Gary Howell, a member of the Junior section at the Brentwood Hard Court Club, won the boys' 12 and under singles title at the recent Cranbrook Castle Ratings tournament, after beating Simon Bitton from Cranbrook Castle 6-1, 6-1 in the final.

The girls' 12's title went to Faye Dixey from the Havering club who beat Gemma Chittocks from Southend 6-2, 6-2.

This summer's Lionel Bass Brentwood Hard Court Junior Open Tennis tournament will again be held during the Whitsun Bank Holiday week at the end of May.

The club, which is based in Childerditch Lane, has made this an annual junior tennis extravaganza with players coming from far afield to take on local youngsters.

As usual there will be events for girls and boys in age groups from 10 and under through to 18 and under.

This year the tournament director, Alan Anstey, has passed over the role of Tournament Secretary to another club member, Marc Ward who will be dealing with the entries and for tournament details, telephone Marc on 01277 200499.

Play Tennis '99 is the LTA's major tennis promotion for the coming year.

It was launched with a Forum for Essex clubs held at the Billericay club last week and is to be the largest tennis event outside Wimbledon.

After the success of the first Play Tennis held last year the 1999 programme will be even bigger.

In 1998 over 1100 clubs took part with 72,000 participants and some 18,000 of them new to the game.

It will be held during the week May 1-8 and many local clubs are likely to be involved.

It is intended to raise the profile of the game, make the game more accessible (particularly to youngsters), provide the experience for newcomers, promote facilities and clubs, and discover new talent and potential.

More details of local activity will be announced during the next few months.

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