Hale Gardens Lawn Tennis Club’s annual championship serves up a smashing good time

AFTER a delayed start due to rain, Hale Gardens Lawn Tennis Club held their annual championships, and some excellent tennis was played.

The event started with Ashley Morgan and Lucy Morgan narrowly beating Teresa Nightingale and Hisham Rashed, 3-6, 7-6, (1-0) in the over-60s mixed doubles after a third-set tiebreaker.

The men’s singles followed, and it was full of excitement, with both finalists playing brilliantly. David Main eventually won the hard-fought match, beating Rob West in two sets, 7-4, 6-4.

The ladies’ singles was a young affair with two of our older juniors playing. Again, a hard-fought contest ensued, with both competitors playing to an extremely high standard, with Jasmine Robinson winning the first set, 6-2 and Isabelle Rudge taking the second, 6-4, before Rudge won the third set tiebreaker, 10-4.

The ladies’ over-60s doubles delivered top-quality tennis and was again superb to watch. Dee Flanagan and Teresa Nightingale narrowly beat Arianna Rogers and Megan Gurton again in a third set ten-point tiebreak, 5-7, 6-3, (10-6).

The last final of the day was a formidable match between father and son John and Thomas Lean and the two men’s singles finalists, Main and West. After an epic battle, the first set went to Main and West and after much ducking and diving from John, the father and son pairing clawed their way back to win the second set 7-5. The game was finally won in an incredible tiebreak, 10-8, by Main and West, who I am sure were exhausted by all the day’s events.

As mentioned, due to holidays, the ladies’ U60s doubles and U60s mixed doubles will be played later, along with the over-60s ladies’ doubles.

The men’s over-60s doubles was a round-robin event, with Chris Matthews and Roy Fisher winning the group, while the plate over-60s final saw Caz Deacon and Chris Matthews beat Catherine Goodyer and Mark Hibbert, 6-7, 6-2, (1-0).

Despite the inclement weather, players completed all scheduled matches, and the tennis was excellent, with most matches ending in tiebreaks.

The club’s star bakers pulled together with a delicious array of homemade cakes and other refreshments provided by Kate Rudge.

Everyone at the club thanks head coach Rob West for running the tournament and everyone who helped organise it.