GUY Sellek claimed the men’s singles title with a straight-sets win to headline what Ludlow Castle Tennis Club say is their ‘most successful club championships in years’.

Sellek beat Chris Dowden 6-4, 6-2 in a high-quality men’s final in difficult, testing weather conditions with the latter’s cause not helped by a nasty tumble towards the end of the first set.

That match was one of many played on finals’ day as championships organiser Les Martin defied torrential overnight rain to stage a highly successful season’s showpiece at The Linney.

He introduced a plate event for early fallers in the main cup, with senior finals – preliminary rounds having been played earlier this summer – contested alongside junior finals in front of a good crowd.

In the ladies’ doubles final, Mary Lambert and Linda McMahon edged past Lin Dickin and Jenny Nicol in two sets.

Martyn Jones and Rhian Davies took the mixed doubles title 6-4, 6-2 against Nico Harrison and Carolyn Michie.

In the plate competitions, Simon Cain beat Rueben Grimshaw in the men’s singles final, while Duncan Johnson and Ed Povey beat Andy Morgan and Aled Morris to win the men’s doubles.

John Turner and Lin Dickin beat Christine Hood and Ken Swan in the mixed doubles while Tom Edwards beat Ross Anderson and Ben Wilderer beat Jack Hedges in two junior finals.

The men’s doubles and ladies’ singles finals remain to be played because two players were injured before the day.

Acting club chair Seabury Salmon said: “It’s been the most successful club championships for years.

“Les did a tremendous job in building up adult entries, and our coach, Richard Tennant, did similarly well with the junior contests.

“We enjoyed some great tennis and, thanks to Ange Martin, there was excellent food for players and spectators too.”