Tynedale Tennis Club held their annual finals day in glorious autumn sunshine at Prior’s Flat.

The day began with the conclusion of the singles competitions which had been contested throughout the summer.

Rachel Salthouse put in a commanding performance to take the ladies’ singles title for the third year running, winning 6-2, 6-2 against a determined and skilful Cath Reed to retain her title in emphatic style.

Reigning champion Paul Gabbey faced young challenger Matt Haverson in a topsy-turvy men’s singles final. Haverson served the champ a bagel to take the lead in a lightning 6-0 opening set.

Shell-shocked, Gabbey regrouped and swiftly returned the compliment, taking the second 6-0 to make it a set all in no time, and setting up an intriguing final set.

Gabbey eventually proved too strong for his resolute opponent and prevailed 6-2 in the third, though the set was closer than the score suggested.

In the ladies’ doubles, Salthouse teamed up with Caroline Armstrong to defeat Fiona Pye and Trisha Gillespie, who put up a fight in a close first set before being edged out 7-5. Salthouse and Armstrong then demonstrated their strong partnership in the second, winning it by 6-2.

The men’s doubles final proved to be an exciting battle. Veteran David Bradley and partner Joey Oliver, who first became a member at Tynedale at three years of age, took on Stephen Parker, also a member since junior days, and Gabbey.

Oliver and Bradley took the favourites to three hard-fought sets. They won the first set 7-5 and had two match points in the second set at 5-3, but then lost the set after a tie-break. They finally succumbed at 6-2 in the final set to give Gabbey and Parker the trophy for a second year running.

Ladies’ captain Cath Reed and her son Jake found themselves unexpectedly in the mixed doubles’ final after Gill James and Gabbey withdrew at the semi-finals stage. Jake’s game has improved hugely over the past year, however, his skill and his mum’s experience were not enough to overcome the classy play of Kate Wilson and Jimmy Finnegan, who won convincingly, 6-1, 6-1.

The afternoon schedule brought the competitors in the ‘plate’ tournaments. Carl Von Weiler took an impressive victory over Derek Kennedy in the men’s singles after his first season at the club. He also won in the men’s doubles plate, teaming up with his erstwhile opponent Kennedy to defeat Jim Buckley and George Miller 6-3, 7-5 in a competitive match.

In the mixed doubles’ plate, Rachel Currie and Martin Thompson provided the opposition for the strong pairing of Melanie Winter and Jim Buckley who prevailed 6-1, 6-3, rounding off an entertaining and convival event against the picturesque backdrop of Hexham.