Search for
Search for
Search forTennis partners with a combined age of 156
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 06:54
At 76, Michael Henderson, of Westward Ho! is four years younger than his colleague Tony Bennett, from Dartington.
The pair play for Devon over-75s which was recently victorious over Sussex.
Sprightly Tony won the British Veterans' grass court over-80 doubles title at Wimbledon with another partner in the summer.
A modest Michael says Tony has to do most of the running as he is not so good on his legs as he once was.
Michael belongs to a group of remarkable tennis players, the Westward Ho! Tennis Club Veterans.
He started playing the sport 68 years ago at the tender age of eight.
Michael played in the Wimbledon Junior doubles in 1949 and was set to return 50 years later after qualifying for the 70-year-old singles.
However, he had pulled so many muscles in the qualifier he couldn't play in the event.
He trains up to three times a week and every Thursday plays with the Veterans, most of whom are in their 70s.
Fellow Westward Ho! player, Peter Rossiter, 74, has also represented Devon, in the over-70s doubles.
Michael said: "I can't play singles competitively any more but like to play doubles up to three times a week, although sometimes injuries do not permit that frequency.
"I have worked all over the world and always carried a racket in my suitcase and played on all sorts of surfaces and even on cow dung, which gives off a pungent smell."
In his 68 years' playing tennis Michael has seen many changes in the game.
He said: "The rackets then were wood and kept in a press, the balls were white and came in boxes of six. There were no tie breaks, and you always wore white.
"In those days if a string broke you could get that string replaced, now you have to re-string the whole racket."
Michael doesn't know how long he will continue playing, but he is inspired by a Canadian friend, Dave Carey, who still plays at the age of 94.
The Westward Ho! Veterans, were founded in 1992 by Doug Smalldon, who still plays aged 70. There are 12 members, with eight meeting regularly.
The group has recently gained two new members, Peter Snart-Smith and Keith Wheatley, who at aged 62 and 61, described themselves as the "young blood" of the veterans.
Any veterans interested in playing can join Westward Ho! Tennis Club. They meet at the courts at 2pm on Thursdays.
LOVE THE GAME: Devon over-70s player Peter Rossiter and Devon over-75s player Michael Henderson. Picture: Rob Tibbles 0810-214_04
