Highlights
The Paris club (virtually deserted on a long weekend when everyone was out of town) saw the invasion of 12 feisty females raring to have a go on the court. For the first time in history, that number was divided equally between French and English players, the noise level being consequently high as old friends greeted each other and practised the others’ language.
The Saturday singles were slogged out in many close matches, with 8 people emerging for the final draw and 4 going to the plate on the Sunday. The doubles round robins commenced late - after a monumental storm that sprinkled the court with hailstones. Some readers might recall the year when the entire court was white with them : this time, we were afraid of trapaulins ripping off and windowpanes falling ! Anyway, things calmed down and at the end of the day, four pairs found themselves in the doubles semis.
Sunday dawned 14 °C cooler than the day before, and the contestants (as always) were punctual and anxious to play. The four quarter finals produced Lucie Grosset, who dispatched her doubles partner Florence Bilhère (from Bayonne) fairly quickly, Ros Emrys-Roberts, easily beating her less experienced opponent the Parisian Anne Laure Gaultier, then Sarah Sullivan (see photo) who woke up just in time to beat Jane Taylor by a whisker, and finally Peta-Louise Jeffery, who beat a flagging Liz Fisher.
In the semis, Lucie battled against a huge 20-point difference to take the match 5-all 40-all against Ros the Retriever. Peta-Louise triumphed over Sarah with a fine display of good shots, to find herself in the final against Lucie. The final was a splendid demonstration of consistency, determination and concentration from Lucie, giving 18 points, who managed to ease ahead after battling to 5-all, and take the match 8-5.
Meanwhile, the doubles semis found the same culprits on court, with Sarah and Gabrielle in a level re-match against Peta-Louise and Jane. After her singles match Peta was playing very well, but Jane was not on top form. In the end, Sarah and Gabrielle, playing steadily, gained a stranglehold and won the match 8/3.
Parisian Ariane Huynh played a solid match to win the plate final against Gabrielle, and Lucie and Florence triumphed in the plate doubles against the French pair Chantal (Fontainebleau) and Jeannette (Bordeaux).
Winner Lucie Grosset (handicap 52) had to battle against a huge handicap in the semi-final and final, showing her championship qualities by overcoming it foot-for-foot against Ros Emrys-Roberts (73) and then Peta-Louise Jeffery (70). The doubles was won by the 2024 titleholders, Sarah Sullivan and Gabrielle Smart-Fourquet, against Jane Taylor and Peta-Louise Jeffery.
Paris members Ariane Huynh and Gabrielle battled it out for the set, Ariane winning by one point, and the doubles was won by Lucie Grosset (Holyport) and Florence Bilhère (Bayonne) against Chantal Guennec (Fontainebleau) and Jeannette Guardia (Bordeaux).
