Leicestershire's tennis veterans continue to lead the way in the fastest growing sector of the game in this country.
At the recent seniors' grass court championships at Wimbledon county players took four singles titles. Kerry Pollard of Roundhill Tennis club, who is world ranked No. 3 in her age group, took the over 35's ladies crown and Shirley Fox won the 65's. Richard Tutt and Mark Cox (both of the Leicestershire club) took the over 65's and over 70's titles respectively. Tutt and Cox teamed up to take the over 65's doubles title. As a pair Cox and Tutt are ranked no 1 in Europe.
Many readers will remember the ever popular Cox, who hails from Belgrave, who in the 1970s was British no. 1 and world no. 14 with wins over the likes of tennis legends Pancho Gonzales, Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors. Mark is now president of Leicestershire county tennis and loyally makes frequent trips back from his London home to play for the Leicestershire club and the county.
Cox will captain GB 70's age group in the upcoming world vets' championships in Anatalya, Turkey and Tutt the over 65's. Shirley Fox is selected for GB in the ladies' 65 group.
At county level Leicestershire's John Ison's over 35's have been multi time winners of the Group 1 of the national championships at Eastbourne.
Meanwhile the Leicestershire Club, captained by leading veteran, Colin Ayling, have been awarded the 'Seniors Club of the Year' title for the club's many successes across men's and ladies' senior tennis in all age groups. Ayling explained ' we have had a rich pedigree in veterans' tennis since its inception in the mid 1980's with the likes of Simon Partridge, Gill Thompson and Richard Tutt blazing a trail for us. We now hold an enviable national and international reputation for the strength in depth and quality of our senior players. Here at the Leicestershire club we hold the 45's, 55's, 60's and 70's national inter club championships. For a small county we punch way above our weight and we still have a conveyor belt of 'youngsters' coming up through the age groups so hopefully our success looks sets to continue!'