Too far, too hot – the limp last minute dropout is every League manager’s nightmare. So it came to pass for the two Davids, Vincent and Dibben, as GC Advantage leagues C & D came up a player short for their final matches against High Wycombe Kestrels and Harwell. Vincent ran out of options, conceding an automatic four points to the Kestrels, but Dibben, with a stronger team that had more to lose, looked outside the box.
And up popped Philippa Turner. With zero experience of competitive singles and thinking she’d been asked to play doubles in a friendly match, she responded to Dibben’s plea. She lost the first three games, but came good in the fourth. With the fixture poised at 8-7, she chalked up a nail-biting victory on the golden hoop, sealing a 9-7 triumph for the D team. David Long and the Bryants clapped jubilantly, then rushed over to congratulate her.
BCC salutes you, Philippa: anyone who jumps into the unknown and delivers when the chips are down is top of any order of merit. DD, your number one fan, can’t wait to sign you up for 2026.