Robinson maintains her amazing tournament run

JO ROBINSON has maintained her incredible record in the Channel Islands Championships. The Guernsey stalwart won the women's singles title in the first year it was held, 1985, and has won 11 times since as well as having three children.

'I don't think she has ever been beaten in this event but she admits that now she is there to be shot down by the young guns,' said championships referee Di Hudson.

However, they did not appear at the Guernsey Tennis Centre this time around.

Last year there was such a large entry that qualifying matches had to be held.

Perhaps that put players off as no one from Jersey entered this time around, although Claire Randell and Tracy Hubert travelled from the mainland to play.

Robinson overcame Randell 6-2, 6-1 in the final.

The women's doubles was won by Jacqui Hunt and Robinson 6-4, 6-2 with Randell and Hubert runners-up.

Patrick Ogier, who claimed the title as a school boy in 2004, lost a close final to Pieter Theron last year and was wanting a good battle to try and regain his crown this year as he felt he was playing well, having won the island title again recently.

The resurfaced courts at Long Camps are playing slow at present so winning points is harder.

In the final this year his opponent Jimmy Wood started well, but lost his third service game and Ogier looked good for the first set.

However, Wood broke back at 2-5 and some extravagant play by Ogier let him back to 4-5.

That was the end of Wood's resistance and Ogier comfortably ran out a 6-4, 6-0 winner, using his backhand down the line to great effect.