PENZANCE Tennis Club staged its annual closed tournament over the last two weekends, and for the first time in the club's history the adult and junior championships were run together, writes Birte Hosken.

The event was organised by Penzance Tennis Manager Martin Coates, who has just completed his first year at the club.

Play at Penlee Park got under way in wonderful weather conditions as summer returned for the early round matches in both the junior and senior competitions. By the end of the first weekend all places in the semi-finals were decided. It was good to see so many young players qualifying for the latter stages of the tournament.

Semi-finals day, the second Saturday, did not offer quite the same conditions with gusty winds and slight drizzle making play a little more tricky. However, some exciting matches made up for the otherwise dull day.

In the men's singles competition, 17-year-old Conor Polyblank beat his older opponent Chris Davey to set up a final with the experienced Rob Boardman, who overcame Nick Williams in a tight match.

Two very talented young players, Amy Johns and Imogen Harry, had no trouble securing their places in the ladies' singles final. With Dave Stevens pulling out due to injury, he and playing partner Vivian Heale had to hand their young opponents Conor Polyblank and Ben Lakeman a "walkover", but the semi-final match featuring Mitch Adams and Ross Whiting versus Nick Williams and Rob Boardman was a real cracker, with Williams and Boardman coming out on top.

The mixed doubles, a very popular event with a large number of entries, turned out to be a family affair.

In the semi-finals, mother-and-son team Linda and Gary Randall beat father-and-daughter Graham and Amy Johns, and on the other side of the draw father-and-daughter Chris and Caitlin Davey won a very close match against Birte Hosken and Simon Lamb.

In the veterans mixed doubles husband-and-wife team Vivian and Bryn Heale overcame Sue Nash and Chris Cox-Webber and Helena Luke and Dave Murthwaite proved too strong for Elaine Bassett and Dave Reynolds.

The junior semi-finals were also eagerly contested.

In the Boys' U18 singles Conor Polyblank set up a final against the much younger Ben Lakeman and in the Girls' U18 singles, Imogen Harry and Hester Luke booked their places in the final.

The Boys' U18 doubles saw twin brothers Beau and Jay Morley set up a final with Joe Davies and Yarin Hirani.

As there were only two entries for the U18 Girls' doubles both partnerships automatically qualified for finals' day.

In the Boys' U14 singles Ben Lakeman was handed a "walkover" by the injured Joel May and brother Michael May beat Rhys Curnow to reach the final.

Penzance's Amy Johns beat Agnes Allison in the U14 girls' singles and in the other half of the draw, Kara Wong beat Emmy Lappel.

For the young players who competed in the Mini Tennis events, Saturday was finals' day. The red ball competition was won by William Randall with Holly Drew finishing as the runner-up.

Ellyn Calveley, who at only nine-years-old competed in the U18s girls doubles event, won the orange ball competition, beating Patrick Toraskar.

From 10am on Sunday onwards the finals matches in the main club junior and senior championships were contested under a drizzly sky.

But nothing could dampen the finalists' spirits and some great tennis was played on the all-weather artificial grass courts in Penlee Park.

Full results:

Men's Singles: Conor Polyblank bt Rob Boardman.

Ladies' Singles: Amy Johns bt Imogen Harry.

Men's Doubles: Conor Polyblank & Ben Lakeman bt Nick Williams & Rob Boardman.

Ladies' Doubles: Amy Johns & Imogen Harry bt Bryn Heale & Sarah Stevens.

Mixed Doubles: Linda & Gary Randall bt Caitlin & Chris Davey.

Vets Mixed Doubles: Bryn & Vivian Heale bt Helena Luke & Dave Murthwaite.

Boys' U18 Singles: Conor Polyblank bt Ben Lakeman.

Girls' U18 Singles: Imogen Harry bt Hester Luke.

Boys' U18 Doubles: Beau & Jay Morley bt Joe Davies & Yarin Hirani.

Girls' U18 Doubles: Julia Hosken & Victoria Nash bt Ellyn Calveley & Emmy Lappel.

Boys' U14 Singles: Ben Lakeman bt Michael May.

Girls' U14 Singles: Amy Johns bt Kara Wong.

Mr Coates, conducting the prize-giving ceremony in the clubhouse on Sunday afternoon, thanked his team of coaches and everyone who supported the tournament and reflected on a successful first year at the club.