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February 2025
Ahead of each season, the women's captains and coaches convene to review the teams to make sure every squad has enough players. You can tell from the photos that this is very hard work...! Captains: Helen, Jane, Candida, Susan and Anne. Chair: Caroline. Coaches: Viren and Hitesh. Sadly Scott was working that evening. |
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Wind and leaves were no deterrent for Jen, Helen, Di & Julie (Nov 2024)
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W1 Captain Helen and squad member Tam travelled across London in January 2025 to collect the trophy for coming top of Division 1 in the Middlesex Summer League 2024.
They also collected our Men's 2nd team trophy for coming top of Division 4. |
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BELOW LEFT: It was cold but the sun was out and W3 were keen to be put through their paces by coach Hitesh.
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BELOW RIGHT: Mad or brave? The jury is out but 4 players turned up to test the puddles, rain and high winds at Highbury Fields... Sadly conditions didn't allow for proper (any?) play!
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Coaches and brothers - Viren and Hitesh enjoy the winter sun
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Club's 2024 Women's Knock-Out Tournament Finals
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This year the club ran a women's knock-out Tournament. It was a huge success packed with many close matches. The overall winners were first team pair Mel & Helen and the runners up were Hana and Julie whose achievement was all the more impressive as they represent the fourth team. The final was a thrilling match with nerves all round.
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And the Tournament's Plate competition was won by Tessa and Paula who beat Deborah and Victoria. Congratulations to the winners and commiserations to the runners up.
Thanks to all players who took part in the Tournament and thanks to our amazing organiser Sarah for making it happen! |
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Our mixed vets (this time >40s) triumph again with a 16-0 win over Winchmore Hill.
FROM LEFT: David, Helen, Mel & Cristian |
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The 2024-25 winter season is getting off to a strong start. Our vets team (>55s) is seen here celebrating their 16-0 win over Totteridge at the delicious post-match tea.
But it looks like Totteridge comes out on top where hospitality is concerned! |
From left: Helen, Georgina, Jonny & John
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Summer party! With huge thanks to our host and to all the helpers and food bringers.
Masters of the shots - with racquets and iPhones...!
Many of us have heard the woodpeckers around Highbury Fields but W5 winter captain, Catherine Reagan, got this brilliant photo of a Great Spotted Woodpecker returning to its nest above one of the courts. The fledglings have now flown but let’s hope the parents return to Highbury Fields to breed next year….
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This Speckled Wood butterfly apparently prefers “the dappled sunlight of hedgerows and woodland edges” so it was rather a surprise for W5 coach Scott Gorman to find one perched on the net cord on Court 4. The wildlife manuals need to be updated!
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Below W5 celebrations!
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LEFT: Our Mixed vets (>55s) relaxing with the Vicars Moor team after a lovely match which delivered a Highbury win.
Highbury players: From right seated: Helen and Susan Standing with white hat - James - with Adam seated in front of him |
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Far left, Our Mixed Vets (>40s) had a great result on 2 June at home and here they are relaxing in the Oasis Cafe afterwards.
And here are our Mixed Vets (>55s) enjoying a post-match cuppa on 6 June after an away match at Pavilion. |
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The men's teams had a great winter season 2023-24 and treated themselves to a very jolly celebration. |
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In May, W3 got together with coach Hitesh to celebrate their promotion in the 2023-24 winter league.
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Coffees are vital after Sunday social tennis... particularly on a chilly April morning.
From left: Sarah, Naureen, Jane, Helen, Mel |
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James and John outside Totteridge Tennis Club, November 2023
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James and John celebrate a stunning 16-0 win over Totteridge in the Mixed Vets (>55s) winter league.What a result! They had been ably assisted by Helen and Sarah. |
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Outgoing Treasurer Eleanor Wilson (LEFT) receiving flowers as a thank you for her five years' service to the club. Club Chairman, Caroline Griffiths (right)
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From LEFT: Fiona, Di, Eleanor, Christina, Jane, Louise, Caroline & Mel. (Georgina took the photo)
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Our W3 team came top of their division, East Division 4, in the summer 2023 and they finally sat down to celebrate in November. Sadly, Angela could not attend but all other active squad members were there.
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June 2023, Some of the W4 ladies visited Eastbourne for the pre-Wimbledon International Tennis Tournament. Coco Gauff provided some inspiration!
Our teams have had huge fun in the Middlesex Summer League as the photos show!
On Wednesday 28th June 2023 the club held its first summer party since Covid. The rain held off and a fabulous time was had by all. It was lovely to have so many people from across the club mingling over food and wine instead of a tennis net. Thanks to all who brought contributions and thanks very much to our hosts Alex and Christina who lent us their lovely house and garden.
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In June the ladies who play regularly on Sunday gave organisers Jane G and Jen surprise cards and gifts to say thanks for the amazing work that goes into this hugely enjoyable social play session.
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Group photo ladies: Esmelda, Julie Q, Poonam, Mel, Eleanor, Caroline D, Tam, Kate B, Caroline G, Megg, Anne, Lucy, Jane, Jen, Fiona, Helen.
Spring 2023
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After a morning of spring sunshine tennis, Caroline & Fiona relax in Vent! Coffee shop
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Autumn 2022
Welcome to all our coaches
Brothers Viren Soma and Hitesh Soma have taken charge of four squads - Viren coaches W2 & W4 while Hitesh coaches W1 & W3.
Scott Gorman coaches W5 and looks after our Rusty Racquets sessions (with support from Sofia Conte).
Brothers Viren Soma and Hitesh Soma have taken charge of four squads - Viren coaches W2 & W4 while Hitesh coaches W1 & W3.
Scott Gorman coaches W5 and looks after our Rusty Racquets sessions (with support from Sofia Conte).
BELOW: LEFT W4 waiting for their home match to start. RIGHT W3 celebrating with their post match open air picnic
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Not all matches go to plan… Forecast was good on BBC, Dark Sky and Apple Weather but how wrong can you be?! W3 had to abandon their away match against Pavilion. |
A selection of photos from Wendy's retirement tournament. For more photos click on link above!
Lots of lovely things to celebrate...
The club gave Sarah Mulligan a thank you gift for running the ever popular Ladies Doubles League. Not only did Sarah devise this competition but she has assumed responsibility for running the whole contest. Huge thanks Sarah!
Many congratulations to Lynda Thomas (Branch as we know her) who was thrilled to receive a CBE in recognition of her work running Macmillan Cancer Support.
And Wendy with a fabulous bouquet from the W3 team to wish her a happy Sabbatical.
The club gave Sarah Mulligan a thank you gift for running the ever popular Ladies Doubles League. Not only did Sarah devise this competition but she has assumed responsibility for running the whole contest. Huge thanks Sarah!
Many congratulations to Lynda Thomas (Branch as we know her) who was thrilled to receive a CBE in recognition of her work running Macmillan Cancer Support.
And Wendy with a fabulous bouquet from the W3 team to wish her a happy Sabbatical.
October 2021. The dappled backdrop on Court 2 is tricky for tennis but very beautiful!
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On a lovely crisp sunny winter day in December the Thursday women's drop-in group gave Gary his Christmas present from the club.
FROM LEFT: Wendy, Gary, Eleanor Di, Vina, Yvonne, Caroline and Sara. Thanks from the club to all the Islington park-keepers who look after us so well throughout the year. |
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Success for our fabulous Women's 2nd Team:
Our inspiring Women's 2nd team dominated the Middlesex East Division 5 in the winter floodlit league 2017-18 not dropping a single match. As well as being rewarded with a promotion, they received this trophy. Congrats to all members of this strong team and coach Viren!!!! Clockwise from back left: Kate, Barbara, Megg, Naureen, Viren, Jan, Caterina, Sarah, Kalsang, & Joy |
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19th March 2018
Yes, there's snow on the ground and, yes, an undeterred Wendy is running a coaching session!!!! 11th March 2018 Just when we’d got used to the sun, look what happened... |
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5th March 2018
Just when we'd got used to the snow, look what happened! Yehia from the Oasis Café with Dave |
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FIRST DAY OF SPRING !!!!!! 1st March 2018 |
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27 Feb 2018, in spite of it being 0 degrees C at Highbury Fields this morning, there were a handful of club members wrapped up warm and playing.
They were rewarded with a special treat - a flock of Red Wings settled on the frosty grass searching for grubs. This beautiful bird has a creamy stripe above its eye and orange-red patches on its flanks and only ventures into cities and gardens when the weather is VERY COLD. And VERY COLD it was!!!! (LIBRARY PHOTO) |
January 2018: New Year getting off to a sunny but chilly start with lots of our players on the courts. The talk amongst the women was variously #DryJanuary #DampJanuary #Ginuary and “I’m sure it’s February already”. Cheers!
December 2017: what better way to end the year than to remind ourselves how lucky we are to have such helpful and lovely park-keepers looking after the courts and us. Although you might have seen some of these pics before, they are worth posting again.
FROM LEFT: Dave celebrating his 65th birthday, Gary then Sergio enjoying the December sunshine and finally the lovely Eileen and Daniel who looked after us at the summer tournament. Thanks everyone.
FROM LEFT: Dave celebrating his 65th birthday, Gary then Sergio enjoying the December sunshine and finally the lovely Eileen and Daniel who looked after us at the summer tournament. Thanks everyone.
BELOW: A sunny December morning brings out the smiles!
The Islington Gazette says it all!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!
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Who's the birthday boy? Unbelievably Dave from the hut has just celebrated his 65th. Snapped here surrounded by Highbury Fields and club regulars and holding one of the personalised mugs that the club gave him. The good news is that Dave has no plans to retire just yet so we should have many more seasons of his friendly support ahead of us! Photo Aug 2017 |
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LEFT: So this is what Wendy gets up to when she's not hitting a ball. With sister Jill at Queens on one of the hottest days of the year.
RIGHT: We have lots of jolly photos from the 2017 Tournament behind the button above, but here are two. Park-keepers Eileen and Daniel who made sure everything was perfect on Sunday 18th June. We are very grateful to Islington staff who look after Highbury Fields all year round. And the three musketeers - David Crichton-Miller, Mark Giles & Darren Turpin who left with quite a few prizes between them! |
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Wendy and the Thursday drop-in ladies celebrating Christmas - silly jumpers and seasonal hats to the fore.
They played a festive mini tournament and raised £150 for the War Child charity for Aleppo victims.
FROM LEFT: Penny, Angela, Susie, Wendy (in Santa hat), Jenny, Sara and Alison. Not in the picture are Yvonne, Vina and Caroline.
Well done ladies!
15 December 2016
They played a festive mini tournament and raised £150 for the War Child charity for Aleppo victims.
FROM LEFT: Penny, Angela, Susie, Wendy (in Santa hat), Jenny, Sara and Alison. Not in the picture are Yvonne, Vina and Caroline.
Well done ladies!
15 December 2016
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Our men's first team get ready for a home match.
From left: Shahriar Aziz, Phillip Wigan, Simon Moore & Tom Reynolds |
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November sunshine Highbury Fields:
A great new photo for our Facebook page. Handy having a professional married to the Club Coach!
(November 2016)
(November 2016)
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Highbury Fields late September...
Sept 2016 |
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Lovely to have some squawking parakeets cheering us on at Highbury Fields! (September 2016)
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July 2016:
And more celebrations for our men's team. FROM LEFT: Simon Moore, TBC, Lauron Shaw, Scott Matthews, Phill Wigan, Henry Horton, Paul Knipe |
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This is the incredible Men’s Team that reached the finals of the Middlesex Cup 2016, a very tough knock-out competition. Their success is due to great team play and commitment and also the leadership skills of Captain Henry Horton who has brought out the best in his squad. Well done men!
FROM LEFT: Rick Holland, Henry Horton, Lauron Shaw, Paul Knipe, Scott Matthews and Saimen Yuen |
Wendy Proudfoot and Pauline Bertinet hold the Coolhurst Ladies Doubles trophy.
In spite of organising and running our own Highbury Tennis Tournament, Wendy has been competing in her own club's - Coolhurst's - ladies doubles championship. On Sunday morning 10th July, Wendy and her partner Pauline triumphed and set the tone for a great day of British tennis. Later on Andy Murray was to lift the Wimbledon Men's Singles' Cup & Heather Watson the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles' trophy!
Huge congratulations to our very hard-working coach Wendy who does so much for the club and all of its players and so much more behind the scenes while pursuing her own tennis successes.
In spite of organising and running our own Highbury Tennis Tournament, Wendy has been competing in her own club's - Coolhurst's - ladies doubles championship. On Sunday morning 10th July, Wendy and her partner Pauline triumphed and set the tone for a great day of British tennis. Later on Andy Murray was to lift the Wimbledon Men's Singles' Cup & Heather Watson the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles' trophy!
Huge congratulations to our very hard-working coach Wendy who does so much for the club and all of its players and so much more behind the scenes while pursuing her own tennis successes.
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Women's 3rd Team celebrating their best match result of the 2016 summer season. From left Lynda Branch, Anne Brogan, Captain Caroline Griffiths, Christina Hopkinson & Fiona Spencer. Charlotte Fetherston-Godley was not able to join the celebrations. (June 2016)
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Our Women's 4th & 5th teams played each other on a rainy Saturday in June. The very best bit was the picnic afterwards. From left: Jennifer Gill, Jenny James (W5 captain), Sara Jolly, Di Colinese, Caterina Paolazzi, Jane Grimston, Ruth Barrett, Georgina Papathanasiou, Jo Sargent, Gemma Treweek & Judith Laurance. (June 2016)
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This visitor to Court 2 is a little too young to join the club... (May 2016)
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RIGHT: Our Men's 1st team beating Vicars Moor IV 19-5. (May 2016)
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LEFT: Our Women's 4th team played the 5ths at Highbury Fields and celebrated afterwards with a fabulous picnic. Happily the sun shone. (May 2016)
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