Sidmouth Tennis Club held its annual awards and social evening which was well supported by both adults and children, the latter making good use of the floodlit courts prior to the presentations and buffet supper.

Many thanks to all those who donated prizes for the raffle and to the trophy sponsors without which this event would not be possible. Congratulations to the social committee for all their efforts in making the evening such a relaxed and enjoyable affair.

Roll of honour:

Ladies Singles: Vivienne Bess (third consecutive year); Men’s Singles: Martin Truman; Ladies’ Doubles: Hilary Caldwell and Lesley Cranston; Men’s Doubles: Jon Powell and Jake Harrison; Girls’ U18 Singles: Mollie Wiltshire; Girls’ U14 Singles: Mollie Wiltshire; Boys’ U14 Singles: James Clarke; Rusties: Karen Greenslade and Jon Glover; Mini-Reds: Jed Ianov-Flint; Most Improved Junior: Jed Ianov-Flint.

The Ladies’ B team had two matches in quick succession, both against David Lloyd.

The first match, at home against David Lloyd B , proved to be a three-and-a-half hour marathon. The teams were closely matched and each of the four games witnessed long rallies, plenty of deuce games and some nail-biting tie-breaks. Marlene Maynard and Kate Truman lost their first rubber 5-7 7-6 8-10 but won the second 6-3 1-6 10-8, while Sally Lockhart and Vici Topping lost their first rubber 3-6 1-6 and were unlucky to lose their second 7-6 1-6 9-11. It was an enjoyable, if exhausting, evening of really good tennis which could have easily gone either way but eventually resulted in a 7-4 win to David Lloyd.

Three days and a couple of Ibuprofen later, the Sidmouth team were away against the David Lloyd C team, this time with a more satisfying result. Maynard and Truman played together again and, despite a couple of interruptions due to heavy rain showers, dug deep and maintained their concentration to win both rubbers, 7-5 6-3 and 6-2 6-2. Sally Lockhart teamed up with Jackie Ensall this time round and the pair took the first rubber in style, 6-1 6-3, before tiredness and unforced errors crept in to deny them the final rubber 3-6 3-6. Nevertheless, the final result went 6-2 in Sidmouth’s favour.