Perran Tennis Club Championships 2016

Marney Magic as Leverton retains Title

It was four out of four for the Marney family as Martin became the Men’s Singles champion, whilst Mollie Leverton retained the ladies title.

The entry for the annual club championships at Perran Tennis was both higher in quality and in numbers. In the round robin stage the men played on the six grass courts as the ladies took to the hard courts. Ian Gosling-Brown (last year’s winner) together with men’s captain Steve Hawken eased through to the semi-finals in group one. It was much closer in group two with three players being separated by one point. Sam Taylor was the unlucky third placed player to just miss out on the semi-finals. The ladies event saw the much improved Thembi Buthelezi just miss out on a semi-final place, seeing Mollie Leverton, Jan Higgs, Pippa Matta and Charlotte Littler all progress.

Mollie defeated Jan and Charlotte won against Pippa to set up an interesting climax in the women’s event. Arguably the match of the day saw a titanic struggle between Ian Gosling Brown and Martin Marney, each point a joy to watch. In the other semi James Betty saw off the challenge of Steve Hawken with uncharacteristic consistency.

Both finals did not fall down in entertainment Martin Marney eventually overcame past winner James Betty with a gritty performance. The ladies’ final was even closer with both Charlotte Littler and Mollie Leverton having match points. It was Mollie though who took the match on a tie-break 10-8.

In an unprecedented feat in the Club’s 120-year history four family members now hold titles – Vince (8 and Under Boys), William (10 and Under Boys), Martha (Under 16 Girls) and now Martin as men’s singles champion!