Celebrating 50 years of the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta Tennis Tournament

Guest Blog Post - Alistair Forbes (Long standing member of Dartmouth Tennis Club and Captain of the Devon Veterans)

The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta Tennis Tournament celebrates 50 years in 2018, and what a fantastic and well respected event it is.

Arguably with the most scenic backdrop to any tennis tournament in the UK, it is also completely unique in that it is the only tennis tournament in the country to run alongside a town’s Regatta celebrations.  Where else could you watch great quality tennis, then turn around and watch the fiercely competitive rowing on the River Dart within seconds!

The Tournament is made up of two events, local and open, with junior girls and boys, veterans, mixed doubles, open ladies and men’s groups as well as family events.   All have prize money and trophies and there is much friendly competition.  In recent years there has been a noticeable upsurge in participation, perhaps a testament to how well loved the sport is nationally, and how accessible it is to all, no matter what your age or ability.   Many of our past competitors have gone on to represent their county, country and even Great Britain in the World Championships. So it is definitely an event for your diary.

The Regatta tournament is graded an LTA Level 4, (County level) which is quite a high standard for such a small town event, and as such attracts competitors from far and wide.  Australia’s No 8 veteran seed Ray Furness came over 3 years ago and won, beating the Devon County No 1 in the final.  In fact he enjoyed himself so much last time he visited he donated a trophy – the Down Under Cup! Ray is returning this year to be part of the 50^th anniversary celebrations plus he wants to win again, of course! 

The event is sponsored by Pro Direct a local sports store in Newton Abbot where you can find everything you need to play and Cafe Alf Rescos, a cafe and institution in Dartmouth, famous for their superb breakfasts served with a smile, and ‘love all’ reputation. Cafe Alf Rescos will be hosting a players’ welcome reception on Monday 27 August.

Why not come as a family and be a part of the week long Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta too?  We have a friendly referee who will ensure you have time in the order of play to take part in other Regatta events held during the week!  There is much to see and do for families especially, with the Crabbing competition,  Waterbourne Treasure Hunts, Spot the Oddity and so much more!

Enter now, and get your summer holiday sorted, game, set and match!  To enter, or spectate in what is a truly unique tennis tournament, head over to www.dartmouthregattatennis.co.uk for all the information you need.

If you need some tips on where to stay, the friendly team at Discover Dartmouth can help at www.discoverdartmouth.com

To find out more about the huge range of fun events held during Regatta week, click here www.dartmouthregatta.co.uk