FRINTON Lawn Tennis Club proudly presented their first-ever Chairman's Mid-Summer Classic Tournament.

Players were welcomed with a champagne reception, followed by a group photograph taken by a camera drone on show court five before play got underway.

Club chairman Colin Lawrence asked the players to raise a toast to the club's generous benefactor by way of thanks for all the improvements that have taken place in recent months and expressed his gratitude to staff, volunteers and members alike, including tournament organiser Mike McLain.

When play commenced, 64 players gathered to play four rounds, with 20 females occupying five courts, 12 A team men occupying three courts and 31 men, plus the chairman's wife, Deborah Lawrence, using the remaining eight courts.

The format was a sudden-death progressive, with winning pairs staying and splitting, one losing player moving up a court and one losing player moving down.

The draw was randomised by card selection at inception.

Medals were awarded to the winners and runners-up in each category, along with medals for the highest ace scorers per category.

The winning men's A pair were Jon Oates and Bill Greeno, with Barry Todd and Greg Curtis as the runners-up in an exciting and dramatic encounter on show court five.

In the men's category, the final took place on court six, with victors Lawrence Knight and Jerry Wedge playing a consistent game against runners-up Steve Pryer and Mike McLain.

The ladies' final took place on court seven, with Julia Holder and Clare Young taking the honours against Sue Knight and Jill Kinlock.

In the top-scoring Ace categories, the men's A winner was Jon Oates, who hit an impressive six aces.

In the men's category, Lee Milner scored four aces and in the ladies' event, Mary Milner served up six aces.

The tournament was held to get club members to join together and have an evening of tennis and fun and to celebrate the positive changes that have taken place at the club recently, including the refurbished bar, new windows, revamped patio area, new fencing, car park and the refurbished state-of-the-art gym and squash courts.

Tournament organiser Mike McLain said: "It was great to see all our grass courts in use, with 64 players having a fun evening of tennis and socialising."

Those who played in the chairman's tournament were Alex Brown, Alison Parker, Barry Todd, Becca Lawrence, Belinda Ogley, Bill Greeno, Brendan Mason, Chris Vine, Chris Wain, Kristian Fulcher, Clare Young, Clive Allenby, Colin Lawrence, Dave Young, David Wint, Deb Lawrence, Denis Seabeck, Ellie Wedge, Elliot Ball, Jill Kinlock, Graham Parker, Graham MacNamara, Greg Curtis, Ildi Spelt-Branescu, Jake Lawrence, James Blackman, Jane Gillies, Jerry Wedge, Joe Hunt, Jon Oates, Julia Holder, Karen Watcham, Karin Moser, Keith Kinlock, Kim Willets, Konrad Kostner, Lawrence Knight, Lee Milner, Liz Burridge, Marcus Etherton, Marion Bullock, Tim Pierson, Mary Milner, Matt Gough, Michael Loekhart-Smith, Mike McLain, Natalie Grover, Niall Irving, Nick Rudelnoff, Nick Gough, Nigel Oakley, Phil Gray, Richard Baldwin, Rob Ellen, Roger Mansfield, Shaun Watcham, Steve Pryer, Sue Vine, Sue Knight, Susanne Allenby, Tony Barr, Tony Clarke, Tony Vassallo, Tony Sanderson and Yvonne Gough.