The month of March is women’s History month, during which International Women’s Day is celebrated (March 8th) and with respect, the Boston / Newport Ladies’ Bread and Roses tournament was scheduled for March 5th this year. This is a one-day handicap doubles tournament in nascent stages of becoming a long lasting annual tradition between sister clubs. With help from the women’s development committee, this event has been well attended and received by both the T & R and the NTC.
The Boston Team roster included Helen Grassi (Capt.), Suzy Schwartz, Magda Mitchell, Anne Greene, Kathy Pugh, Meghan McCarthy and Christina Shengeliya. Representing the National Tennis Club were Petra Napolitano (Capt.), Amanda Avedissian, Amy MacMillan, Shirley Freitag, Ellen Hermann, Beth Winthrop, Mary Stevens, and the esteemed veteran Sheila Reilly. The individual handicap ranges covered a large margin and tested the nerves of the newer players and the consistency of the more experienced.
Unfortunately for Boston, Nick Howell offered to give the Newport women one of his spirited and demanding clinics before matches started. The focus and energy fostered in Howell’s clinic seemed to accumulate throughout the day and build force for the Newport team, who ultimately, dominated the day. Unlike the first year of this event, wherein Boston overpowered the NTC handily, this event was much more balanced and produced some nail-biter matches for the spectators. The final match score was 5 wins for Newport to Boston’s 3 match wins. Next March, Bread & Roses will alternate to the Boston club, but until then, the silver cup proudly remains in the National Tennis Club.
