Footie father and son lift island tennis title

There is another trophy in the cabinet for former Rangers and St Mirren player Steven Thompson as he lifted an Arran tennis trophy with his son, writes Colin Smeeton.

Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club’s annual ReynierMcDavid Tennis Cup was fought over by the first fortnight holidaymakers on Thursday July 6.

The tournament draws adults and children in pairs in a random draw which takes place on the afternoon, so it was a bit of a surprise to have a father and son drawn together. The pairs must play their way to the semis via a round robin first round, so that every pair gets at least two short four-game matches.

Father and son Steven and Struan Thompson beat mum Joanna Thompson and partner in the closest final in living memory: 6-6 in games followed by a 10-8 in a tie breaker.

Mrs Thompson, Strathgryffe ladies first team and daughter Olivia, Thorn Tennis Club, Bearsden, under 12s, fought back from 4-0 down, against nineyear-old Thompson junior and Mrs Thompson’s pro-footballer husband – both also of Strathgryffe Tennis Club.

More than 30 players took part, watched by their families in the rain. The fact that the new tennis courts soaked up every shower that passed throughout the afternoon meant nobody noticed and play continued without a break.

Finalists at the Reynier-McDavid Tennis Cup were, left to right, runners-up Olivia Easson and Joanne Thompson, Ken Macfarlane, tournament director, and the winners Struan and Steven Thompson.