IPSOBLTA v Edgbaston Priory – 6th July 2025

iPubs team: Miles Edmeston, Charles Hill, Jon Procter, Stuart Shannon

Edgbaston Priory team: Tom O'Loughlin, Dan Bird, Amir Layeghi, Nicolas Serio

In a memorable fixture held at the prestigious Edgbaston Priory Club — home to the WTA Birmingham Classic and recently celebrating its 150th anniversary — the iPubs tennis team were welcomed for a spirited afternoon of doubles competition. Although wet weather denied both teams the opportunity to compete on Priory’s immaculate grass courts, play was relocated to the club’s outstanding indoor facilities, ensuring a high-quality contest could go ahead.

The opening matches saw Jon Procter and Miles Edmeston face a strong Priory pairing of Amir Layeghi and Nicolas Serio. Despite some enterprising play from the iPubs duo, the home side proved too consistent, claiming a 6–2, 6–4 victory. Procter and Edmeston then faced Tom O'Loughlin and Dan Bird in the second rubber, but struggled to find rhythm against the powerful baseline hitting and sharp net play of the Priory pair, going down 6–1, 6–1.

With the tie looking to be slipping away, iPubs rallied in the remaining two matches thanks to an impressive performance from Charlie Hill and Stuart Shannon. Against O'Loughlin and Bird, they rebounded from a narrow first-set loss to take control of the match, sealing a 3–6, 6–2, 10–3 comeback victory. In the final rubber of the day, Hill and Shannon once again delivered under pressure, overcoming Layeghi and Serio in another tightly contested match, 6–1, 5–7, 10–3.

The fixture ended in an honourable 2–2 draw — a fair reflection of a closely fought contest between two evenly matched sides.

Following the match, both teams retired to the clubhouse for some well-earned food and drinks. Lunch was enjoyed on the club’s terrace overlooking the outdoor pool, where — with the sun finally making an appearance — some members of the iPubs squad couldn’t resist showcasing their Adonis-like physiques and demonstrating their elite-level swimming techniques in the pool. A fitting end to a fine afternoon of sport and camaraderie.

iPubs first pair: Charles Hill and Stuart Shannon:

beat Tom O'Loughlin and Dan Bird, 3–6, 6–2, 10–3

beat Amir Layeghi and Nicolas Serio 6–1, 5–7, 10–3

iPubs second pair: Miles Edmeston and Jon Procter:

lost to Amir Layeghi and Nicolas Serio 2-6, 4-6

lost to Tom O'Loughlin and Dan Bird 1-6, 1-6

Davor Pavlovic - Match Manager