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Gentlemen

Ryan Tulley will be leaving the Club by the end of our Rackets' season to pursue a new and exciting challenge in a school environment back home in London.

Ryan has most certainly left an indelible mark  on our Rackets program and one with which he should be very proud.  During his tenure, the fellowship program has proven to be a resounding success; we have introduced and he has developed a solid line-up of Junior players, some of which are sure to take their place among the most competitive amateur players and doubles teams on the North American circuit;  returning visitors to the Club have created a strong relationship with Ryan and the membership; the brand of rackets taught in Montreal is again a known commodity in the amateur Rackets world; and, the Canadian Amateur draw remains the most attractive among all the tournaments.  A good amount of credit must go to Ryan for managing this entire process both off and on the court.

I know you will join me and The Board as we take this first opportunity to thank Ryan for his contribution to our Rackets program, the game and our Club.  Ryan will also be giving us his full support through this transition period, and we thank him for this as well, as we wait with great expectations for the possibility, at some point down the road, of maybe welcoming a third generation of Tulley rackets professionals to Montreal!

Andrew T. Pepper

President

Montreal Racket Club

World Championship Doubles

Fellow Racketeers,

The Montreal Racket Club is honored to be host court for both the First leg of the World Doubles Challenge to be played on March 19^, 2011 at 2:00 PM and the Western Open being held between March 17-20^th .

The Current World Double Champions Harry Foster & Mark Hue Williams are being challenged by Tim Cockroft and Alex Tichener-Barrett. We are expecting a great match and most of you out of towner’s will finally be able to experience our court in normal temperatures.

The weekend will kick off with a typical Montreal stag dinner followed by a delayed St. Patrick Day’s lunch on the Friday afternoon. On Friday night a cocktail party will be held at the Club while the Western Open Quarter Finals are being played followed by dinner at of Montreal’s fine establishments.

Dunn’s smoked meat sandwiches will be served before the World Doubles Match followed by dinner and dancing at the Club on Saturday night.

On Sunday the Western Open Singles and Doubles finals matches will be played with a brunch in between the two finals.

Tickets for the World Doubles match will go on sale February 9^th 2011 on a first come first serve basis. Pricing will be as follows:

Benefactor: $1000 includes front row seating, shirt and all weekend events

Patron: $800 includes second & third row seating, and all weekend events

Sponsor: $600 includes upper Gallery seating and all weekend events

We will also be holding a silent auction for the Markers Box. The box can hold up to 4 people and will include champagne service throughout the match. Biddings will start at $2500 and be open until February 28^th.

We have a small gallery in Montreal so please send your applications to Bryce as soon as possible if you are planning on attending the match.

We look forward to hosting you in March.

Kindest regards,

Michael McLernon

World Doubles Committee-Chair

You are cordially invited to

The World Doubles 1^st Leg Challenge and Western Open

March 17^th – 20^th, 2011

Montreal Racket Club ____________________________________________________

Singles and doubles play will commence on Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Social Events:

Thursday March 17^th

Stag Dinner in the Dining Room (Black Tie)

Cocktails 6:30 p.m.

Dinner 8:30 p.m.

Dessert and Stories 10:00 p.m.

Friday March 18^th (Jacket & Tie Required)

St. Patrick’s Day Lunch 12:30 PM

Friday Cocktails 7:00 -9:00 p.m.

Saturday March 19th

Dunn’s Smoked Meat Lunch (Jacket & Tie) Noon

World Double Match 2:00 PM

Dinner & Dancing at MRC 7:30 PM

Sunday March 20^th (Smart Casual)

Singles Finals 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Brunch following Singles

Doubles Finals 1:30 p.m.

For information please contact Bryce at the Club

514-849-3697 or rackets@videotron.ca

Please fill in the following form and check off the appropriate boxes and return to the MRC by

March 7^th, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Name:

Club:

Est. Time

Of Arrival Date: Time:

Entry Type:

Benefactor Front Row Seat $1000

Patron Second-Third Row Seat $800

Sponsor Upper gallery $600

À La Carte

Singles Draw	$75	Stag	$150
Doubles Draw	$75	St. Patrick’s lunch	$50
Front Row Seat	$500	Cocktail Party	$25
Second-Third Row Seat	$250	Dunn’s	$25
Upper gallery	$75	Saturday night	$100
		Sunday Brunch	$35

Please indicate how many guests you will have at each of the activities.

Total

Payment Method: Visa/Mastercard

Card Number: Exp. Date:

Canadian Amateur Championships

February 4^th – February 7^th, 2010

The Montreal Rackets’ Weekend has come to a close. Everything was finished in time for all to gather their belongings, head to the airport, head home or wind up at Beattie’s place for the Super Bowl.

The weekend started off in grand fashion with a few presentations during the Gentlemen’s Dinner on Thursday night. The late Gordie Simpson, longtime MRC employee, was given an Honorary Membership posthumously. Gordie worked at the club for over 50 years marking, making balls and shining your shoes. Sadly he passed in the fall. His presence will be missed but his name will be forever engraved on The Wall. Michael Goodell, DRC member and visitor to the Canadians for over 23 years was also made an Honorary Member. It was a great thrill for Mr. Goodell and totally, in his words, unexpected. But in the words of many, very deserved. Way to go, Mike. Bravo!!!!

 The evening was highlighted by the presentation of the Ken Chantler Award to R.E.F. Kaulbach. This award is for the love of the game, the dedication to the game and the encouragement of the game. Ronnie has played the game for years, travelled to all rackets’ venues in the past and has given much back to the game. He joins Michael Huband, Ed Ulmann, John Prenn, David McLernon and Denis Walsh as past recipients of this most cherished rackets’ award. Congratulations Ronnie for an award very, very warranted.

 Oh, by the way, there was some rackets played on Thursday. The two best games of the evenings involved our newest Honorary Member, Michael Goodell. He played very well while teamed with partner/host/ bon vivant, James Madon as they were able to eke out a win against the MRC duo of Andrew Pepper and Wolf Rosner (9/15, 15/6 15/0). Later in the evening as I lie awake in bed, …Oh wait that is a song I sing at my local pub. Later in the evening, he hung on to defeat Denverite, Kendrik de Koning in two straight (18/13, 15/2). The usual array of stories were told and then the games began. Dice on the table, cards on another table and people in and out of the club all night. The last people left around 4:30 a.m. and the first people arrived to play around 6:30 a.m. No rest for the wicked.

Prior to the event, MRC Professional, Ryan Tulley had made the draws for the tournament. There were 50 players and as anyone who knows the MRC weekend, it would be a long Friday into Saturday a.m. There were 40-30 minute matches scheduled for Friday. The day started at 7:00 a.m. and went until the last game, scheduled for  2:30 a.m. In the past, people were late, games went longer and the play was always behind. Well this year, with Ryan and the Fellows in the markers’ box and a few members making sure the players were ready, there was no lateness, no falling behind. The last scheduled game started at about 2:40 a.m. and all were happy.

Throughout the day we had some great matches, some not-so-great ones but lots of entertainment for the galleries. Highlights of the day’s play would have to be Manny Tancer’s run to the round of 16. This 4 year player defeated Lucas Walsh and Mark Agate before succumbing to George Tysoe in the third round. Good on ya, Manny!!!! One other highlight had to be first year player, John Crowley’s game win in a loss to Karel Nemec. Crowley made the trip to Montreal from Philly along with two other rookies, Garry Swantner and Tom Price. Price also won a game in a losing cause against Brit, Dom Wright. The day went along swimmingly as most of the favorites won their matches to continue. 

The Friday Night buffet is always a wonderful time. This year was no different. But there was a twist this year. For the first time, the club tried a DJ to keep most people in the club. This new idea worked so well that Bryce was heard to say, “I don’t think I like the idea of a DJ, it works too well!!!” Mike MacKell, son of former NHL all-star and Bruin player, Fleming MacKell, spun the tunes until 2:30 a.m. Charles “Da Pimp” Madon arranged to have a bevy of young female students join the party. Well, at about 10:15 the parade started as these 20 gorgeous coeds marched into the Presidents’ Lounge, dressed to the nines and turned many heads. What a party, what a concept!!!! Thanks, Charles for a job well done!!! Thanks Bryce for the idea and thanks Mike for the tunes.

The quarter finals and the semi finals were held Saturday with few surprises. Alex Titchener-Barrett (1), Richard Spender (5), Ben Bomford (3) and James Coyne (2) all advanced to the singles’ semis. ATB defeated Spender in a spectacular semi-final, probably the best and most exciting matches of the day. The scores were 15/8, 15/7, 12/15, 15/9. 2006 Canadian Amateur champion, Ben Bomford managed to make another final as he got by James Coyne 15/1, 16/15, 15/0. Coyne was nursing a calf injury but Bomford’s play truly merited a date with ATB on Sunday. On the doubles side, top seeds Alastair Gourlay and Bomford advanced to the finals with a thrilling 4 game victory over Titchener-Barrett and MRC player Michel Couture. Michel played well over the tournament but his inexperience at this level was evident. The scores in this semi were 8/15, 15/9, 15/1 and 18/15. Others teams advancing were Tysoe/James Bailey and Sambrook/Nemec. In a bit of an upset the young Brits defeated the local boys 15/5, 17/14 nd 18/17 to reach the doubles final.

Of course Saturday night was the Ball, held once again at the exquisite Mount Royal Club. One hundred and ten beautiful people danced, ate, drank and had a seriously pleasing time. The Flyers with Ralph Steiner laid out rock and roll for the dancing pleasure of the guests. It was wonderful to see the band play with the lead singer with them. Last year, as some of you remember, there was a little mix-up with the band. The front man, Steiner, was absent (bad directions given by Ace). But he was there Saturday and the band played on. Once again DJ MacKell spun tunes for us during the band breaks.  

Sunday brought us the finals. The singles final was over quickly. ATB was too much for Bomford. The scores were 15/4, 15/0 and 15/6. Bomford told this scribe after game two that the pace was too much for him and he could not ever get in front of his opponent and make winning shots.

 Bomford was able to recover from the morning onslaught and with the same style of play, he and partner Gourlay won their secong title in three years with a win over the younger Brits 15/4, 6/15, 15/3/ 15/10. The younger lads were game but too many errors into the tin from hard-hitting Bailey proved to be their downfall. Congratulations to all the finalists and to all the players for a great event.

 Of course nothing goes smoothly at the club on this weekend without the fine work of Bryce Maher and his staff. Randy, Chuck , Ryan and the rest worked hard and kept everyone happy. The other Ryan (Tulley) stepped up to the plate this year and hit a grand slam. The tournament ran without one single hitch. No problems whatsoever. The Fellows in the marking box were decisive with their calls and the play ran well. Kudos to you lads for a job well done.

 Of course throughout the weekend we had to eat. Dominic and Phllippe provided us with truly gourmet selections the whole im starting with the Thursay night Stag and ending with the delicious Sunday Brunch.

Truly a great weekend and one for the archives. MRC, be proud!!!!!

Last Thursday evening about 35 gentlemen (??) sat down in the upstairs dining room for a meal and some great story telling. It was the second time that the MRC has hosted a Story Telling evening. Years ago, there was a competition between two teams of 5 vying for the 'prize'.

Prior to the main event, Brent Johnson and  Jeff Usher-Jones (the son of the late and great story teller Gordon) gave us a small taste of what was to come.

This year there were three raconteurs extraordinaire. All three took part in the inaugural night and were back once again. This time the trophy was given a proper name. From this day on, the winner of the MRC Story Telling evening will receive the Gordon Usher-Jones Memorial Trophy. Fred Langan, John Angus and Sterling Mawhinney stood up one after another and kept us all entertained with very good and funny stories. Some were old, some were new, but nobody seemed to care. The jokes were all told in a way that made us laugh anyway. We had voodoo penises, legless parrots, a close call on a Bombay runway, Rolex watches for birthdays and many more.

The meal was fine, the wine flowed, the stories were entertaining and then it was time to leave. The last of the guests left around 2:00 a.m.