John Poysden’s recent call up to the England team taking part in the Home International Tournament came as a big but very welcome surprise, and before starting his first match he was further honoured by being made team captain. Not surprising then that, used as he is to playing in numerous competitions around the country, he was feeling a little bit nervous before playing his first game.

The Home International Tournament was played over three days at Nottingham Trent University and featured teams from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Team matches featured first before individual singles and doubles matches in age bands from Over 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 75’s.

John said ” as a competitor and a representative of England I wanted to do my best and not let myself, my teammates or my country down.” John certainly didn’t disappoint leading by example as the tournament unfolded.

On day one in the team events England were able to field two teams in a round robin format England A being Phil Bowen and Gary Baldwin and England B John and David Tiplady. These pairs actually played the first match and it turned to be a convincing win for the A team 4-1. The format was four singles matches and one doubles. Both A and B teams then proceeded to win all their other games which meant England A took the coveted gold medal and England B the silver. A first medal then for John who finished with 10 wins out of 12, an average of 83%.

The doubles events started on the second day and John and his England teammates would have started as firm favourites for this. Both pairs, Bowen and Baldwin and Poysden and Tiplady, duly made their way to the final where John and David managed to reverse the previous day’s result winning 17/15 11/4 11/7. Gold for John!

The singles event started the following day and, not surprisingly, the four England players lived up to expectations and all reached the semi- finals. These players know each others games well having met in different competitions around the country. John had beaten Phil Bowen recently only to lose to him in the team event and he had beaten Gary Baldwin too the last time they met, so he would have been fairly confident when they faced each other in one semi whilst Bowen and Tiplady met in the other. Unfortunately for John he couldn’t repeat that victory losing in four sets 7/11 11/7 8/11 9/11. Baldwin went on to beat Tiplady in the final.

Mention should also be made of another Essex player, Debbie Auvache, who represented England in the Over 60’s. She reached the semi-final of the singles losing to the eventual winner Jane Vickers, and with partner Carrie Cope also reached the semi- final of the doubles. Debbie and her partner went one better in the team event winning gold for England. Overall England had a clean sweep of all 10 team events in all age categories.

The three day competition tested both physical fitness and concentration John playing 26 matches overall winning 22 and losing just 4. Not a bad start for the new England captain!

John said ” coming away from my first England experience with a gold medal and a silver medal was fantastic and I am naturally very pleased. My England teammates in the 70’s all did well and we made a clean sweep of the 10 medals available.”

Congratulations to John, Debbie and all his England teammates – they well and truly delivered!