Welcome to the International Club of Canada
"Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean "

Welcome to the International Club of Canada

Aims of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada

To promote friendship and sportsmanship in tennis between Canada and other countries by hosting tennis events with other IC countries and supporting tennis development in Canada by providing mentorship for young tennis players.

The first meeting of Active Members of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada was held at the Albany Club in Toronto on Wednesday, August 11, 1965, at 12.30 p.m. Laird Watt, the first president of the Club, was unable to attend and Gilbert Nunns chaired the meeting. In addition to Gilbert those attending the meeting in person or by proxy were familiar names in Canadian tennis history: Peter Barnard, John Bassett, Bob Barnard, François Godbout, Bruce Harrison, Sydney Hermant, Jim Macken, Harry Marpole and Walter Martin. Don Fontana, captain of the Club, agreed to approach the I.C. of the USA for a match in 1966. There were discussions of a black tie dinner, a match against a touring team from England and plans to participate in I.C. matches in Holland. The Canadian I.C. was up and operating. It had officially received “International Club” recognition just six weeks before, at the annual meeting of the Council of I.C.’s held each year during the fortnight of Wimbledon. It joined thirteen other nations with International Clubs, all existing with a common interest in the game of tennis.

The annual match with the USA Club has been the main regular event of the Club since that time, with matches alternating each year between the Donalda Club and various locations in the USA. The Piping Rock Club on Long Island, The Merion Cricket Club in Philadelphia, The West Side Tennis Club on Long Island. In 1971 the matches were divided in an open event competing for the Proctor Cup and a seniors event for the new Lawrence Baker Trophy. Women’s matches were included in the late 90’s and starting in the year 2000 teams will play for the Carole Graebner Trophy. 

There is no doubt that tournaments for the Windmill, Christiane Mercelis, and Columbus Trophies represent the highlights of the I.C. Movement. On these occasions many of the now 42 International Clubs meet in team competition. In these tournaments old friendships across the net and across the nations are renewed, and new ones made. Equally enjoyable are the I.C. Tours where teams of I.C. players tour other countries at the invitation of their I.C.’s, or host visiting teams.

This brief review of the Club’s history would not be complete without an expression of gratitude to the spirit behind the creation of the I.C. Club of Canada, the Late Bruce Harrison and those who have served on the Club’s executive, particularly its presidents: Laird Watt, Walter Martin, John Proctor, Jim Skelton, Frank Mott-Trille, Brian Flood and David Dimmer.

News & Results

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IC Council News

October 2022
IC Spain win Potter Cup and IC Italy win Two Presidents Cup

IC Spain win Potter Cup and IC Italy win Two Presidents Cup

The IC Spain team led by Roberto Menéndez and captained by Santiago Tintore has reclaimed the Potter Cup title, defeating IC France in the final by a score of 4-1.

The key match saw Menéndez, current world champion in the 45+ category, beaten by Frenchman Arnaud Magnin, who has also held the title of world champion on several occasions, in three tight sets.

With this victory, the Spanish team regains the title they last won in 2013 in the prestigious competition held at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona and bringing together some of the world’s best veteran players.

This forty-ninth edition of the Potter Cup was disputed by eight IC teams, some of them participating in the competition since its inception, such as the USA, Great Britain, France and Spain. They were joined in this edition by teams from Ireland, Belgium, Germany and Italy. IC Spain had to resort to the final doubles rubber to beat IC Ireland in the first round after a tight 3-2 in singles. In the semi-finals they were squeezed past IC Italia after a retirement by the Italian doubles players due to injury.

The Spanish team was comprised of Roberto Menéndez, Pepe Vicente, Albert Costa, Jordi Mas, Bruno Barrientos, Xaiver Llucià, Eduardo Sanz, Oriol Molina, Antonio Diaz de las Casas and Santiago Tintore as Captain.

In the women's event, IC Italy was the winner of the fifth edition of the Two Presidents Cup, beating the Spanish team in the decisive doubles, with the teams level after the singles matches. The players Rosa Andrés and Gisela Riera lost the third set by the tightest of margins: a 16-14 match tie break. They were accompanied in the team by Cristina Fontelles, Neus Avila and Eva Bes.

During the event, the participants once again were able to participate in a clinic with the group of players from the Acell Federation, which provides playing opportunities for players with learning difficulties.

All the participants have expressed their gratitude for the hospitality received from the Real Club de Polo and RCTB 1899, co-hosts of this competition. The tournament was supported by the Catalan Tennis Federation and the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation.

Video of the 2022 event

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