Tennis titles were up for grabs at Ardgowan

The tournament enjoyed sunny conditions throughout the fortnight.

However, finals day was a different story with rain from start to finish.

All four courts at Ardgowan were in action for the first round of ties.

The main event of the day was the men’s open singles final.

Both competitors are members of Fort Matilda Tennis Club and this was their first G&D singles final.

Eighteen-year-old Calum Roberts and his opponent, 23-year-old Christopher Fay, battled not only each other, but also the weather.

Calum settled early and stormed through the first set, taking it by six games to one.

Christopher raised his game to battle back and showed his strong contingent of family supporters that he deserved his place in the final.

Christopher secured the second set by six games to two. Both players rallied and showed determination, with Christopher displaying his attacking and shot-making game as Calum showed he is one of the best defensive players ever to have competed in the G&D tournament.

Calum broke Christopher’s serve early in the deciding set and went on to win it by six games to three, securing his first G&D men’s singles title. The rest of the day’s programme saw Ardgowan player Logan Boyle unleash several devastating backhands on his way to winning the men’s shield event, defeating Fort Matilda teenager Cameron Hyde.

Also in action in the first round of finals day ties were rising stars of the future, Eilidh McLaughlin and Emma Devlin, who faced each other in the girls’ under-18 singles event.

Eilidh, who has recently represented the county, proved too strong for Emma and took the match without dropping a game.

The boys’ under-18 singles saw two talented and vastly improved tennis players do battle for the title.

Ardgowan player Mark Higgins took on last year’s runner-up in this event, Niki Gordon of Fort Matilda Tennis Club.

Mark came through in straight sets.

The ladies’ open doubles title was retained by last year’s winners Diane Fung and Jane Haslam, who eventually edged past Allison Daisley and Fiona Riddell, winning a third set championship tie break.

Play was abandoned for the day and resumed on Sunday afternoon, with the men’s open doubles and open mixed doubles events. Holders of the men’s title, father and son Roy and Richard Fraser, retained their title by defeating Craig Williams and Calum Roberts by winning a third set championship tiebreak.

The open mixed doubles event went to last year’s holders of the title, Robin Gerrard and Anna Daisley, who defeated Robin’s father Callum and Diane Fung in straight sets.

The G&D committee would like to thank both Ardgowan and Fort Matilda tennis clubs for their support and use of their facilities and a special thanks to the ladies at Ardgowan for a splendid tea.

Also thanks to Deputy Provost David Wilson and Liz Gerrard who presented the prizes.