The Lowestoft and District Tennis championships took place at the Denes Oval over a period of one week in late June. The weather was perfect for the first 4 days but was then hindered by high blustery winds for much of the semi-finals and finals.

Entries were up on the previous year with 54 individuals playing a total of 74 matches. With a scattering of entries from most clubs, but notably new entries from Saxmundham, it was down to Lowestoft Town Tennis Club to field more than 80% of the entries.

Despite this the tournament was a great success with a high standard of play with many matches in the earlier rounds going to a championship tiebreak in the third set.

Peter Aldous, Alan Reeve, Andrew Turner, Ben Thompson and Richard Brabben, who organised and ran the event, supported by the committee and members of Lowestoft Town Tennis club, found that most of the seedings went to plan in all the events, which covered Open events for the Barraclough Empire and Sayer-Gooch trophies which are over 100 years old and restricted and handicapped events for divisions 2, 3 and the veterans events for 45 and 50+.

On finals day the club committee provided hot and cold refreshments and a magnificent display of cakes and pastries for the event which started at 9.00am and went through to 8.00pm.

On finals day spectators were presented with a great display of top class tennis across all the events.

Results

Mens Open singles was won by Richard Harrison (Gorleston) 6-1 6-2 with a strong display of hard hitting tennis against Oliver Bailey (Southwold).

Ladies Open singles was won by Lucy Brabben (Lowestoft) taking her 4th title with a strong display of ground strokes against a spirited performance by Emily Drake (Beccles) 6-2 6-2.

Ladies Open doubles was won by Lucy Brabben and Debbie Faulkner (Lowestoft) 6-2 6-0 against Anna Soanes and Jill Hook (Southwold)

Mens Open doubles was won by father and son partnership Ben and Jensen Thompson (Lowestoft) 7-5 6-4 against Oliver Bailey and Regan Bessey (Southwold).

Mixed Open doubles was won by Ben Thompson (Lowestoft)and Emily Wharton (Wortham) 7-6 6-2 against brother and sister James and Lucy Brabben (Lowestoft)

The restricted ladies doubles was won by Desi Reed and Christine Turner (Lowestoft) defeating Jill Bagley and Jenny Rodgers 6-4 6-4

The restricted mens doubles was won by Matthew Last and Ewan Threadkell (Saxmundham) 4-6 7-5 10-7 against Mike Power and Mike Kirk (Lowestoft)

The restricted mixed doubles was won by Richard Brabben and Christine Turner (Lowestoft) 6-4 6-4 against Alan Reeve (Lowestoft) and Emily Drake (Beccles).

The 45+ mens singles was won by Noel Stapley for the 3rd year defeating Andy Podd (Lowestoft) 6-3 6-1