There will be two new names on the OVLTC honours board following last Saturday’s Finals Day.

Having suffered several near misses in past finals Sally Platt finally got over the line in the ladies’ doubles final. She partnered Kate Lingard – another first-time winner – to victory over sisters Jo Naish and Micky  Callcut.

Sally and Kate’s attacking game took them into a 4-1 lead. But the never-say-die approach of Jo and Micky saw them win the next four games to lead 5-4, only for Sally and Kate to regroup and reel off three games to take the first set 7-5.

A rain-interrupted second set followed a similar pattern with Sally and Kate going 3-0 up. And this time they kept the sisters at bay to close out a 7-5,6-3 victory.   

The rain delay also put paid to Dan Hockley’s hopes of bringing home a trophy. He was in three finals, but having completed the men’s doubles in the morning he was warming up for the mixed on a drying Court 1 when he slipped, landed on his thumb and spent the next five hours in A and E where deep tissue damage was revealed.

In that men’s doubles final Dan partnered Tom Collins against Peter Gunn and Prav Reddy. Dan and Tom began well, leading 2-0 and then 3-1. But three consecutive service breaks put Peter and Prav in command and Peter served it out to take the first set 6-3.

With the momentum in favour of Peter and Prav they raced into a 4-0 lead in the second, and then held off a revival by Dan and Tom to take the title 6-3,6-4.

With Dan unable to take any further part in proceedings the men’s singles and mixed doubles titles were decided without a ball being hit. Tom and Hannah Collins took the mixed, repeating their win of two years ago, and Jimmy Philpott won his fourth successive men’s singles championship. But so the spectators had some tennis to enjoy, Simon Perrin was pressed into service, partnering Pauline McFadden in the mixed, while Peter Gunn returned to face Jimmy in the men’s. Thanks to Simon and Peter for being such good sports.

It was business as usual in the ladies’ singles as Pauline wrapped up her 19th title. Pauline’s ability to chase down every ball again proved decisive against first-time finalist Sophie McFarlane. It was a far closer match than the 6-1,6-1 score suggests (the very first game ran to 14 points.) But Sophie found – as so many others have in the past – that if you don’t shorten the rallies against Pauline there’s only likely to be one winner.

Thanks to all who helped out on the day, umpiring, setting up, providing a lovely tea and running the barbecue and bar. And mostly to the unfortunate Dan for organising the whole event as tournament director…

Men's Doubles - P.Gunn &  P. Reddy

Mixed Doubles - H. Collins &  T.Collins

Ladies Singles - P. McFadden

Men's Singles  - J.Philpott

Ladies Doubles - S. Platt & K. Lingard