While Dyer fulfilled her objective, remarkably just months after becoming a mother, West relinquished his title to a new winner in padel stand-out Olly Cull.
The annual championships have unfolded over the past couple of weeks at the Guernsey Racket Club at Longcamps.
With the men’s singles draw the largest it has been for years, and some fresh names appearing in the women’s event, there were some mouthwatering match-ups anticipated.
The event started with some of the young blood coming through to upset stalwarts of the game, with 17-year-old Jack Bachmann racing through to the semi-finals, where he met top seed and last year’s finalist Tom Turner.
In the bottom half of the draw Cull, returning from shoulder surgery three years ago, was pitched against 13-time champion West.
As the two youngsters battled it out, Turner was too strong for Bachmann and prevailed 6-3, 6-3.
But in the contest between two experienced, ex-collegiate players, Cull came through 6-2, 6-4 to ensure there would be a different winner this year.
In Sunday’s final, Turner rushed to a 3-0, 40-0 lead, but Cull settled to break back and eventually steal the set 6-4.
As the match went on and Cull found his rhythm, Turner could not find the answers and despite some amazing rallies lasting up to a minute, Cull stretched ahead to 5-0.
Coming out to serve for the match, Cull played a nervous game as Turner broke back to 5-1.
Cull re-grouped to win the next game to lift his maiden title 6-4, 6-1.
‘I’m super happy with how I played,’ he said.
‘I had shoulder surgery back in March 2023 and really haven’t played tennis at all since.
‘I was so nervous to serve again, but I knew I had to try and get over the mental hurdle, or else I was in danger of not playing again, which would have been a shame.
‘I’ve really enjoyed being back on the court and re-finding my rhythm and love of the game, and I’m now looking forward to playing more and hopefully being part of the inter-insular against Jersey at the end of the year.’
The women’s singles draw proved smaller than usual with all the Laurens away from the island.
But two newcomers to the draw, Lucy Hearn and Keeleigh Le Tissier, provided fresh interest.
It was Le Tissier who won through for the chance to take on local legend Jo Dyer, who was back on court just four months after giving birth to her son.
The final was a closely-fought affair with momentum swings going either way.
Dyer took a 4-1 lead initially, but Le Tissier fought back to level things, and then secured a last-minute break to win the first set 7-5.
Dyer took control at the start of the second set, and this time held onto her lead, prevailing 6-3.
In the match tie-break, Dyer never looked like letting go of the trophy she has made her own, and won 10-5.
She was visibly emotional to have completed such an amazing comeback to the sport just a few months post-partum.
‘I’m chuffed to have my 14th title,’ she said.
‘It was definitely one of my toughest, so hats off to Keeleigh for a really good match.
‘I wasn’t sure how my body was going to fare, having been out of competitive action since the tournament last year, due to the pregnancy and birth of my son, followed by some gastrointestinal surgery.
‘It’s been a bit of a rush over the last four weeks to get back on court.
‘It was a definite test of my fitness and movement but I’m pleased to have made it back on court competitively and I’m looking forward to building my game again.’
In the men’s doubles, despite a strong showing from new young teams such as Alex Paul and Marcus Thomas, or Bachmann and Liam de la Mare, the final was contested by the ever-present brothers of Nico and Pete Robinson against Turner and West.
On the day, Turner and West looked more match sharp and took the trophy 6-3, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Dyer and West never looked like they were going to relinquish the mixed doubles title that they have held for over a decade. They made relatively light work of Matt Hardy and Keeleigh Le Tissier to ensure a second title for each this year, winning 6-2, 6-4.
