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 Rain, rain won't go away Cold, wet Wimbledon plagued again by showers
Posted: Friday June 26, 1998 05:03 PM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Carol Shroades and Angela Boykins got the feel of Wimbledon on Friday. "It's cold and wet," said Shroades, huddled in the food court over an order of fish and chips. "They say this is summer. I call my friends and family back home and they say it's 95 degrees. I have no sympathy for them." "And to think we skipped school for this," said Boykins, who, like her friend, is studying law at Northern Ohio University and taking classes this summer in London. Friday was the fifth day of Wimbledon -- and the third wet one. Rain delayed the start of play four hours. Twice it was held up by showers, with only eight singles matches completed. The temperature never got above 63 degrees. "Just another day here in London," said U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter, who killed time playing indoor cricket. "Timmy Henman has a cricket bat," he explained. "We had a game of indoor cricket. I don't think the members of the club were too happy." Almost three full days were wiped out last year in the wettest Wimbledon in history. This year the showers have been of the nuisance variety, but no less annoying. And there's more rain in the forecast. The London Weather Center called for a chance of heavy showers Saturday -- with the possibility of hail. Sunday could be slightly better with more rain early next week. "It looks fairly unsettled into early next week," a duty forecaster said Friday. "It's not particularly unusual June weather here."
"I feel so sorry for the people who buy tickets and come and sit in the rain," said Charlotte Johnston, selling ice cream outside the food court. "It's so demoralizing." The 21-year-old student-vendor sheltered under a plastic rain poncho and crossed her arms over her chest for warmth. "I've sold two in an hour," she said. "I'd be all right if I were selling tea." Susie Green, from England's western city of Bristol, is used to the foul-weather tradition at Wimbledon. "This is the fifth time I've come and I've only seen two matches," she said. "We British are very resilient. The last time I saw a match? Maybe in the '70s with Borg." Briton Steve Biucchi also took it with the predictable stiff upper lip -- and a stiff drink. He was among hundreds who ignored light showers to picnic on the terrace behind Court No. 1, warming with champagne, wine or -- like Biucchi -- the traditional Wimbledon elixir, Pimms. "We haven't had that many just yet," he said. "But we could be in trouble if it keeps raining." Contrary to popular belief, Wimbledon marketing director Robert McCowen said the rain hurts -- not helps -- Wimbledon's pricey gift shops and food concessions. "We find people go in to stay warm, but just mill around," he said. "When the weather's nice they stay later and spend." Few stayed late Friday. Most left early to watch England's crucial World Cup game in France against Colombia.
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