Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Vets end their winter season with a flourish
Tennis
As the winter season draws to a close, Herne Bay Tennis Club have put together several outstanding performances in the last couple of weeks.
The ladies’ vets 1sts completed their schedule in Kent League, Division 1B, with a 3-1 win at home to Blackheath 1.
Anne Gibbs/kay Mileham won both their rubbers and Denise Parrett/ Caroline Packer beat the Blackheath second pair on a championship tie-break.
They followed up the victory with another, winning their last match of the campaign 4-0 against Bromley 2nds, to seal runners-up spot behind Tunbridge Wells.
The men’s over-60s fought a tight contest at Crescent in Kent League, Division 3, although Mark Townsend/ian Cooke and Greg Pearson/lionel Hoskins lost the match by a set after drawing 2-2 in rubbers. The result left Crescent top and Bay as runners-up.
The ladies’ over-60s travelled to Broadstairs in Division 1 and suffered a 3-1 defeat. Sarah Pout/ Kay Mileham beat the second pair in straight sets. Despite a good effort, Diana High/anja Stileman lost both their rubbers.
The men’s 2nds completed their fixtures with a 3-1 defeat at Hayes to finish bottom of Division 6A.
Dan Walker/guy Farmer and Dave Lawrence/colin Thompson never got to grips with the conditions and the home team’s artificial courts. Better form was shown by the men’s 1sts who won 3-1 at Frindsbury in Division 4B with youngsters Alex Kazakeos/ Ben Keighley having little difficulty in winning both their rubbers.
Graham Miles/ian Cooke took a close match with the home team’s second pair in a third set tie-break.
The ladies’ 2nds finished their schedule on a high after an epic match at David Lloyd Kings Hill 1sts in Division 3B.
Kay Mileham/sue Toye and Caroline Packer/debbie Holden took the home team all the way before succumbing by 37 games to 35 after drawing on both rubbers and sets.
Elsewhere, the men’s 1sts took on newcomers Hayne Barn in the Deal Indoor League and won by five sets to four with Graham Miles/ Ben Keighley winning both their rubbers, while Mark Kennard/gary Smith took a set off Hayne Barn’s second pair.
The club were well represented at the Maidstone Open Championships where Nicola and Kay Mileham took on Anne Gibbs and her partner from Hythe TC, Jo Moore in the ladies’ over-40s doubles – a repeat of last year’s final.
Gibbs and Moore took the opening set 6-1 and the second 6-4, to retain their title. Gibbs was also in the mixed over- 40s doubles final with Graham Miles but lost 6-4, 6-4, to a pair from Sevenoaks.
More information can be found on the club’s website at www. hernebaytennis. co. uk or by contacting coach Nicola Mileham at just.tennisnic@yahoo.co.uk.