The October ‘fun” tournament went well. The weather was kind. As if by design, it turned warm and sunny, just in time for the start.

On this occasion, Sean, our coach and organiser, forsook the running handicap formula and chose the arrangement with each pair (partners being drawn) being “an item” but playing four games with partner and four after swapping partners, so an individual match involved eight games. It was the right day for this system as we had exactly equal numbers of ladies and gents. It was going to be a busy afternoon (several rounds with different opponents) and to keep it rolling, Sean decreed there would be “Sudden Death”, that is, only one more point in the game, if it got to deuce.

There was a lot of tennis (emphasis on fun but competitive and, some would say, nerve racking at Sudden Death). In the end, “the cream rose to the top”, although the finalists were too modest to mention it!

In the first photo you see all the competitors, looking happy, but with some, perhaps, putting on a brave face, still contemplating those near misses on Sudden Death.

In the second photograph, are the finalists, runners up, Graeme Schofield and Suzie Horn, flanking the winners Daisy Rutter and Kevin Speight who are holding their prestigious trophies. It had been an absorbing final of a good standard to watch, so close that the match had to be decided by a very tight tie break!

Thanks go to Sean for running the show and those who brought the light refreshments.