Trophée Robert Abdesselam - Avignon

AVIGNON - 20th-23rd AUGUST 2025
 
10ème Trophée Robert Abdesselam - Tennis Club Avignon-Montolivet
 
GB team - Rupert North (Captain), Graeme Adams, Lorraine Ristic, Deborah Schmidt.
 
RESULTS:
1st FRANCE - 9
2nd SPAIN - 7
3rd BELGIUM - 4
4th GREAT BRITAIN - 2
 
On this occasion, sadly we were not les vainquers. However, our small team certainly challenged the impressive talent we came up against in Avignon. Now in its 10th year, teams from France, Spain, Belgium and Great Britain gathered to compete for the Trophée Robert Abdesselam.
 
It goes without saying that our team manager Peter Harding did a brilliant job of planning and liaising in the weeks running up to this event. Planes, trains and automobiles were used to get ourselves to the venue. Some of us left several days before to make an extended trip whilst others whizzed down in a day.
 
The team, none of us had previously met but all had been playing and competing regularly in the various summer grass court ITFs or similar competitions and doing very well getting through to either the semis or  finals themselves.
 
Graeme Adams - our hugely dependable Man from the Midlands with such a nice easy-going manner has clearly played everywhere. Graeme has the unique ability to remember with such recall minute details of all his past matches including names, scores and overall results going back years!
 
Deborah - fit, fast and prepared for any eventuality. Her game was built around precise logic - a blessing in any crisis!
 
Lorraine - a stylish seasoned competitor who arrived with a big smile and in the mood for competition. Off court, Lorraine ventured out to see the area only to return to the club tempted by a chateau, vineyard and a vintage car … thankfully none of these were for sale!
 
The other teams brought six players to include two reserves, three men and three ladies. We toughed it out with only four but it meant we got to know our opponents very well as we played against each country with men’s and ladies doubles followed by a mixed each morning. Not only were the various teams very good company but we quickly discovered they were also very strong with several having high rankings in their age category.
 
After a shortened practice outdoors, a deluge meant that our first match the following day was moved to the indoor clay. Due to rain, captains were obliged to draw straws for order of play deciding which teams played who first and to decide morning or afternoon matches. Frustratingly, we played the best teams first - France, Spain, Belgium in that order. Once on the preferable outside courts, we played some close sets against France and Spain’s best pairings. Despite the sets not turning in our favour, I was told by the referee and organisers how lovely it was to watch such good tennis. The weather was eventually better behaved than was forecast and with 30 degrees and some light breeze, nothing to really use as an excuse!
 
Thanks once again to Peter for generously kitting the team out in smart Adidas complete with IC emblem, and for his reassuring encouragement on the team WhatsApp.
 A suitable moment was found at the Friday evening’s tournament dinner to say a few words of thanks and to raise a glass whilst our team handed out the gratefully received GB IC gifts to all the teams.
 N.B. May I congratulate Deborah who the following week went onto win the singles Over 60s+ in the Eastbourne ITF - we’d like, of course, to think our trip added a snippet to her momentum.
Rupert North