Christmas doubles attracts 64

FUN and lots of games were the order of the day in the Guernsey Schools' Tennis Club Christmas doubles tournament. Sponsored by St Margaret's Lodge Hotel, the competition attracted 64 players of all ages and abilities.

The youngest pairings were sisters Simone and Monique Blanchard and Georgie Fletcher and Louise Dorey. The latter came out narrow winners 3-2. Their league was won by Lucas van de Hauwaert and Jonathan Wilson.

The Rigby family had a successful event, Jessica and father Paul winning their league from an improving Rebecca and Dave Hobson partnership. Jodie and mum Tracey Rigby went unbeaten but were pushed very hard by Marie and Anne van de Hauwaert.

A special mention must go to the youngest combination of twins Alice and Rosie Davis.

Some of the closest matches came in the league won by Michael and Quentin Vohman from Harry Lewis and Michaela Hockey. Both pairs went unbeaten but a superior points total by the Vohmans won them the title.

Not far behind them came the father-and-son combinations of David and Jamie Campbell and Will and Dave Garnett.

In the top half of the draw, Sue Molle and Anna Wilkins won their league, thanks to a narrow 5-4 win over Poppy Byrom and Hannah Riley.

The all-boys division was won by the Trotter brothers, Richard and Michael.

Needing to win their last match, they narrowly overcame a spirited performance by Oliver Shier and Harry Stephens to take the title 4-3.

Robert Lowe and Chris Quevatre performed well and showed how much they have improved this winter with wins over Andrew Milton and Will Garnett and a narrow loss to the Trotters in their first match.

The Dyers entertained the gallery in their group matches, Joanna with sound ground strokes and father Chris covering the net on every occasion.

Harry and Karen Martel took the next spot on games won from Gareth and Helen Grand.

The top spot went to Dave and Megan Hearse, again by games won, from Carlo Stefani and Simon Touzeau.

In their final match, the Hearses continued their winning way by 5-3 in an excellent encounters with Gareth Grand and Joanna Dyer.

Team trophies were presented by Stefani, of St Margaret's Lodge Hotel, to Jessica and Paul Rigby, Sue Molle, Anna Wilkins, David and Janine Campbell, Alice and Rosie Davis.

Michael Trotter was named most-improved player, seven-year-old Simone Blanchard was the youngest player and Chris Dyer received the prize for the noisiest player.

The St Margaret's Lodge Hotel monthly awards went to Joanna Dyer and Megan Hearse for winning CI titles and wins in the recent CI Ariel matchplay competition.

Oliver Shier was also complimented on winning the Under-14 Ariel CI matchplay title recently.