October 28, 2021
On Saturday 6th November 2021 the social tennis prior to the monthly 50/50 draw will take on a particular format!
Sixteen mixed pairings are invited to take part in the Robert G.Forde Mixed Trophy Play-off! One of these pairings will have the opportunity to be crowned the 2021 Champions of the Club’s oldest Trophy.
The only criteria to enter this event is that the combined grades of the pair must equal 5 or more. For example, a Grade 1 man may play with a Grade 4 lady or a Grade 2 lady may play with a Grade 3 man, or two Grade 3 or Grade 4 players may play together etc. There are many combinations possible and as long as the combined total is 5 or more, you are welcome to enter.
The entry is limited to 16 pairings and spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. If you do not have a partner but would like to register your interest in playing you may do so and if spaces are available, we will allocate partners.
The closing date to register your pairing is Wednesday 3rd of Nov (or earlier if capacity is reached). This is an opportunity to play with and against fellow club members that you might not ordinarily play against in competition, or socially. Each pair is guaranteed an hour’s tennis and hopefully lots of fun! The tennis will commence from 8pm.
Please text the club phone on 087-9075656 with your entry – naming both players & grades.
If you would like more information on the history of the Robert G. Forde Trophy, please see a brief account below.
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The story of Robert Geoffrey (R.G.) Forde, the trophy and how it came back into the club’s possession was covered in the Nenagh Guardian of 18th November 2018. R.G. Forde came to Nenagh in the 1920s, became involved in the club as a player and administrator, and won the trophy with his wife in 1929. It was apparently a ‘one off’ trophy but a valuable one and of course it now holds vintage prestige value.
R G Forde’s son, also Robert Geoffrey, was also a regular player in Nenagh, actually winning the open singles on occasions. The elder R.G. in his later life returned to his native Co Down and died there in 1975. However, his grandson Robert who lives near Conwy in North Wales, upon finding the trophy in family possessions researched Nenagh LTC on social media pages and decided to return the trophy to Nenagh, which he did, formally presenting it to club President Margaret Folan on a memorable visit with his partner Helen Rickard to Nenagh in October 2018.
