ROSS Breen has capped off a memorable summer by clinching the men’s singles title at Riding Mill Tennis Club on Saturday.

After trailing in the first set, he fought back strongly to beat Colin Simpson in the final, 7-5 6-1. It was his third singles championship in four years.

In July, Ross was a member of the Riding Mill men’s team which won promotion through the ranks of the Northumberland and Durham League. And last month, he won the coveted fair play award at the Northumberland Tennis Awards.

Colin got some revenge in the final of the men’s doubles. He and his partner Andy Hancock beat Ross and Rob Archer 6-3 6-3. Ross and Rob had been title holders for the past three years.

But Ross got back to winning ways in the mixed doubles final, where he and his partner Linden Stephenson comfortably beat Colin and his mum Jean Simpson 6-3 6-2.

Linden was also triumphant in the ladies’ doubles, where she teamed up with Ann Mates to win the title for the third consecutive year, beating Debra Vickers and Rachel Lynch in the final, 6-3 6-2.

The only final to go to a deciding set was the ladies’ singles between Debra Vickers and Carole Pynn. Blustery conditions sapped the energy of both players, with Debra requiring treatment for cramp at one stage.

However, after two closely fought sets, Debra eventually stayed strong to win 7-5 4-6 6-1.

In the junior competition, Iona Thompson took the girls’ title, beating Molly Hancock in the final. The boys’ title went to Sam Hancock, who beat Matthew Hunter in the final. A sizeable number of supporters enjoyed a barbecue on finals day.