Dinas ladies tennis vets in national final (From Penarth Times)

Dinas ladies tennis vets in national final

ON SATURDAY, November 23, a ladies tennis team from Dinas Powys LTC travelled to Nottingham Tennis Centre to play in the finals of the Over-60s National Veterans Inter-Club Championship.

To reach this final the ladies team, consisting of Margaret Hayley and Nan Thomas (1st couple) and Brenda James and Anne Johns (2nd couple), had beaten teams from Painswick, Clifton, East Gloucester and Purley in previous rounds.

Although the final was a hard fought battle, with excellent tennis played by both sides, sadly the right team did not win!

In the final, Dinas were unfortunate to meet a very strong side from the 45 Club - a nomadic club about which there is much controversy in veteran ranks.

This 'club' has no clubhouse or conventional facilities and membership is open to any club member over the age of 45, in return for a nominal fee.

It attracts a large number of British county and international players from which teams are selected to play in tournaments all over the world.

Some 580 teams representing 180 clubs participated in the Championships.

The finals consisted of 12 doubles events - 4 ladies, five men's and three mixed.

It is of interest to note that of the 24 teams represented at Nottingham, there were five teams from the 45 Club and four teams from Leicestershire.

It is an outstanding achievement for a small village team to have reached the final of such a prestigious tournament and the players must be congratulated.

Well done girls! Better luck next time!