A TOWN has celebrated the opening of its newly upgraded courts.

Swanage Tennis Club members have just celebrated the upgrade of the tennis courts at Beach Gardens in Swanage. Following the upgrade, there are now three floodlight Astro-turf courts as well as the three tarmac ones. All courts are available for hire and are said to now be some of the best public tennis facilities in Dorset.

The club welcomed the Swanage mayor, Cllr Tina Foster, to officially open the new upgraded court. Joining her were club president Judy Longman, Cllrs Chris Moreton and Bill Trite together with past club chairs Helen Knight, Sam Christmas and Sue Tindale, Mike Angel, and Tony Saunders, together with present acting chair, Deborah Miller.

Swanage Town Council agreed to include the project on their capital programme for the 2021/22 financial year and make a financial contribution towards the works of £6,000. This sum, together with the very generous grant of £4,000 from Dorset Council and donation of just over £8,000 from the Co-op ensured that the project could be completed.

The celebration was part of a weekend of competitive tennis by club players who had reached the Club Championships Finals.

Oscar Mann and Josh Titley displayed skilful tennis in the 14 & Under competition. Also taking place was the Ladies Doubles Plate final between Susie Eatwell, Gillian Humphries, Liz Lovibond and Leonora Stephen. Jamie McDonald triumphed over club coach Paul Marchant to take the men’s Singles title with Jo Kiddell and Jane Langstaff beating mum and daughter pairing Maisie and Becky Gate to take the Ladies Doubles title.

Deborah Miller thanked all for supporting the court upgrade project, and said it “will ensure that the quality of tennis facilities continues to be improved and maintained to a very high standard, especially for our future generations”.

Anyone interested in learning to play tennis or to hire a court should contact Ryan Trickey the Club Coach at justplaytennis@hotmail.com or visit the club website at www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/swanagetennisclub