72ND Greenock and district tennis championships finals sparkle

In great autumn weather for tennis, The Greenock and District Tennis Championship finals were played with some very close finishes to a number of the events.

In the Men’s singles. Last year’s runner up Mark McGrath eventually was able to turn the tables on defending champion Calum Roberts in a high-quality match with many long and exciting points in a highly charged third set winning 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. Mark and Calum combined to win the Men’s doubles title for the 3^rd time beating Chris Bendoris and Roy Fraser 6-4, 6-2.

There was another nail-biting end to the Veteran Men’s singles where Raymond Norris finally managed to overcome defending champion Matt Smith 11-9 in the third set, using a championship decider scoring. The Ladies singles also produced a close match where mother and daughter Heather and Hazel McIntyre battled for the title; Hazel overcame her mother Heather by 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

The Mixed Doubles final saw defending champions Stephanie Swan and Raymond Norris against top seeded pair Anna Daisley and Cameron Hyde. In what was a closely contested match Stephanie and brother Raymond held on to their title taking the match in straight sets. This year’s title makes it thirteen times Raymond has won the open mixed doubles title, with four different partners.

The Veteran Men’s doubles title was retained by last year’s champions Callum Gerrard and Matt Smith who defeated Morris Glen and David Purdue in straight sets.

The full results are

Men’s singles: Mark McGrath Fort Matilda TC beat Calum Roberts Fort Matilda TC 6-1, 5-7, 6-4

Men’s Shield (for first round losers): Jonny Glen Ardgowan TC beat Calum Charteris Fort Matilda TC 6-2, 4-6. 10-4 (tiebreak)

Veteran Men’s singles: Raymond Norris Fort Matilda TC beat Matt Smith Ardgowan TC 4-6, 7-5, 11-9

Ladies Singles: Hazel McIntyre Fort Matilda TC beat Heather McIntyre Fort Matilda TC  6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Men’s doubles: Mark McGrath Fort Matilda TC and Calum Roberts Fort Matilda beat Chris Bendoris and Roy Fraser Clarkston TC 6-4, 6-2

Mixed Doubles: Raymond Norris Fort Matilda TC and Stephanie Swan Fort Matilda TC beat Cameron Hyde Fort Matilda TC and Anna Daisley Fort Matilda TC 7-6. 6-3

Veterans Men’s Doubles: Callum Gerrard Ardgowan TC and Matt Smith Ardgowan TC beat David Purdue Ardgowan TC and Morris Glen Ardgowan TC  6-1, 6-0

Photograph credit Campbell Skinner Photography