From years gone by,

1996.
Back in time, back, back in time, to just 20 years ago. The year is 1996. Young teenage
girls have their hearts broken, as boy band Take That split up. Oh Robbie, I love you!
The Spice Girls have their debut hit with Wannerbe, and Andy and Fergie divorce.
Germany win The European Cup beating The Czech Republic 2-1 at Wembley. Your
Wimbledon programme cost 4.50p. For those who joined the queue, a Centre Court seat
on Peoples Saturday was reduced from 31to 25. Only 20 years have passed, and Im
still convinced The Spice Girls were musically challenged !
On Saturday 6th July of that year, Germanys Steffi Graf defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
6-3 7-5 to take her seventh and final Wimbledon title.
Sunday 7th July, at 2.00pm precisely. The three players in the Gentlemens Singles final
lined up for the pre match photographs. THREE ??? Well, yes. There was Richard Krajicek,
Mal Washington and Melissa Johnson. Mel made Wimbledon history by becoming The All
England Clubs first streaker. It was reported that she did it after sinking a couple of
Stellas. (Obviously not the same brew that Tommy gets for our club!) After the cabaret,
Krajicek went on to win in straight sets, effectively dividing Pete Samprass nearly
consecutive seven titles.
Here at Penketh, in the first round, the number one seed in The Gentlemens Singles
event Alan Broadbent, got off to a grand start by beating me, 6-1 6-0. (The cheek of the
guy!) The number 2 seed, Chris Ainsworth however had more of a fight, eventually seeing
off Stewart Bryan 6-3 6-4. Back to the top half of the draw, where the unseeded Mark
Higham had a battle on his hands with Craig Manchester. Craig put up a brave fight
before succumbing to the former Champion, 7-5 6-4. And so to The Final, that Sunday
afternoon 23rd June, where Chris Ainsworth faced Mark Higham. In the event Mark scored
a straight sets win, beating Chris 6-2 6-2 to take the second of his six Championship
titles.
The Ladies Final was contested by Linda Broadbent and Diane Ryan, who had
respectively put out Moira Bryan and Christine Heaver in the semis. The final was closely
contested, with Linda just scraping through the first set. She took it in a thrilling see saw
tie break, 9 points to 7. Diane then took the second set by six games to three. Honours
even then! In the final set, Diane served at 4-5 down to stay in the match. Deuce,
Advantage Linda, Game, Set, Match, and Championship to Linda 7-6 3-6 6-4. There would
be another seven years of heartbreak, and six further attempts before Diane finally lifted
The Trophy in 2003.
The Hammonds, father and son duo, John and Andrew won The Gentlemens Doubles that
year, beating myself and The Reverend Paul Hockley in the final, 6-2 6-1. This was to be
the last time I was in any final !
Honours in The Ladies Doubles event went to Jean Jerabek and Sally Wood. They beat
Linda Broadbent and Helen Kinley, 6-2 6-4.
In The Mixed, which had an awesome entry field that year, the favourites Mark Higham
and Rachel Traynor were dismissed by Craig Manchester and Jean Jerabek, 7-5 6-2.

The 14th Annual Club Tournament of 1996 held one other distinction. It was the last time it
was played on our old, crumbling asphalt courts. In May 1997 they were replaced with
lush synthetic sand filled grass.
You too can become part of Penketh Tennis Club folklore by competing in The 2016
Championships. Oh yes, I shall be there to record all your triumphs and disasters for
posterity. And if, after your exertions, you have not been lucky enough to reach The
Finals, please come along and give your partisan support to those who have. The bar will
be open to lubricate your vocal chords.
Penketh Tennis Clubs 30th Annual Tournament will run over three and a half weeks
starting on Wednesday evening 1st June. The Finals will take place over the weekend of
Friday evening 24th, Saturday afternoon 25th and Sunday afternoon 26th June.
Alan Moore,
Tournament Organiser and Referee.