Leigh and Westcliff LTA is celebrating its golden anniversary this year.

The highlight of the festivities will be a dinner and dance on Saturday, October 28, where former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd will be the guest of honour.

The association is producing a commemorative 50th anniversary programme to mark the event and wants Echo Tennis readers to help out.

Honorary league secretary Dave Lincoln said the association was looking for any funny or interesting Leigh and Westcliff LTA stories over the past 50 years which could be included in the programme.

Any anecdotes can be sent to Mr Lincoln at the address on Leigh & Westcliff LTA scorecards.

Looking good - the Thorpe Bay under-18 boys' team looks set to win the Essex League after beating Westcliff Hardcourts 4-2. The team are (l-r) Danel Schade, Nick Bourne, Matt Reid and Nima Sardar, pictured here with their coach John Lee (centre)

Elms weather Rayleigh's second set fightback

Kent Elms booked their place in the Leigh and Westcliff LTA Winter Cup ladies' final with a three sets to one victory over Rayleigh.

Mandy White and Dawn Collins got the ball rolling by beating Lesley Moores and Sharon Scarfe 6-1 6-2.

But Rayleigh threatened to come back when Nikki Savage and Judy Barham won the first set 6-3.

However, their Kent Elms opponents, Brenda Lincoln and Marilyn Sharples replied by taking the closely-fought second set 7-6.

With Rayleigh unable to win the match, the third set was not needed to be played.

Kent Elms had home advantage in their final last night when they were due to meet Hockley.

The men's cup final will be played on March 13 at Westcliff Hardcourts, where Hard will be hosting Thorpe Bay.

But the date for the mixed doubles final has not been finalised after it was postponed because it clashes with the Leigh and Westcliff Winter Tournament Finals on April 16.

Rayleigh have home advantage and will be playing Kent Elms for the cup.

Hockley shine in clash at Chigwell

Hockley's ladies travelled to the David Lloyd Centre at Chigwell in Division Four of the Essex Summer League and came away with a 12 sets to six win.

Pat Reeves, Jill Ayres, Val Birrell, Kirsty Mills, Victoria Mills and Kate Bennett made up the winning Hockley team.

Westcliff Hardcourts ladies were also on the road in the Essex Summer League. They played Brentwood Lawn away in Division One and won seven sets to one.

The victorious Hardcourts team comprised Dawn Handelaar, Stephanie Rodrigues, Sue Hookway and Janet Allnatt, while their opponents included former county player Judy Bellchamber in their ranks.

The Hardcourts seconds had earlier played a Division Two derby against Westcliff Lawn. Hard enjoyed a convincing 16-2 sets victory over their London Road neighbours.

Dawn, Janet and Sue all turned out again for the Hardcourts, with Karen Poole, Anna Burton and Brenda Corlett making up the team.

Westcliff Lawn were represented by Judith Hudon, Lynn May, Nicola Hopkins, Kayley Flinders, Fiona Fisk and F Hickling.

In Essex Summer League Division Two, the Hardcourts came a cropper when they hosted Gidea Park, as the visitors triumphed seven events to two.

John Harris, Jamie Willson, Terry Taylor, Alan Hill, Ian Hookway and Temple Ray made up the Hardcourts' team, while Wayne Lemoine was one of their opponents.

The Hardcourts ladies and men's team get this year's National Singles League campaign underway on April 16.

Newmarket will be playing the ladies at home, while the men will be hosting Essex rivals Frinton.

The ladies have home advantage again on April 30 when they take on Harpenden and the Hertfordshire club's men will be hosting the Essex team.

Courts four to seven at Westcliff Hardcourts will be out of action until April 28 while the Astroturf is relayed.

Westcliff Lawn has offered the use of three courts midweek during daylight.

Speak to Graham Broadley at the Hardcourts for more information regarding the courts.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.