On Saturday 25 April, we held our season opener informal tournament. The popularity of the event was highlighted by it being oversubscribed, with a reserve list of players ready to step in last minute.The emphasis is fun with a competitive element. The scoring system (a bit like a handicap) gives everyone a chance, although good play on the day tends to be rewarded.

Sean, our coach, was in charge and, as usual, ensured it all ran smoothly, although on this occasion, he was helped by a teenage volunteer, Oliver Aitken.

Tennis is a game for all ages to enjoy as this tournament demonstrated. Competitors included a fifteen-year-old and an octogenarian!

In the main picture, you see the four finalists, Krasen Saltikov the winner, (standing next to club president, Paul Dixon) is clutching an incredibly prestigious and valuable trophy. The two ladies sharing a similar trophy are left to right, Suzie Horn and Jane Carter. They were by a quirk joint second. If it does not sound right, ask Sean to explain! On the far left is Peter Surrage, perhaps wondering why “the quirk” did not work in his favour!

Players vied for third and fourth place and in the second photo, left to right, we see the competitors, Graeme Schofield, Cat Noon, Natalie Watson and Hamish Bredin.

As we review this, the news for our various teams is that so far, we won seven out of seven Summer inter club league matches, on any view a great start! In this note we will highlight one of the winning teams, the ladies third team, playing at Durham Archery.

They are pictured in photo 3. From left to right, we see Jane Donald, Grace Kavanagh, Hannah Watson, Cat Noon, Katherine Hunt and Carol Hepburn. Notable is the fact that Hannah Watson, drafted in at a late stage to play her first senior match is thirteen years old (and won all her sets!). As mentioned above, tennis is a game for all ages!