The Essex Individual Winter Finals were held at Redbridge Sports Centre last Sunday. As usual, there was some excellent tennis played. This year there were a number of players who had not reached the finals before.
Pride of place in the Men’s event must go to Steve Russell (Redbridge Sports Club) who was competing in 4 finals. He played brilliantly to win the Men’s Open singles, against Lee Duncan (Cranston Park). In the Men’s over 35’s singles he just beat Simon Chesher (Westcliff Hardcourts)and then teamed by with club mate Nigel Parsons to lose narrowly the Over Men’s doubles to Luke Spooner (Harlow)and Tom Perry (Spring Lane)in a very exciting match. In his last match, he teamed up with club mate Brian Roberts to beat Maurice Bitton and Andy Willis (Linkside).
In the Ladies events, Helen Parish (Grosvenor) back from injury, showed her class to win easily the Ladies singles against Suzanne Laen-Gay (DL Basildon). Sarah Ball (Westcliff Lawn) had a busy day, went on to win the Ladies over 35’s and over 45’s singles, both very long matches. In her third match the Ladies over 40’s doubles, she played with team mate Cally Finders, but lost to Jenny King (Essex Golf & Country Club) and Soozi Rowbotham (Thaxted).
Simon Chesher (Westcliff Hard) also reached 3 finals and played well in each of his matches. He beat Neil Taylor (Virgin Active Clearview) in the Men’s 45’s singles and then teamed up with David Lambe (Gidea Park LTC)to play the Men’s over 45’s doubles but lost a close and exciting match to Wayne Lemoine (Gidea park LTC) and Neil Taylor.
Denise Downey (Grove Chelmsford) and Gemma Fenton (Gidea Park) beat No 1 seeds, Sue Hookway and Faye Watts (Westcliff Hardcourts) in a close Ladies Open doubles final.
Andrew Knights (Essex Golf & Country Club) showed his skill by winning 2 mixed doubles events. He teamed up with club mates Emily Williams, who was in her 1st final to win the Open Mixed doubles and then with Sophie Bardrick to win the 35’s and over mixed doubles
Stalwart Neil Taylor, won the 45’s Men’s doubles, and then went on to play with Nick Wignall (Virgin Active Clearview) to win the 55’s Men’s doubles against Wayne Lemoine and James Weatherup (Virgin Active Clearview) in the last match of the day.
All together it was a very exciting day, enjoyed by the many supporters.
The event was refereed by Lesley Pitt. She was assisted by Mave Blewett in the organization of the tournament. They were helped on the day by Committee members, Ian Pitt, John Blewett and George Sabiniak.
Tournament Results
Photographs from the Day