To those thinking of entering for the first time, the key elements of the competition are: A friendly, social and sociable group. The matches should be as much social as they are competitive. An après-match tea or drink encouraged. Its local nature. Its broad age-span. The approximately even standard of the pairs entered. A great day out at the finals: all are encouraged to attend, including friends and family.

To prevent people having to travel too far, matches are to be played within 10 miles of Rackenford Church, unless mutually agreed otherwise,   The committee's decision as to who may and may not enter, as in all other matters, will be finaIn making their decision they will be looking to maintain the key elements outlined above.

RULES

 

The 2026 ITF Rules of Lawn Tennis apply. You can download them here.

 

ALL DEADLINES ARE TO BE ADHERED TO. (See the deadlines page for these).
 

 

Of each pair entering the competition, one person has to live within 15 miles of Rackenford Church as the crow flies (outer ring).   A singles entrant should also live within this 15 mile radius.   However, should this 15 mile limit exclude anyone genuinely wishing to enter the tournament, then they should contact the committee for guidance on committee@raett.org.uk   All matches are to be played within 10 miles of Rackenford Church (inner ring), unless players agree otherwise.

 

Groups

Gentlemen's Doubles	Wannabes' Doubles	Singles (open to both Ladies and Gentlemen of all ages)
Ladies' Doubles	Veterans' Doubles
Mixed Doubles	Two Generations

• The "Wannabes' Doubles" is a separate doubles group of all ages, intended for those players who feel that they are not yet ready to compete in the main Doubles draws, yet would very much like to take part in the tournament at their own level. There can be both mixed double pairs, men's pairs and ladies pairs.
  No individual can enter more than once as they can't play themselves!

• Players may not enter both the "Wannabes' Doubles" as well as the main events.

• Gentlemen's, Ladies'  and Mixed Doubles  are open to any age group, as are the Gentlemen's and Ladies' Singles.

Play is the best of three sets. and a Match Tie-break ("7 points" but with a margin of 2 points) to be played at 6-6 in the first two sets.
Only in the case of one set all, a championship tie-break (10 points, winning by a minimum margin of 2 points) is to be played to decide the match.

 

Substitution for the round robin

If, for any reason, your partner has to drop out and you can find a replacement partner, this is possible if you haven't yet played any matches with your old partner, and that such a substitution has been notified to and approved by the committee - and you can meet the due deadline.

 

After the round robin, we go onto the knock-out stages: the winners of one group will play the next round against the runners up of another group and so on with other groups; where possible arranging the matches so that those who met in the round robin stages don't meet again until the final.
 

The number of matches won will determine the group positions.

• If the total matches won are equal, firstly the total number of sets won, then the number of 2-0 victories. If still equal, then the number of games won will determine the group positions. If all is still equal after that, then the higher pair will be the winner of their own group match.
   

• The committee has heard most of the excuses as to why players didn't get around to arranging their matches soon enough (though there might be a few more out there yet). "Zero tolerance" is a likely outcome, so be warned.
  However, those matches that are left not played can still be played after the deadline, as the knock-out stage is entirely separate. The "Post Result" button remains active until all matches have been completed. All players are encouraged to play those missing matches anyway.

Only those able to play on Finals Day will be eligible to enter the knock-out stage

(They must also be able to play all their knock-out matches)

 

Finals

... will be the best of three sets; the first two sets will have a match tie-break at 6-6 ("7 points" but with a margin of 2 points). The third set, if required, will be a Championship Tie-break ("10 points" but with a minimum margin of 2 points), though the format of the match may be changed by the referee, depending on the weather and/or available time, and will be decided on Finals Day itself.

 

... will operate "Sudden Death at Deuce" in which, with the score at deuce, the receivers will elect which of the pair will receive the last and deciding serve.

Singles (Open, Vets & Junior)

Matches will be played as a Round Robin, one day tournament on a date to be mutually convenient, once we have the entries.
It is possible that these matches will use "Fast Four" Tennis rules, which differ from the usual rules as follows:

• Lets are played. If the service hits the tape and lands inside the service box, it's a legitimate service and replayed.
  If the service hits the net post before landing in the service box, it is a fault, even if the ball subsequently lands in the service box.
• Sudden death when deuce is reached. The receiving player decides the service side for that point.
• First player to four games wins the set.
• If the set reaches three games all, a tiebreak is played. First player to five points wins, with sudden death played at 4 points all, and again, the receiving player decides the service side for that point.

Veterans

Age: To enter one of the Veterans groups, each player is to be born on or before 6th April, 1961 (i.e. over 65 at the start of the tournament)

They may enter a combination of any or all of the competitions for which they qualify.

 

Doubles:

• Can be either ladies or mixed (not a men's pair)

• Though there will be both mixed double pairs and ladies pairs, no individual can enter more than once as they can't play themselves!

Singles:

• Can be either a veteran gentleman or a veteran lady.

Juniors

Age: To enter an event, players are to have been born on or after 6th April, 2010 (i.e. under 16 at the start of the tournament)

Two Generations

• One member of the pair must be a junior.

• They can be of either both the same or different genders.

• They do not have to be from the same family.

• Group A and B will play the best of 3 sets with a Championship Tie-break ("10 points" but with a minimum margin of 2 points) played as the final set if the score is one set all after two sets.
  i.e. the first pair to reach 10, but if the score reaches 9-9 then the first pair to be 2 two clear points ahead, wins the match; for example 13-11.

• Players in Group C, who are generally younger or less experienced, may decide to play only one set rather than the best of 3.
  But, if players decide to play only one set, this must be agreed by all players before the start of the match.

FINALS DAY

• It is appreciated that this is not Centre Court at Wimbledon, but such attire as denim jeans and singlets, for example, are not felt to be appropriate attire.
  We encourage all who attend to have a sense of occasion and to be reasonably smartly dressed, both on and off the court;

• Prize giving will be after all matches have been played and will take place at teatime at Rackenford Manor.

• Winners will be expected actually to be there to receive their prize!

 The committee reserves the right to introduce some element of handicapping.

IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES: ANY DECISION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE IS FINAL!
 

 

(N.B. This competition/tournament does not count for any rankings nor ratings of any kind)