Holyport Real Tennis Club

🏆 Bathurst Cup 2026 - Women 🏆

Today is the start of the Bathurst Cup, with team GB facing Rest Of the World in Paris.
Matches are streamed live on YouTube [https://youtube.com/].

We are super proud to have 2 Holyport members in the British squad : Katherine Carney and Nicola Dodle 👏
Best of luck!!

What a fantastic Finals Day at Holyport today — a great celebration of real tennis and of our club community.
Members gathered to watch three excellent finals.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day feel so special, especially Jill, Paul and Neil from the committee. Well done also to our new pro Alex, and to Ged, for marking such great matches, and to Jon for the photos and drone videos.

Congratulations to today's winners and finalists:

Handicap Singles
Winner: Alex Stobbs
Finalist: Neil Harrison-Smith

Club Doubles
Winners: Algie Nottingham & Richard Lawrence
Finalists: Andy Keeley & Nick Baker

Club Singles
Winner: Algie Nottingham
Finalist: Max Warner

The Junior Championship final between Robert Blizzard and Algie Nottingham will be played at a further date.

We also took the opportunity to recognise some of the club’s other tournament winners and award recipients, full list below:

Category B
Winner: Richard Lawrence
Finalist: Mark Candlish

Category C
Winner: Paul Harniess

Category D
Winner: Emily Elmitt
Finalist: Giles Triffit

Category E
Winner: Mac Harrison-Smith
Finalist: Simon Heywood

Category F
Winner: Mac Harrison-Smith
Finalist: Lawrence Gee

Christmas Doubles
Winners: Neil Harrison-Smith & Andy Parkinson
Finalists: Paul Harniess & Peter Stonor

Hangover Doubles
Winners: Simon Heywood & Giles Triffit
Finalists: Richard Lawrence & Neil Harrison-Smith

Generations Doubles
Winners: Mike Skjott & Alfie Norris
Finalists: Sian Evans & Sidney Norris

Bandit Cup
Winners: Charles Bartlett & Lawrence Gee
Finalists: Sarah Lambie & Harry Rusher

Holyport Bowl A
Winners: Nicola Doble & Robert Blizzard
Finalists: Neil Harrison-Smith & Jim Brough

Holyport Bowl B
Winners: Christopher Figg & Simon Heywood
Finalists: Luisa Ballach & Dan Worboys

Most Improved Player — Richard Lawrence
Most Improved Junior Player — Mac Harrison-Smith

Member of the Year - Jill Newby

Mark Piper Award (most bookings) - Katherine Carney

A brilliant day for the club — congratulations again to everyone who played, supported, organised and helped make it happen!




Chasing the Hazard

🏆 HOLYPORT FINALS DAY 🏆
Saturday 9th May, from 9am

Come and watch some great tennis and exciting finals, followed by the trophies for the season.
Light food and refreshments will be available.

Please confirm attendance to Alex, all welcome!

⭐ New Head Pro. New chapter. Same great club. ⭐

We’re delighted to introduce our new Head Professional, Alex Machin.

Joining us from Radley, Alex brings a wealth of experience, a left-handed game, and a passion for developing players of all levels. We’re excited to see him build on the club’s fantastic momentum and take Holyport into its next chapter.

A big thank you to Josh King for his incredible contribution over the past few years — from growing our thriving junior section to shaping the spirit of the club today. We wish him every success in his next adventure at Leamington.

👋 Be sure to say hello to Alex on court soon, and even better book a lesson!

🏆 PLH Trophy 🏆
Great junior match today hosting
The visitors won 5/1 but each game was close and we are super proud of the next generation of talented players at Holyport!

Many congratulations to Holyport Real Tennis Club member Ed Popplewell, finalist in the over-60s category at the World Masters in Australia, only losing 6/4 in the 3rd set 👏

The club was super proud to be represented by so many excellent players at the World Masters, 2 weeks of exciting competitions (Team, Doubles, Singles) for players over 50 y.o., across 4 different real tennis clubs in Australie 🇦🇺

Tennis & Rackets Association
The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club
Australian Real Tennis Association

World Masters 2026: the team events have started in Australia 🎾🇦🇺

We are super proud to have players representing team GB : Nick Baker in the Cockram Trophy (over 50s, Hobart), and Ed Popplewell & Charles Human in the Bostwick Cup (over 60s, Ballarat).

Bring the trophies back with you! 🏆

🏆🎉 HOLYPORT RETAINS THE FIELD TROPHY 🎉🏆

One year later, the same two teams met again at Moreton-Morrell for the final of the Field Trophy. And Holyport managed to win 4/1, retaining the trophy for the second year in a row.

Many congratulations to captain Andy, Nick, Ed, David, Max, Algie and Willem. Jesmond Dene was a tough opposition today!

Many thanks to Moreton-Morrell for organising and hosting such a nice final, and to Darren for marking those exciting games.

This is a great achievement for with an even stronger squad than last season.

🏆 Tabley Vase - Handicap Ladies Doubles tournament 2026 🏆

Some great women's real tennis action yesterday with the traditional Tabley Vase tournament. 12 players from 7 different clubs playing some superb tennis.
Congratulations to the Holyport / Oratory pair Sian Evans & Fiona Carney, winner of the 2026 edition, against Mary Joyner & Anisha Sharania.

Many thanks to Jill Newby for a fantastic organisation, and to Théo Besnard for marking all day.

We look forward to the Tabley Vase 2027!

⭐ Brodie Cup Final 2026 ⭐

It wasn't meant to be for Holyport. Our 7 players travelled to Dorset to play the 2026 Brodie Cup final against our neighbours from 🏆

It was very close all day long. Oratory took the lead in the 45s doubles, Holyport won the 1st and 2nd singles in 2 sets. The 3rd singles went into 3 sets but that was a significant win for Oratory who then confirmed in the 35s doubles.

Congratulations to ! Well deserved win and lots of fun on and off court 👏

Thanks to all : a super well organised day, simply a great real tennis club 🎾

Superb run by the Holyport Brodie Cup team, captained by Richard Lawrence, reaching the final for the first time since 2010 💪