Martin Smith is the new men’s singles champion at Hartswood Tennis Club, writes Jon Batham.
Smith earned his crown the hard way by beating twice former winner Chris Twiss in a thrilling three-set final, after beating defending champion Chris Beggs in the semi-finals seven days earlier.
It looked as if Twiss would regain the title he last held in 2011 when he won a tough first set 6-3, but Smith hit back to win the second 6-0.
The decider was gripping, but Smith prevailed 6-4 to take the crown.
There were no such dramas for Alice Shimmin who won her fourth ladies singles crown, beating Anna Morgan 6-2, 6-3 in a repeat of last year’s final.
This was Shimmins’ second win of the day following her mixed doubles success with Tim Behrens, and she made it a hat-trick by capturing the veteran ladies doubles with Martine Biddle.
Morgan meanwhile, gained consolation for her singles near miss in the form of the ladies doubles crown, teaming up with Lyndsay Ridgers to beat Fiona Cook and Elizabeth Gibson for the loss of just two games.
The Lintern family had double reason to celebrate after Angus’ win in the U16 singles was followed by dad Richard winning the vets mixed doubles with Sarah Vertigan.
First-team captain Robert Sadler ended his term of office by taking the men’s doubles alongside Behrens, beating Chris Beggs and Adam Sykulski 6-1, 6-4.
Sadler plans to celebrate by taking a sabbatical from work and travelling around South America.
In the other adult final, Kyle Day and Angus Warren took the men’s veteran doubles title, beating Matt Hales and Graham Raine 6-3, 6-1.
There were seven other junior finals, testament to both the Andy Murray factor and the hard work done by coach Mahmuda Jafarey and Sian Hood, committee member in charge of the juniors.
Ameena Meeran did not drop a single game in a ruthless display to win the 16 and under girls crown, having already carried off the girls U16 doubles with Shikha Yadav, who won the U12 singles earlier in the week for the loss of just two games.
Calvin Hartley had to go to a deciding tie-break in his battle to overcome Alfie Kelsey in the boys U12 singles.
He too made it a double by taking the doubles with Sammy Glynn, defeating Alastair Down and Jake Robinson 6-2, 6-2.
