The tennis courts were busy on the afternoon of Thursday 3rd May. According to the creche sheets Madeleine was dropped off at Minis at 14.56. Her parents had booked a lesson with the Tennis Coach from 3.30-4.30. However;
as the courts were unoccupied, we decided to have a knock-up for half an hour first. [Madeleine]
The courts weren't entirely unoccupied as one court was fully booked; Weinberger from 2.30-3.30, followed by Kids Club 3.30-4.30, followed by the Tennis Clinic 4.30-5.30. The last event was on both courts.
So the McCanns played on the free court from 3 pm until 4.30?
Near the end of our lesson, as I strove desperately to improve my substandard backhand, another guest appeared, and he and Gerry decided to have a game together [Madeleine]
Did the Clinic take place on only one court then? Who was the other guest? Stephen Carpenter thinks he played tennis with Gerry that afternoon;
I would say that it was on Thursday that we played tennis and I think that this was what we talked about in the Tapas bar.
DCF: OK, do you have any idea of what time you played tennis with Gerry'
SC: Humm... from two to four or from two until any time in the afternoon, I remember it coincided with leaving the kids in the crèche and picking them up.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/STEPHEN-CARPENTER.htmGerry, of course was busy until 3 pm. He sat with his feet in the toddler pool and had his photo taken. Then he went with Kate to the toddler and Mini Clubs. Jane and Rachael played on one of the courts from 1.30-2.30 approximately too.
probably about half one, erm, Rachael and I just went down to, you know, the court was free so we thought ‘Oh we’ll go and have a bit of a knock’ at that point. ....and I think we played ‘til about, phew, half two
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JANE_TANNER_RIGATORY.htmWhat a pity the tennis players weren't interviewed. Did anyone attend the Clinic? Which men played in the social tennis? Was it 2 plus Gerry and Dan or 5 plus Gerry and Dan? Matthew has no idea, it seems;
And Gerry was down playing on a court, I think there was only three of them, I think the, erm, the coach, whose name I can't remember, the tennis coach, the blonde haired bloke, erm, was playing to make up the numbers.....there was one court that was full of four and then there was a three
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MATTHEW-OLDFIELD-ROGATORY.htm
