Stefan Fasthoff 61 26 46

Fulwood beat Manny Jungnitsch 60 62

Simon Curtis lost Norbert Henn 26 16

Craig Campbell beat Thies Ropcke 62 63

Chris Hearne beat Lutz Steinhofel 46 64 45 retired

Campbell/Hearne beat Jungnitsch/Ropcke 63 60

Bates/Fulwood lost Fasthoff /Henn 4/6 retired

 

Bates lost Giovanni Lelli Mami 46 12 retired

Fulwood beat Stafan Frasson 62 62

Campbell beat Eduardo Mazza 62 62

Brown lost Angelo Tanganelli 36 57

Hearne lost Marco Armelini 67 16

Bates/Fulwood beat Lelli Mami/Armellini 61 60

Brown/Campbell beat Frasson/Tanganelli 60 76

 

Bates lost Jordi Arrese 46 46

Fulwood lost Miguel Puigdevall 57 retired

Curtis lost Eduardo Osta 06 06

Campbell beat Fernando Luna 62 63

Brown lost Jesus Colas 63 63