Kent Elms made it a hat-trick of victories in the Leigh and Westcliff LTA winter ladies' cup final.

Elms previously lifted the trophy in the 1992/93 season and again in 1997/98. This time they beat Hockley - who have never won the competition - three sets to one.

Elms pair Mandy White and Dawn Collins did not put a foot wrong against Pat Bladon and Pat Townsley.

They always looked like being on top and, despite some good rallies, defeated the Hockley duo 6-0 6-1.

But the second game could have gone either way as Hockley's Nicola Edwards and Ilean Eley led throughout the first set to win 7-5.

Long rallies were a feature of the second set, where Kent Elm's Marilyn Sharples and Brenda Lincoln eventually secured the win by taking the set 7-5 and preventing a play-off.

New date set for final clash

The final of the the Leigh and Westcliff LTA mixed winter cup Rayleigh and Kent Elms will be played on May 7.

Association chiefs had originally planned the event to take place this Sunday. But it clashed with their winter tournament finals at Leigh Tennis Club.

The men's winter cup final takes place this evening (7pm) at Westcliff Hardcourts between Westcliff Hard and Thorpe Bay.

Pick up tips from town's tennis aces

Young players are being urged to see some of the country's top tennis talent in action at the weekend.

Westcliff Hardcourts' ladies and men's team start their National Singles League campaign on Sunday when they host Newmarket and Frinton.

And a host of county-level players will be competing at the Hardcourts, in The Ridgeway, Westcliff, and Essex Leisure and Tennis Centre, Eastern Avenue, Southend.

"This is a great opportunity for young players to come along and study the game of high-quality players close up first hand," said a spokesman for the Hardcourts.

"By watching their gameplay and techniques youngsters can pick up a lot of useful tips which can only improve their game."

The men are taking on leading Essex club Frinton at 12 noon on Sunday, while the ladies will be playing at the Leisure and Tennis Centre at the same time.

They have switched to the site because of court resurfacing at the Hardcourts.

Westcliff's men's team will include Simon Bonham, Richard Barham, Vince Ransom and possibly John Phillips.

The ladies will consist of Tracey Chesher, Gemma Garvey, Vanessa Irvine and Sophie Cockell.

The Hardcourts were in action in the Essex Senior Cup at the weekend where the men's first team - Simon Bonham, Richard Barham, Simon Chesher and Lance Owen - defeated Connaught's seconds 4-0.

And Hards' seconds made it a memorable double when they collected the scalp of the Chingford club's first team with a 3-1 win. Graham Goodale, Nick Plappert, Andy Bacon and Mark Bertola made up the winning side.

The Hardcourts' ladies received a walkover against Chelmsford-based Grove in the Senior Cup, while Hard's seconds conceded against Grove.

Westcliff Lawn travelled to Thorpe Bay and lost 4-0. Bryan Rivers, Dave Lamb, Steve Wynn and Tim Willcock were the vanquished side, while David Tubbs, Graham Bloomfield, John Lee and Simon Cuthbert tasted glory.

Lawn's seconds travelled to Theydon Bois and recorded a 3-1 win. Diana Carradus, Lyn May, Sarah Ball and Calley Flinders returned to Westcliff all smiles.

Thorpe Bay ladies travelled to Gidea Park in the Senior Cup and won 3-1 thanks to Kirstin Warner, Chloe Taylor, Mandy Acton and Chris Newbury.

Kate Bennett and Victoria Mills were the toast of Hockley Tennis Club after they clinched a win in the last event against Danbury in the Essex Junior Cup. The won 6-7 7-5 6-4 with victory in the last set securing glory on set countback after the score stood two events all. Pat Reeves and Kerstin Mill made up the winning Hockley team.

Westcliff Hard beat Hutton and Shenfield 4-0 in the Junior Cup with Drusi Redman, Juliette Harvey, Brenda Corlett and Sue Blackman successful.

Thorpe Bay seconds lost 3-1 against the David Lloyd Centre at Chigwell. The Bay team was Nick Williams, Alan Rayner, John Knight and Chris Knight.

Hardcourt players John Handelaar, Jamie Willson and Ashley Compton-Dando teamed up with Gidea Park's Phil O'Leary to represent Essex at the David Lloyd Centre in Basildon in the national over-45's championship. They beat Yorkshire 3-2.

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