Penallt Tennis club has been playing their adult knockout competitions over two weekends in June.
In recent years they have been lucky with the weather but it wasn't the case this year. The first Sunday was so wet that not even the normally waterproof Penallt players managed to compete.
Members managed to arrange matches during the week and catch up. It didn't rain continuously on the second Saturday but when the showers came they were certainly heavy.
To give the players their due they only left the courts on one occasion when the rain drops were bouncing 2 feet up in the air.
It was good to play the finals on an almost dry day and the audience certainly appreciated a few glimpses of the sun.
As usual there were a number of closely contested and lengthy 3 set matches.
Mens Finals
The final of the men's singles plate competition was one of the longest matches although it was only 2 sets.
It was between Adam Clarke and Walter May. The first set alone took one and a half hours. Walter eventually won the match and the title.
Both semi -final matches in the men's singles cup went to 3 sets. Dave Guppy & Nick Cann had a close contest with Dave winning the third set. Sean Delahoy and Ian Lewis had a hard fought battle with Sean winning 4.6 7.6 6.2. The triumph of youth over experience! Sean takes the title for the first time as Adam Davis was unable to play the final due to an injury.
Ladies Singles
The ladies single title goes to Liz Clarke who had a close match against Val Simeoni winning 6.4 7.6.
Mixed Doubles
In the mixed doubles plate competition Nick Cann & Sue Jenkins had a very close semi-final against Bob & Michele Hall. It was decided on the tie break at the end of the third set which Sue & Nick won.
They went on to play the plate final against Walter May & Ginny Higgins. It was another close match with Walter & Ginny taking the title 6.4 6.4.
The mixed cup final was between the holders Chris & Rosie Adams and Ian Lewis & Sue Humble. It went to 3 sets with many deuces and long rallies with Ian & Sue winning 6.2. 2.6 6.2.
In the men's doubles it was Adam Clarke (again!) and Paul Hazlewood who had the long matches. They had a very close match of over 2 hours against Sean Delahoy & Kevin Brook which they won 5.7 7.6 7.6
They then came up against Chris Hollick & Chris Adams in the semi-final. They took the first set but the 2 Chris's managed to take the next 2 sets. In the final the 2 Chris's played last year's holders Mike Bryan & Rob Prewett. Mike & Rob won the first set. In the second The Chris's were up 4.2 and the audience were hoping for a third set but Mike's power and Rob's accuracy allowed them to turn it round and win it and the title.
Last but not least the ladies doubles. Liz Clarke and Karen Rollings won the ladies plate beating Joan Hollick and Mandy Oke in the final.
The final of the cup was between Rosie Adams & Ginny Higgins and Sue Humble & Val Simeoni with Rosie & Ginny winning in 2 sets.
