From Saturday 2nd July to Sunday 3rd July, Exeter Golf and Country Club’s Head of Rackets, James Temple, took part in a 24 hour tennis tournament with Club Coach, Tommy Poli, hoping to raise over £2,500 for Pete’s Dragons, a suicide bereavement charity based in Exmouth.
The 24 hour challenge included over 100 members playing with and against James and Tommy in the marathon length doubles tournament.
Ladies’ Tennis Captain, Veronica Barker and Board Director, Juliet Chenery, kicked things off at 12.00pm on Saturday and, in a sign of things to come, the opening set was evenly matched, ending 6-4. The closest match was reserved for Sunday morning when juniors Ben Crook and Oli Clayton joined James and Tommy at 9.00am, with the set ending 10-8 in a tie-break after another close battle.
James Temple thanked the members for supporting the 24 hour challenge and said, “The early morning sessions were probably the toughest being under the floodlights for so long. As we got tired and our muscles become very tight, Tommy and I both struggled when it came to keeping score. It definitely helped when the sun appeared just before 5.00pm. Having so many different members coming up to join us every hour made it so much easier.”
James enjoyed playing with and against players of all ages and abilities across the 24 hours, from 13 year old juniors who have made their team debuts this season, to stalwart members who have been at club for many years.
James said, “The overnight support was massively appreciated with members dropping in to watch from the side of the court and provide some much needed encouragement!”
Alongside the 24 hour match there was an Adult and Junior Tournament on Saturday afternoon, a barbecue in the evening and a Doubles Tournament on Sunday morning to round off the event.
James Temple said, “I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who came up to play in the events or turned up to support the event. It was a really memorable occasion with lots of great games throughout the 24 hours, however those early morning games on Sunday in the sun felt like the light at the end of the tunnel as we neared the end.”
Find out more about Pete’s Dragons.
Donations are still open for the event and all support is very gratefully received for a great cause.
