The 2016 event is in full flow with the first 5 events completed. Entries this year were vastly reduced on what the championship had witnessed over the previous two years but the quality of tennis stayed the same.

The first winner of this years championship was Gregor Ritson from Penicuik who beat Euan Williamson from Glasgow 11-9 in the 8 & under mixed event. In the consolation final an all Dumfries and Galloway final saw Oliver McKnight from Beechgrove tennis club defeat Erin McCluskey from Dumfries tennis club 10-3.

In the 10 & under girls Aurora Medb Nevin from Dunblane bt Annique Varty from Melrose 4-1, 4-2. In the boys 10 & under Liam O’Brien from Johnstone bt Alexander English from Perth 4-2, 4-0.

In the boys 12 & under event Joel Gibson from Middlesbrough bt Jamie Croll from Edinburgh 6-2, 6-3 and Billy and Freddy Blaydes from Windermere bt Ross Morgan (Strathaven) and Ross Young (Glasgow) 4-1, 4-0.

The championship continues through the week with junior finals scheduled for Saturday and seniors on Sunday.

South of Scotland Tennis Championship 2016 results and draws

Dalbeattie Tennis Club is running an open mixed doubles competition on Saturday 7th August with a 1pm start.

All entries are welcome and partners will be drawn together, all entries should directed to Keith Thom at keith999thom@aol.com by no later than 6pm on Friday 5th August.

Entry is £5 and Dalbeattie Tennis Club will provide the refreshments on the day.

Sunday 24th July @ Beechgrove Tennis Club Moffat

Kris Soutar the head coach with Judy Murray’s Tennis on the Road programme is delivering a set 4 competition workshop on Sunday 24^th July 1-4pm at Beechgrove Tennis Club as part of the South of Scotland Championships.

South of Scotland Open –  Beechgrove Tennis Club Moffat – Sunday 24th July

1.00 – 1.50 – Parent and child skill building competition – max numbers 16 parents with 1 child each.

2.00 – 2.55 – Teenager team tennis comp –  max numbers 16 players aged between 12-17 – enter individually (don’t need a team)

3.00 – 4.00 – Adult timed team competition – max numbers 16 – enter individually (don’t need a team)

To take part Please e-mail tennisontheroad@img.com  or call 02082336410. It’s completely free but spaces are limited.

Moffat TC POSTER

Workforce development

The other opportunity is for committee members, coaches, enthusiasts, potential coaches to come along to watch and help out with organisation. It will  all be fun and easy, so nothing taxing but great to see how you can cater for 54 people in 3 hours with only 2 courts.  Sign up for this element by emailing Andrew.raitt@tennisscotland.org to register ASAP as spaces are limited.

The historic South of Scotland Tennis Championship is now accepting entries for this years event. Played at Beechgrove Tennis Club in Moffat the Championship has 27 events covering an 8 day period between 24th and 31st July.

This year we have added the men’s 45 and over doubles for the first time with a view to opening the event up to more locals and senior players.

The event schedule can be viewed using the link below.

SoS Event Schedule 2016

To enter the event either email southofscotlandtennistournamant@yahoo.co.uk with your details or you can enter online using the link below.

South of Scotland Tennis Championship 2016

Dumfries A team confirmed their sixth league title in a row as they overcame Dumfries B in the last match of the 2016 season. Rearranged from early June the B team were looking to try and upset the party with a spirited performance against the champions elect, however Dumfries A weren’t in the mood to lie down. A solid performance from Lister, Richie, Chris and Graeme proved to much for the B team as they bullied a 4-0 win with a the B team just managing to scape 11 games out of the 8 sets. This left the Champions with 9 wins and one incomplete match which they were winning 2-1 before being halted.

D&G Gents Doubles Leagues

Congratulations to Dumfries A and Stewartry CSC Ladies on winning their titles and congratulations to Kirkcudbright gents on securing the first 3 wins on their return to the leagues.

Dalbeattie Tennis Club is hosting a Mixed Doubles event on Sunday 17th July with a 1pm start. It is a draw for partners event and the format will be decided once numbers are know.

Dalbeattie is a warm and friendly club with excellent facilities and it would be great to see a large turn out.

Contact details can be viewed using the link below.

Lions Trophy Poster – Sunday 17th July 2016 at 1pm (46067179)

Dumfries Tennis Club recently hosted the Dumfries & Galloway Junior Tennis Championships. This year saw the biggest entry the competition has ever had with 42 children taking part from Beechgrove Tennis Club in Moffat, Seaforth Tennis Club in Annan and Dumfries Tennis Club. The weather again was kind to the players and spectators as the kids battled it out over 8 events. In the 8s and under mixed event Daniel Palmer (BTC) beat Euan Sharp (DTC) 10-3 in the final with Jacob Holden (DTC) edging past Devon Jones (STC) 14-12 to claim third spot. In the consolation final Ben Rogerson (BTC) beat Erin McCluskey (DTC) 10-3. In the 10s and Under events Rose Brown (BTC) won the round Robin event with Amy McMillin (BTC) finishing 2nd and Tessa Wilson (BTC) finishing 3rd. I the boys event Fergus Reynolds-Lewis (DTC) beat Ben Rogerson (BTC) 4-1 in the final with Flynn Dalgliesh (STC) beating Zac Trotter (DTC) 4-0 to claim third place.

In the girls 12s and 14s event Catie Palmer (BTC) claimed both titles as she beat Grace Johnson (BTC) in the 14s final 4-1,4-0 and she beat both Grace and Mia Jackson (BTC) to secure the 14s title. In the 12s boys Jed Simpson (DTC) beat Brandon Smith (BTC) in the final with Finlay Reynolds-Lewis finishing 3rd. The 14s and 16s boys events were claimed by Cameron Welsh. Cameron beat Ewan McMillin (2nd) and Finlay Johnson (3rd) both  BTC, in the 14s event and he beat Robbie Grieve (STC) 7-5, 6-1 in the final of the 16s.

Daniel Palmer 8s Winner

Rose & Fergus 10s Winners

Catie Palmer 12s & 14s Girls Winner

Jed Simpson 12s Boys Winner

Cameron Welsh Boys 14s & 16s Winner

In the gents league (8th) Stewartry CSC extended their lead at the top with a good win at Dumfries C, despite an encouraging start from the Dumfries club the experience quartet used all their experience to win the match 3-1. Geoff and Paul bt Michael and Ben 3-6, 6-3, 16-14, Colin and Rab bt Rory and Mike 6-3, 6-2, Geoff and Colin bt Mike and Rory 6-3, 6-4 and Dumfries won the last rubber as Mike and Ben bt Paul and Rab 6-2, 6-3. Elsewhere Dumfries B were awarded a walkover against Beechgrove as they failed to get a team and Dumfries A continued their challenge with their fourth straight win away to Kirkcudbright by 4 – 0.

In the ladies league new champions Stewartry CSC were held at home by last years champions Dalbeattie 2-2 and at Moffat the Beechgrove girls recorded a 4-0 win over Dumfries.

In the development league Seaforth Annan recorded their first win since the club reformed as they beat Dumfries D 3-1.

D&G League Fixtures & Results

In the junior leagues there were wins for Dumfries in the under 10s as they beat Seaforth Annan 3-0 and Beechgrove in the under 12s as the beat Seaforth Annan 3-0.

D&G Junior Leagues Results & Fixtures

The Dumfries and Galloway Tennis Championships were held at Dumfries Tennis Club on the weekend of 4th & 5th June. Both days were baked in glorious sunshine with 17 players entered for the singles and 14 players in the doubles. In the singles event 5 times winner Colin Dunbar held off some determined players to secure his 6th win as he eased past Steven McCracken and Lewis Gilmour in the early round before a marathon semi again Richie Cunningham with Colin eventually taking the match 7-6, 6-2. In the other half of the draw some big hitters battled it out with Dan McKiddie gaining wins against Gus McIntyre and Ruairidh McRoberts before a tight semi against Brian Litster with the match going a championship tie-break in the third which Dan won 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 to set up the final against Colin. In the final Colin established an early break as Dan tried to get his rhythm going but that early break proved vital as Colin took the first set 6-4, in the second again Dan gave it all he had but the experience of Colin pulled off as he soaked up all the pressure form Dan who was hitting the ball with tremendous power, Colin held off to take the second 6-3. In the consolation final Malcolm McEwen just edge past Steven McCracken 6-4, 5-7, 10-8 in a match which lasted just short of 2 hours. 

In the doubles new pairing of Brian Litster and Richie Cunningham torn up the form book as they beat experience duo of Stevie White and Paul Boardman 6-3, 7-5 before despatching the 2015 champions Alex Shearman and Chad Lawson 7-5, 6-3 in the semi-final, in the other half o the draw Lister McKiddie and son Dan McKiddie eased past Ben McKiddie and Lewis Gilmour 6-1, 6-0. In the final Lister and Dan came from behind to secure the first set on a tie-break before Richie and Brian levelled the match at a set apiece before taking the match and the title in the championship tie-break 6-7, 6-3, 10-7. In the consolation final Stevie and Paul edge the match against Colin Dunbar and Ruairidh McRoberts 6-3, 5-7, 10-7. 

It has been 22 matches in the making but on Wednesday 25th May 2016 Kirkcudbright Tennis Club men’s team recorded the first win since returning to the Men’s League and gained their first ever points in 3 years of trying. Having played well all season without any rewards it finally came last week when the welcomed Beechgrove men’s team from Moffat and secured a 3-1 victory which takes them off the bottom of the league with Beechgrove now occupying that spot. Meanwhile at Castle Douglas again another match was suspended before it could be finished with Dumfries A holding a slender 2-1 lead against Stewartry CSC with one rubber to be completed. Bad light and rain disrupted the top of the table clash which leaves Stewartry CSC still top of the league. Elsewhere the Leicester of the tennis world Dumfries C, continued there fine form as they edge out neighbours Dumfries B with a 3-1 victory with elevated them to 2nd in the league as they recorded their largest ever points total of 7 to date with 4 matches to play.

In the ladies League Stewartry CSC secured the title with a match to spare, with a 4-0 win away at Moffat as their nearest challengers Dalbeattie were being held by Dumfries 2-2 at Dumfries. This result leaves Stewartry Ladies on 10 points with Dalbeattie on 5.

Dumfries & Galloway Summer Leagues Results and Fixtures

In the development league Annan travelled through to Dalbeattie and played out a 2-2 draw.

In the Junior leagues Beechgrove under 10 boys and girls started their campaigns with the boys recording a 3-0 away win to Seaforth Annan whilst in Moffat the girls has a similar score line 3-0 at home to Seaforth Annan.

This week sees the D&G Senior Championship take place at Dumfries Tennis Club with 16 in the field for the singles and 6 pairs in the doubles on Sunday. The gents final is scheduled for 10am on Sunday morning with the doubles final at approximately 3pm on Sunday.