THE long-established Coln Valley Mixed Doubles Tournament, held in Chedworth and surrounding villages on Saturday, saw Hill & Valley Lawn Tennis Club members lift both prestigious trophies.

Members of the host club last won a trophy in 2006. The final for the highly coveted Speke Challenge Cup was a heroic battle, with past member Sandra Chambers and Hill & Valley’s Matthew Irving defeating Charlie Foster and Aaron Kelly from Swindon 7-5.

The Scott-Smith Salver was won by Hill & Valley’s Chrissie Kenning and Daniel Heaps, who beat fellow member Jean Clarke and Charlie Jefferies (of Cirencester LTC) 6-3.

Ninety-six players including hopefuls from London, Oxfordshire, Dorset and Wiltshire – including a major contingent from the new David Lloyd Centre in Swindon – gathered for the traditional tennis fixture on picturesque courts in Coln St Dennis, Coln Rogers, Fossebridge, Shawswell, Withington, Calmsden, Aycote, Shipton Oliffe, Rendcomb and Bibury.

The morning rounds were played in glorious sunshine and, after an excellent buffet lunch at Chedworth Village Hall and an afternoon of competitive tennis which was not too disrupted by showers, a large group of spectators braved the chilly evening to watch the finals at the club courts.

Music industry mogul Chris Wright, a participant in the tournament since its inception, presented the trophies and spoke warmly of his affection for the event and its place in the local sporting calendar.

Roger Duggleby, Chairman of Hill & Valley LTC, said: “It was a really successful day and we were delighted that the club was so well represented in both finals, especially since the standard of tennis was so high.

“Edith Speke would have been particularly thrilled and proud to have seen Matthew win the Speke Cup as they were next door neighbours and she knew him when he was a very young boy.

“The event is a one-off and I think people really like the opportunity to take part in what is a traditional competition that is both sporting and sociable.

“Its popularity is reflected in the distance that players are prepared to travel to take part every year”

Established 29 years ago, the tournament was sponsored for the sixth year running by Far Frontiers Travel and Arcturus, the tailor-made travel specialist based in Devon.

Tennis balls were sponsored by local heating and plumbing engineers C P Jefferies, and D & J Sports donated a fabulous tennis bag and tennis accessories for the raffle.

The event is the major annual fundraiser for the Hill & Valley Lawn Tennis Club which shares the proceeds with the churches of Chedworth, Coln St Dennis and Coln Rogers. The club would like to thank everyone who loaned their court for the day, those who made puddings and cakes to fuel the competitors and all those who helped to make the day such a success.