NEWS

John and Jonny are Adams Cup kings 2014

John Gee-Grant and Jonny Powell won the Adams Cup (the Old Citizens' club trophy) on Sunday, beating Spencer Chapman and David Cooper in a very close final.

The two Js clinched the title - which made it a second year in a row for John - with some first-class cutting and returns of cut against an inspired Spencer and astonishingly determined and agile David, who's somewhere in his mid-70s, for heaven's sake.

Spencer and David grabbed an early lead but were clawed back as their energy, belief and luck ebbed. Either pair could have clinched it, but it was the younger pair who seized the day.

We held the trophy (donated in the 1920s) at the Westway for the first time, as the Highgate courts were being refurbished.

Adams Cup debuts were made by guests Harriet Asquith, descendent of Citizen Herbert, and Karen Hird, who's current ladies national champion. They've been practising with us regularly on Thursday evenings.

We were delighted to welcome back a few veterans: Mark Signy and Saeed Hatteea played; Kevin Brooks, Peter Stiles and club chairman David White watched.  Some 19 of us competed: Harriet Asquith, Spencer Chapman, Peter Chen, David Cooper, Rachel Douek,  Nick Gill, Saeed Hatteea, Karen Hird, Mark George Jacobs, Ralph Morgan, Stephen Mullin, Alex Nice, Jonny Powell, John Reynolds, John Robinson, Dan Rose, Sam Packer, Mark Signy, Mark Stockton.

Beer and food were consumed in The Garden Bar afterwards.

The whole crew, with club chairman David White in blue, before the event. In the event, John Gee-Grant held onto the cup.