Richard Mayers from Putney took the overall men's title at the Seymour Pierce Club Champions event at the Lew Hoad Campo de Tenis in Southern Spain, writes Sally Jones.

Surrey county player Chrissie Tee from Wimbledon lost narrowly in the women's final to the former Scottish number number Michelle Mair.

Mayers, an accountant with Arthur Andersen and Tee, last year's women's winner, fought their way through to the finals of the rapidly growing event which this year attracted

a record 250 champions from major clubs in Surrey, Sussex and Warwickshire.

The tall, powerful Mayers was made to fight hard all the way by the flamboyant 18-year-old Michael Oats from Totteridge LTC.

Marathon

Oats had earlier survived a marathon semi-final with the experienced Birmingham coach Gary Naughton but kept up an impressive display of hitting in the

final.

Mayers' extra experience and big serve finally told and he raised his game to win 6-4 6-4.

Mayers said: "It was a tremendous tournament. Michael played superbly in the final despite a long, exhausting semi in scorching

heat and I'm just delighted I held on to win."

Tee faced an uphill battle throughout her final and trailed Michelle Mair 6-0 5-1 before fighting back brilliantly to take the next

three games and hold points for 5-all.

Unluckily for the defending champion, Mair went for broke and served her way out of trouble to take the championship by the narrowest of margins.

All the finalists received

valuable prizes donated by Pro-Kennex and there are now plans to expand the

championship still further, to include champions from several more counties.

December 4, 2001 13:35