Hundreds of tennis players have been taking part in two long-running tournaments at Burnham-On-Sea Avenue Tennis Club in recent days.
The 92nd Annual Burnham-On-Sea Senior Open has also been held in recent says, with many local players picking up prizes.
And over 140 youngsters have been competing in the club’s annual junior tournament, with children aged 18 and under competing for the silverware.
15 year-old Hayley James won three out of three finals in the Junior Open, beating Sarah Collinge (Devon) 6-4 6-2 in the Under 18 Girls Open Singles event. The Backwell player also won the Under 16 Girls Singles, beating South Wales’ Lottie Vaughan 6-2 6-4, and won the Under 18 Mixed Doubles with partner Kristian Newman (Yatton).
The Under 18 Boys Open Singles was won by number one seed Toby Mitchell, beating Simon Pritchard (South Wales) 6-7(4) 6-2 6-3. Kristian Newman later partnered Henry Mullan in the Under 14 Boys’ Doubles to beat James Mitchell and Jimmy Hardiman 6-2 7-5.
Worcestshire pair Louise Neville and Lucy Simper beat South Wales’ Charlotte Irvine and Natalie Youhana 6-0 6-3 to take the Under 14 Girls Doubles title, before Simper and Irvine crossed swords once again in the Under 14 Girls Singles. Irvine eventually beat Simper 6-4 2-6 7-5.
The prize for best Avenue Player was won by Alex Chilcott who reached both the 10.2 Girls Consolation and the Under 14 Mixed Doubles finals.
Meanwhile, in the Senior Open many local players have been picking up prizes. Avenue member and coach Craig Phillips won the Open Men’s Singles, beating Devon’s Ben Tyrrell 6-2 6-0.
Kendall Brown, also from Devon, won the Open Ladies Singles, beating Jessica Davies (Avon) 7-6 (4) 6-2. Phillips then partnered Adam Cooper (Devon) to beat Avenue members Glenn Pigden and Robert Sweet 6-1 6-0 in the Open Men’s Doubles. The Open Mixed Doubles was won by Adam Cooper and Kendall Brown, with Phillips appearing in his third final.
Avenue Ladies Captain Lyn O’Dell won two out of three finals including the veteran’s mixed doubles with Bristol’s Anthony Willford and the veteran’s ladies doubles with Pat Hunter.
In the final match of the day, O’Dell and Hunter’s stream of wins ended when they lost to Debra Smith and Linda Matthews in the handicap ladies doubles final.
Referee Barry Ramsden and tournament organiser Linda Matthews ensured a smooth running of the tournaments.
The Avenue’s President, Poo Jenkins, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “A lot of very good tennis has been played over the past few days – it’s been a very busy and enjoyable few weeks at the club.”
Pictured (top) are junior trophy winners Soffee Rees and Kristian Newman with Referee Barry Ramsden and Avenue President Poo Jenkins; and (above) Joan Thomas from sponsors Burnham Holiday Village with winners and runners-up Craig Phillips, Ben Tyrrell, Joan Thomas, Kendall Brown and Jessica Davies
