- Calderdale Lawn Tennis League 2019 - Over 40s - Finals - pictured are the Over 40s finalists - Back row: Chris Williams and Jonathan Cooper. Front row: Liz McHugh, Ann Rushworth, Margaret Smith, Phill Morton, Suzanne Oulton and Janet West.

In the Calderdale Lawn Tennis Over 40s finals held at Park Tennis Club, Ann Rushworth, from Wellholme, regained her titles in the Ladies’ singles and Ladies’ doubles.

Rushworth and Todmorden’s Suzanne Oulton have contested the singles final for the last six years, with Oulton winning for the first time in 2018. However, in a very closely fought match, Rushworth just edged out her rival this year 7-5, 7-6 to gain her fifth title.

Rushworth again had the better of Oulton in the Ladies’ doubles as she and fellow club teammate Janet West beat the Todmorden pairing of Oulton and Margaret Smith 6-3, 6-1. Rushworth had also won the title with Helen Brown in 2016.

Oulton then paired up with Phill Morton, another Todmorden club member, in the Mixed doubles and they made the 2018 winners Liz McHugh and Chris Williams, from Queens and Park respectively, work hard to retain their title 6-4, 6-3.

In the Men’s singles, Soyland’s Jonathan Cooper won his fourth title by beating Chris Williams 6-3, 6-4, and he also retained his Men’s doubles crown with Mark Sutcliffe after their opponents were forced to pull out.

Report by Chris Williams