Victory at the 2020 Boomerang Cup in Melbourne

Charlie, Julian, Katie & Derrick

This biennial team handicap doubles tournament takes place in Melbourne in January and 33 teams participated from around the world. The “Wood is Good” team consisting of CURTC members Julian Stafford and Derrick Wells along with Derrick’s son Charlie and Katie Leppard from Oxford was not feeling optimistic when we started the tournament as we had all 4 of our group matches owing handicap including several rubbers which were one serve ban tambour. Our stalwart team laboured through only dropping one set during the group stage. Our secret advantage was Charlie Wells having recently only played with a hangover under the auspices of Ben Taylor-Matthews at Leamington and Rob Fahey at Prested Hall. Charlie now staying with the team at our splendid Yarra Valley billet played in fine form and attracted bandit status – one of several improving players – but crucially very consistently.

Entering the knock out stage we met RMTC “The Rest” with a straightforward victory 4-0. At this point we had only lost one set. Then in the quarter-final, we met Oxford. They arrived with a supprt team that resembled cheerleaders from an NFL match that drowned our miserable encouragement. 2 sets all and level games after all four rubbers. Twenty-two games apiece. The last pair on court had to slug it out in a best of a five game set. Our pair on court was Charlie Wells and Katie Leppard. Three games to love and the match was ours. Off to the semi-final.

The semi-final fixture was against our old nemesis Julian Snow (ex British Amateur Champion over a period spanning 25 years) leading a very competent low-handicap Leamington team including Freddie Dixon, Chis Kroeger, Henry Bryan, and Rob Stuart. A formidable team but dispatched with some great floor shots from Julian, volleys from Katie and the odd force from Derrick at crucial point moments. The result, 3-1 to Wood is Good.

The final was against the US Secret Service which included the former Ladies world Champion Penny Lumley and a bunch of very capable Americans with one Australian. At two up we were challenged by Penny and Andrew Gould. Facing 6-2 down Derrick and Julian pulled up their laces and stormed back to an 8-7 win and sealed the title. Charlie and Katie finished off the last set to make it a 4-0 love win.

Julian Stafford