17 year old Laura Feely and 16 year old Billy Harris walked away with the singles titles at the Albany Chrystals Senior Open Tennis Championships this week. In the men’s doubles event 16 year old Jack Hedges and 18 year old Mark Chinn took the title. In a high standard event featuring majority of the islands top players there were some excellent matches on display. However, the top seeds didn’t get it all their own way. In the men’s singles event unseeded Marc Chinn beat the 3rd seed Riaan Riekert and last year’s finalist 6-3 6-3 to produce one of his best results. He then faced No.1 seed and last year’s winner Bruce Wagstaff. The match was quickly abandoned due to rain and resumed 3 hours later but during this time Bruce suffered a leg muscle strain which forced him to withdraw with a view to his fitness for the up and coming Inter Island Games next month. This left Marc in the final facing No. 2 seed Billy Harris who had a close encounter with 4th seed Jamie Teare. Billy cruised through the first set 6-1 but Jamie worked hard to claim the second set in a very closely fought 6-4. In the third and deciding set Billy regained his momentum and took the set 6-0. In the final, Billy played a very solid game and Marc couldn’t quite produce the form that he had displayed in earlier rounds and Billy controlled the match to win 6-3 6-2. In the ladies event both the top seeds comfortably reached the final to produce a replay last year’s final. In the semi finals No.1 seed Karen Faragher beat Sarah Breed 6-0 6-1 and No.2 seed Laura Feely beat Lucy Kerr 6-2 6-2. The final produced one of the best sets of tennis that the two have played against each other and Laura just came through to take it in a tie break 7-6. Once Laura had got the momentum she carried it through into the second set to win it 6-2 and the match. David Watson from Chrystals Estate Agents presented the winners and runners up with their medals and commented “on the standard of the players and thanked all those who had supported the running of the event”. Albany Lawn Tennis Club wishes to thank Chrystals for their continuing support with the tournament over the years and look forward to working in partnership next year. Tournament referee and club coach Ian Watson added that he was looking to build the event with a different format for next year to encourage more ‘club and younger players’ to participate. Albany LTC would also like to remind all junior players that the next Mini Tennis and under 14 junior competition is on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June. Albany LTC is holding and adult open evening on Friday 27th May 6.30 – 8pm for new or ‘rusty’ players who would like to have a go, all welcome. This will be followed by a 6 week coaching course. All details of this and any other Albany LTC junior programmes can be found on our website: albanyltc.co.uk or contact Ian Watson on 496293 or 627720 or ianwatsonpts@manx.net Ends