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The Heathcote Trophy
The Shephalbury Park Summer ChampionshipOpen to all players in Stevenage and surrounding areas in the county.
A Legacy Reborn
"Named in honor of the Heathcote family, the historic stewards of Shephalbury Manor since the 1500s, this trophy bridges the gap between the park's storied past and its competitive future. When you step onto the court, you aren't just playing a match—you are competing for a place in the history of the estate."
The Road to the Title
Opening Round
Bracket Generated via LTA
Complete by: June 31stQuarter-Finals
The "Wimbledon" Window
Complete by: July 12thSemi-Finals
The Final Four
Complete by: Aug 2ndGrand Final
Championship 'Show Case' Match
Complete by: Aug 23rdTournament Format
- Eligibility: Mixed gender singles tournament, for all players over 18.
- Dynamic Bracket: Standard knockout format. 'Byes' will be used if the final entry list does not perfectly fill the draw.
- Match Scoring: Best of 3 standard sets.
- Scheduling: This is a self-arranged tournament. Players must proactively contact opponents to book courts.
Result Entry & WTN
- LTA Verified: All matches are Grade 7/Ungraded. Results will impact your ITF World Tennis Number (WTN).
- Score Reporting: Winners must enter the final score into the LTA Portal within 24 hours of match completion. In the event of a scoring dispute during a match, players should follow LTA self-officiating principles (e.g., if in doubt, the ball is 'in'). For administrative disputes, the decision of the Tennis Nerds committee is final.
- Consolation Draw: First-round losers will be offered entry into a 'consolation' bracket to ensure a minimum of two competitive matches.
🛡️ The Golden Rule:
The bracket must keep moving. Matches not completed by the deadline without a valid weather extension will be decided by the administrator (via walkover or coin-toss) to ensure the tournament stays on schedule.