Sidmouth Tennis Club’s annual Finals’ Day took place in hot sunshine and was the culmination of several tournaments run throughout the summer by head coach Sue Wiltshire.
All proceeds from entry fees, the sale of soup, rolls and cake, voluntary contributions and a highly successful raffle raised a phenomenal £600 for Gateway, the charity which supports homelessness or potential homelessness in Sidmouth.
The day kicked off with a highly successful Junior/ Senior Triples’ event where, this year, teams were competing for the Sam Marriott Trophy. Two junior teams, The Otters (James A , Dougie and Felix) and The Squirrels ( Oliver, Sabby and Abi) found themselves in the final with The Otters clinching it! T
It was the beginning of a highly successful day for James A, member of the Otters’ team, who were also presented with the prize as winners of their division in the LTA Youth League, as he later went on to win both Under 14 Boys’ Singles and the Men’s Doubles along with senior Martin Dawes.
Additional presentations were made to our junior girls who also won their division in the LTA Youth League.
Other winners who received their awards before the afternoon session, their finals having taken place earlier, were Ladies’ Singles’ Champ, Fiona Sommerville who also partnered Jackie Freeman to lift the trophy for the Ladies’ Doubles’ competition and Rusties’ Doubles’ Winners, Anne Blackford and Paul Mitchell.
In an exciting pair of junior singles’ matches, Sabby lifted the trophy for the under 18 Girls’ and James A for the Under 14 Boys’ with star, puppy sitting, Under 14 Girls’ champ Elise also receiving her award.
Two final Doubles’ matches produced winners in Sarah Van Hecke and Andrew Maker lifting the Mixed Doubles, along with previously mentioned James A and Martin Dawes clinching the Men’s Doubles.
However, the highlight of the afternoon has to be the exciting talent and superb tennis displayed in the Men’s Singles’ Final by both competitors. David Watson and Jed Ionov Flint produced a magnificent display of athleticism and volleying along with blistering ground strokes, with Jed the eventual winner.
Thanks to Debbie Snelgrove, Sue Wiltshire , Chrissie Hounslow, Ali Dawes and Chair Peter Clarke for their superb organisation, and to all the supporters in attendance.
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