Winscombe Tennis Club’s open ladies’ champions retained their title.

DEFENDING champions Lucy Emery and Lucy Linham had to battle hard to retain their title at the annual open ladies’ tournament organised by Winscombe Tennis Club.

This was despite taking an early lead over former winners of the event, the Cheddar pairing of Juliet Knight and Nicky Atwood, who fought back only to lose the last two games.

The trophy was presented to the triumphant Nailsea couple by Winscombe club president Clive Wheller, who congratulated all 30 players on the high standard and sporting spirit in which the matches were played.

He also expressed thanks to organiser Ruth Angelinetta, who originally came up with the idea of the tournament and has run all 13 since then. She recently left Winscombe having moved to Wells and hopes to compete next year, rather than keeping tally of others’ scores.

Winscombe chairman Peter Hucker added words of praise to her for her hard work through the years. “Ruth has done a superb job and has built this up into a top-class event,” he said. “We shall miss her enthusiasm and efficiency and wish her well for the future.”

The losing semi-finalists were Debbie Sandiford and Paula Virgo, of Cheddar, and Sue Williamson and Carole Beach, from Bridgwater.