The Indoor Championships, which began in 1988, were first played at Esporta Croydon and moved to David Lloyd Heston in 1996 before settling in their current home at David Lloyd Dudley, conveniently located for players from all over the country, in 2003.
The first events played were the Men’s 45 and 55 and the Women’s 40 in 1988. Some 20 or so overseas players enter this ITF Grade 2 tournament each year adding considerably to the variety of competition available and providing new opponents for the home players.
In 2012 twenty singles and thirteen doubles events were catered for.The 2013 tournament was run from Friday 25 to Saturday 2 February and was an ITF Grade 1.
There were 514 entries including some 48 from overseas.
Anthea Stewart was pushed all the way in the final of the Ladies 50 singles by doubles partner, Chris French narrowly winning the first set tie-break 11-9, losing a 2-6 second set and eventually coming through in the third after more than four hours. After such exertions, the pair did not contest the doubles final!
The Men’s events were no less eventful, with Bob Milner winning the 75 singles and doubles title and Niall Sweeney winning the 60 doubles competition.
Congratulations to all the Kent players who took part!