Fortunes are mixed for Bognor’s tennis set

The pairs were divided into two mixed-ability groups and, during the morning session, each played seven games against the other five pairs in their group.

With more than half the players categorised as regular team players with experience of competing in the Sussex Leagues, the standard of play in many matches was highly competitive and compelling to watch.

By the end of the morning it was possible to rank the pairs in each group, according to their total games scores, enabling the organiser to create three performance-based groups of four pairs for the afternoon.

Players were eager to continue play and, throughout the afternoon, the pairs amiably rotated on and off the court in the course of playing a further three matches of seven games.

As expected, the four pairs in the top group were very evenly-matched and the rallies were long and arduous, with players exhibiting an engaging combination of skill, power and guile.

As the final match of the day started, Tracey Callingham and her son Oli were two games ahead of their opponents, Maree Loversidge and Rob Callingham. But the trailing team proved stronger, winning the crucial match 5-2 and giving them a total of 13 games, one more than the mother and son Callingham combination.

Plumtree and Bailey finished in an encouraging third place, with a total of ten games.

Group two was won by Jenny Loversidge and Steve Pollard, with Jean Mugleston and Paul May runners-up. Group three was won by Ruth Hendren and Paul Sabin ahead of Sarah Gledhill and Simon Peers.