The Abingdonian 2019

57 www.abingdon.org.uk Summer Term Tennis Another successful tennis season at Abingdon School has come to an end, with 2018-19 turning out to be a really excellent year. I have been so pleased with the successes that the boys have enjoyed. To put no finer point on it, they have been smashing! The Summer Term had over 40 fixtures of varying sizes, and it is impossible to mention each and every one. There have, however, been some highlights which are worthy of a permanent record in The Abingdonian . It was particularly enjoyable to see the boys victorious at the annual Radlingdon competition, taking both the cup and the plate. The Radlingdon has been a long-standing event between Radley and Abingdon School where the top 32 players from each school battle it out in a series of doubles matches. Despite some strong opposition, Abingdon managed to get a pair into both the cup and plate final. Max Hall and Sam Christie sealed the deal with a hard-fought but emphatic win against Radley’s 1st and 2nd seed. Rightfully proud, the pair walked away having been awarded the Radley Sausage, much to their consternation. Abingdon’s 1st team also progressed through four rounds of the Glanville Cup, beating St Edward’s, MCS, King George VI and Rugby School in the process. This meant that they qualified for the final; unfortunately, this was held during the summer holidays, when a number of our team had commitments elsewhere. It was great, however, to see our boys competing at a top level. Both our seniors and juniors have competed strongly in other national competitions, with the U18 team also coming sixth in ISL league and the U15 As and Bs placing 14th and 15th out of 32 in the Eton Junior pairs. This team was made up of a number of our youngest players from the first and second years. We are fortunate to have such talent in the Lower School and look forward to seeing the likes of Jack and Oliver Veal, Samuel Hughes, Hayato Frellesvig, Khadim Sagna, Max Woodthorpe Browne and John Cairns, as well as many others, playing in the 1sts as they get older. I would like to congratulate all students who have competed for the school this year. They have conducted themselves with dignity and shown resilience when under pressure. I would also like to extend my thanks to parents who have given support over the season and been immeasurably patient when last-minute changes have affected matches. To those boys who are leaving us this year, I wish you all the best and hope that tennis continues to be a feature of your lives; for those who stay with us, I hope you will join me in looking forward to next year’s fixtures, where we can build upon our successes. Tom Allen