Cheddar Tennis Club members were treated to a sparkling display of tennis at their annual club finals day, made all the more enjoyable by the glorious late summer weather and excellent hot dogs and buffet lunch.

Two very close doubles encounters opened the proceedings.  In the ladies doubles Georgie Syed and Jennie Colton battled hard for two hours, but could not break down the combination of Ruth Rodgers’ wicked sliced ground strokes and Denise Davidson’s net play, eventually succumbing 5-7, 3-6.  The men’s doubles match was even closer; Steve Watkins and Arthur Brown defeating Roger Dennis and Andrew Mearns 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Next up were the singles finals.  In the ladies final multiple former ladies champion Juliet Knight proved too strong for last year’s winner Claire Blythe, winning 6-2, 6-2.  The men’s final turned out to be a test of endurance between two big hitters.  Men’s captain Chris Rodgers started very strongly against the club’s head coach Stephen Pearce, winning the first set quite comfortably.  Then the effects of his three hour semi final win the previous day seemed to take their toll and Pearce gradually gained the upper hand, eventually winning 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.

The last match of the day was the mixed doubles final, which saw three of the four players back on court for a second time.  This time it was success for Andrew Mearns and Georgie Syed who beat Matthew Hill and Juliet Knight 6-2, 6-4.  Matthew Hill’s work was not quite done though; in his professional capacity as BBC West TV correspondent he was then asked to present the trophies to all the winners.

Chairman Jennie Colton congratulated all the players who took part and thanked Steve Watkins for a well run tournament and Rosemary Gilling and Di Babbington for providing the refreshments.