Tennis: Basford shoot down RAF

BASFORD Tennis Club took on the RAF top flight in a series of exhibition matches to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

The club, based in West Avenue, fielded its best players for the showpiece event against the air force, in a combination of men's and women's and mixed doubles.

And it was the Basford outfit who emerged undefeated.

Included in the Basford line-up was Dave Egerton, the RAF singles champion of 1987, who teamed up with Karen Dobson for the mixed doubles to defeat Mark Lane and Rhae McCartney 6-4, 6-3.

In the men's doubles Egerton and teenager Josh Eardley beat Andy Keeley and Paul Season 7-6, 6-4, while Mike Armstrong and youngster Tom Ellis saw off Martin Ledbury and Phil Coral 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.

Further success came in the women's doubles, when June Fisher and Judy Tierney beat Kate Frayling and Louise Waterhouse 6-1, 6-2 and Sue Winters and Mary Hobson dismissed Delia Chadwick and McCartney 6-1, 6-1.

The mixed match between Armstrong and Ellis and Ledbury and Frayling was drawn.

"The RAF came to help us celebrate our 125th birthday and it was a truly memorable day," said spokesman Derek Newport.

"It was wonderful to see so many people at the club pulling together to make the event such a success. It was a real team effort."