RSY v RSGC Tennis Challenge
On Saturday 23 November, RSY were aiming to defeat Royal Sydney Golf Club (RSGC) for the 17th time in the annual RSY v RSGC Tennis Challenge, taking place at RSYLTC on the opening grass court weekend for the 2019/20 season. The tennis challenge first commenced in 1993, making 2019 the 27th year of the annual event. The record to this point reads RSY on 16 wins and RSGC with 7. There has been three occasions where the event was not played due to inclement weather. Royal Sydney defeated RSY at RSGC in 2017 & 2018. We were desperate to bring home the Net Post Trophy in 2019 and fielded a team talented enough to hopefully win it back for us.
The weekend actually commenced on Friday 22 November with a strong contingent of RSY’s and Royal Sydney’s members electing to have a team warm-up hit in the afternoon, followed by beverages and complimentary canapes in the President’s Bar to get the competitive juices flowing. Then all headed home (relatively) early to rest up for the tennis challenge the following day.
On Saturday 23 November all players were treated to a nutritious and extravagant breakfast in the newly improved Courtyard Bistro with the welcome speech delivered by RSY’s COO, Jarrad Wright. The weather gods smiled upon us on Saturday with pleasant playing conditions appreciated by the players. Play was underway on grass courts 3-10 and porous courts 1-4 from 11:30am, with two doubles rounds played prior to lunch. RSY held a solid 41 game lead at the half way point after 24 matches (each set was an 8-game pro-set) were completed.
Players then enjoyed a delicious ‘Hawker Style’ lunch and beverages on RSY’s Croquet Lawn with giant games such as Jenga and Connect Four taking place on grass court one.
The final two rounds were mixed doubles. The tennis was highly competitive again but thankfully RSY won back the trophy at the conclusion of round four, winning 314 games to RSGC’s 264.
Dinner was a three-course formal affair. The speeches were much more relaxed. Perennial RSY team captain, Rob Hinton entertained the members with a very long and amusing winners speech. RSGC’s captain, Mike Dixon targeted RSY’s captain, Rob Hinton which was well received by the attendees with videos and images of Rob and other RSY members featuring prominently in Mike’s PowerPoint presentation. The major highlight of dinner (besides receiving the Net-Post Trophy off Lucy Regan who’s the Chair of Tennis at Royal Sydney), was the incredible dessert masterfully prepared by RSY’s Executive Chef, Jake Ward and his team.
All players from both team’s should be congratulated on their outstanding efforts both on and off court. It was a fantastic day/night and we look forward to travelling to RSGC in 2020 to defend the Net-Post Trophy.
