Coup Droit wrote:

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NB Anyone know much anything about Lamar Bartley ?

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 No. But, assuming its the same guy, he does have a website which has a bio etc..

http://www.lamarbartley.co.uk/

GBJ wrote:

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I've never followed the british tour events since I discovered this forum 18 months ago (I'm not sure how it took me so many years before I found this forum now I think of it - when Murray and Robson and Watson were all playing futures and challengers I just used to look the results up myself!).

Anyway could someone give me a quick explanation of what the point of the british tour is - why to players want to play this instead of futures and why do the people putting the events on not just put futures events on? Is it a level below? If so why are people like Evans an Willis playing? - just as an attempt to get into the winning habit? How does prize money compare?

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 Designed as a stepping stone between top junior events and 10/15K pro events.  

Juniors get to play some of our pro players to help prepare them in the move to the senior game.  Professionals have access to better prize money than 10Ks and no need to leave the UK.  Professional players often use these events after injury or as warm up events for other tournaments.

GBJ, the key thing about the Tour is that it does not give ATP/WTA ranking points. It's a purely domestic competition, nothing to do with the international bodies. As such, the LTA (or whoever runs it i.e. it could be anybody) can host them when they want, have a draw size as they want, not play doubles, pay what they like etc. etc. These ones form part of a LTA-sponsored system (with Wimbly Q wildcards tied in etc.) but effectively they're just local tournaments that anyone could put on.

Shhh's link gives all the info for this year's competitions. You can see that pay is actually (still) very generous compared to 10ks. And the level is a lot lower (as there's no ranking points, very few foreign players sign up, or even serious GB players who are trying to climb the ladder). But, as The O says, it serves a good stepping stone (for juniors, those on the cusp, those back from injury etc.). It should also serve as a spectacle for club players and fans i.e. bringing more good-ish quality tennis to the public. But doesn't seem to. And the richer events attract better players, for the pay packet.

Coup Droit wrote:

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Order seems to be rather restored:

Marcus and Dan E came through slightly more easily than yesterday.

In the Qs, Marcus plays Evan, Toby plays Oliver hudson, Dan Evans plays Marcus Walters (who beat Andy B), and Neil plays David Porter.

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From his tweet, it appears that Evan has beaten Marcus.

In the semis:

Toby def. Evan 6-1 6-3

Neil P def. Marcus Walters 5-7 6-2 6-1

Madadman wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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NB Anyone know much anything about Lamar Bartley ?

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 No. But, assuming its the same guy, he does have a website which has a bio etc..

http://www.lamarbartley.co.uk/

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 Yep loads played for our Aegon team couple of times