Guest Beer Of the Week!
Published December 29, 2011

This week we are proud to welcome Deuchars IPA!

Brewer: Caledonian (Edinburgh)
Colour: pale
ABV: 3.8%
Tasting Notes: An extremely tasty and refreshing pale golden session beer. Hops and fruit are evident and are gently balanced by malt. The lingering aftertaste is delightfully bitter and hoppy.

Support Real Ale and buy a pint next time you visit the bar. Price £2.50!!!

Padel Interclub Menorca 2011
Published October 10, 2011

The Ellesse Padel Academy have just returned triumphant after a weekend trip to Cuitudella, Menorca. A tournament was played over 2 days and 41 matches of padel were completed. However nothing could come between the two clubs and it came down to the final match which was won by Ellesse Padel Aacademy 9-7 in a tie break with the final score being:

Ellesse Padel Academy 21 - 20 Sa Caleta Padel Club!!

Yorkshire Racketball Championships
Published September 17, 2011

Congratulations once again to HLTSC members who entered the Yorkshire Racketball Championships over the weekend, three of which where awarded places in the competition.

Neil Baldwin who won the over 45's
Paul Haigh who came 2nd in the over 45's
Sue Tolman who came 2nd in the Ladies 'C' Section

Congratulations to Mike Tolman - Champion of Yorkshire!
Published September 12, 2011

Huddersfield Lawn Tennis and Squash Club is proud to proclaim Mike Tolman as the new Yorkshire Men’s Singles Tennis Champion after beating Kyle Brassington - ranked 1st in Yorkshire and 26th in Great Britain, and who has been as high as 810th in the world - in the final of the Yorkshire County Closed Tournament played at the John Charles Tennis Centre in Leeds on Saturday 3rd September.

The 6-4 6-3 score line suggests a straightforward match that presented few difficulties for Mike but that was far from the case. He came into the final having conceded only one game in each of his first and second round matches the previous weekend, the latter against Sam Horrix, and having beaten his semi final opponent Dan Sinclair 6-3 6-2 on Thursday.

A stiffer challenge might have been expected from Dan, Yorkshire’s No 2 and holder of this year’s Sellers title after beating Sean Stafford in a memorable final in July, but Mike (unable to compete in the Sellers this year because of work commitments) has struck a rich vein of form in recent times; when he broke Dan’s serve for the first time midway through the first set he knew he had every chance of repeating his 2010 Sellers victory over Dan. And so it proved, an early break in the second set all but extinguishing what resistance remained.

Mike had not played Kyle Brassington before and, apart from his having a reputation as something of a big hitter, didn’t really know what to expect. It therefore wasn’t an ideal start when Brassington broke Mike in the third game of the first set. A lot of players might then have succumbed to doubt and uncertainty in the face of such opposition - not Mike though! He held is nerve to break back immediately and did so again in the eighth game to make the score 5-3. It still wasn’t quite plain sailing - he had another slight wobble when serving for the set and was broken a second time. But by now it was Brassington who was plagued by self doubt, a brace of double faults helping Mike to break back again and take the first set 6-4.

Mike, with all momentum as the second set got under way, swept to a 3-0 lead in short time. The only semblance of a hint of danger in the set came when he had a break point against him as he served at 4-2, but there was to be no slip up this time: he recovered to take a 5-2 lead. Serving for the match at 5-3, he forced Brassington into an error after a long rally to make it 15-0, followed it up with a wickedly swerving serve into the body for 30-0; he then, with a brilliant flourish that made him glad he hadn’t converted either of the two match points offered in the previous game, produced two thundering aces, both down the middle and both roaring up off the T, leaving the Brassington racket stranded and Mike Tolman as Yorkshire Champion for the first time!

Very well done!

Club Championship Finals 2011
Published August 27, 2011

This years championships came to a rip roaring conclusion with the customary finals evening of tremendous tennis, with some enthrallingly see-saw encounters. All the matches were played indoors and watched by a large and enthusiastic gallery. Some of the closest matches proved to be, just as last year, among the plate finals - at least two of which could easily have gone either way.

Proceedings were brought to a raucously elegant finale with the presentation ceremony, Club President Mary Durrans and Master of Ceremonies Peter Vann presenting the hard fought for trophies and runners up prizes to the battle weary competitors.

Men’s Singles 2011
Published August 26, 2011

The Finals Roll of Honour:

Mike Tolman beat Andy Smith
6-1 6-0

Ladies Singles 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Louise Bottomley beat Caroline Mount
6-2 7-6 (7-4)

Men’s Doubles 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Ben Emery & Mike Tolman beat Peter Vann & Mike Williams
6-4 6-3

Ladies Doubles 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Louise Bottomed & Caroline Mount beat Rachael Bryam & Sarah Stone
6-1 6-2

Mixed Doubles 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Mike Tolman & Caroline Mount beat Peter Vann & Sarah Stone
6-2 7-5

Men’s Singles Plate 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Peter Van beat Gareth Robinson
6-1 6-0
(the picture includes Alison Graham, proudly showing off her Vintage raffle prize!)

Men’s Doubles Plate 2011
Published August 26, 2011

David & George Sykes beat Mike Sale & Gary Rickwood
6-4 5-7 6-2

Ladies Doubles Plate 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Hannah Byram & Sarah Vann beat Claire Paes & Julie Ruddiman
6-4 6-2

Mixed Doubles Plate 2011
Published August 26, 2011

Rob Mawer & Karen Margis beat Ryan Clifford & Hannah Byram
3-6 6-4 6-4

Racketball Hackabout
Published August 1, 2011

Due to interest from members, the club are running a Racketball Hackabout similar to the Squash Hackabout on a Thursday.

This will take place every Friday, 530pm to 700pm.

Cost £4, payable at reception on the night!

Club Shop
Published June 13, 2011

PRO shop now open on:

Mondays 4.30-6.30pm
Thursdays 4.30-6.30pm
Saturdays 9.30-11.30am
And any other times see one of the coaches.

The shop is selling Wilson and Babolat Tennis, Squash, Padel and racketball rackets as well as ball grips and other accessories. For members and non members with discounts being available for club members.

HLTSC produces another Masters National Champion
Published May 30, 2011

HLTSC has been sending players to the English National Racketball Championships Competition for the last few years and in the latest annual event, held over the weekend of 7/8 May 2011 at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, HLTSC veteran Neil Baldwin became National Mens’ Over 45 champion. The Championships are held for open age, and then categorised in 5 year brackets from Over 35s upwards.

Earlier in the year, Neil had retained his title of Yorkshire Mens’ Over 45 title, and now follows in the footsteps of the club stalwart (and the legendary captain of the Club’s Squash First Team) Paul Haigh, who won the National Men’s Over 45’s Racketball title in 2008.

Having been seeded in the 3 / 4 bracket, Baldwin had a bye in the First Round, before a comfortable 3-0 match win in the Second Round. This was followed by a close encounter with 5/ 8 seed Duncan Alexander in the quarter finals in a topsy-turvy encounter ending in a 7-11, 11-0, 12-10, 9-11, 11-1 win in which Baldwin saved 5 game points at 10-5 down in the 3rd game to sneak what proved to be a vital game.

In the semi-finals on Sunday morning Neil overcome a surprisingly lack-lustre performance from pre-tournament favourite and No 1 seed, Somerset’s Rob Watkins who had just entered the over 45 age category having been runner-up in 2009 and 2010 in the over 40s finals to Holme Valley legend Jim Lord, eventually running out a 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 winner. Baldwin proceeded to beat surprise finalist (5 / 8 seeded) Buzby Williams, who had emerged victorious from an ill-tempered, let-filled 3-2 semi-final, in a straightforward 3-0 win.

Online Court Booking Now Available!
Published May 24, 2011

The Board recently agreed to adopt an online booking system via the service providers Sports Booker. This service is now available for member use. It is believed that the system will reduce the amount of administration, cash transactions and provide better visibility of court availability. The booking system can be accessed from the home page of the club website. Just click on the 'Online Court Booking' text at the top of the page and register now!!!

Squash Club Junior Championships 2011
Published May 17, 2011

The boys final was contested by the number one and two seeds, Sam Mawson and Callum Hollinger. Sam was reigning champion but Callum was champion for the previous two years and was surely keen to take the title at this final opportunity. As the match started it was clear that Sam’s greater exposure to competitive squash and his continued improvement was paying dividends. He quickly started to dominate the match and despite odd moments of brilliance from Callum, Sam was a comfortable winner by 3-0.

Squash Club Ladies Championships 2011
Published May 17, 2011

The ladies final was contested by title holder Phyllis Cato-Hall and first timer Caroline Mount, an accomplished tennis player. Phyllis took an early lead in the first as Caroline seemed to be suffering from first-time nerves, but once she got a point on the board her confidence started to grow. Despite some aggressive play to match that of Phyllis, Caroline was finally over-powered by the more experienced squash player and was defeated 3-0.

Squash Club Mens Championships 2011
Published May 17, 2011

The mens final was another squash vs tennis affair with reigning champion, Jimmy Moorhouse taking on the club’s tennis champion Mike Tolman. Mike has been impressing all with his transition into squash and has delivered some very credible performances in the Yorkshire League this season. The first game went to Mike after some fast-paced play and plenty of acrobatic volleying by Mike to keep the pressure on during the rallies. It was clear that both players had expended a great deal of energy in the first game and that this may go the distance. The second and third games went to Jimmy, who executed a number of deft drops and made great use of the lob to continually stretch Mike, but they were far from easy games. In the fourth, Jimmy got the upper hand and made less mistakes under pressure. He continued to hit the ball tight and produce a number of soft lobs into the back corners to keep Mike behind him, finally sealing victory by three games to one.