Donal Burns and Jenny Humphries gain memorable win

Jenny and Danal receive their prize

The annual Mervyn Winslow American tournament always succeeds in drawing the biggest entry of all the one-day tournaments held during the year. This year proved no exception and a large entry of 38 competed for the prestigious trophy in memory of the man who for so many years along with Hilary Johnston had done so much for the club over four decades leading to the club's renaissance in the mid-nineties.

This year's tournament had a blend of wily experience mixed with youthful enthusiasm. Quickly out of the starting blocks was Seamus McCusker and Leonie Madigan who out rallied Neville Crawford and Bernie Hall to take the first match 3-2. Dominic Burns and Ruth Armstrong were out-gunned by the ever-improving Alistair McClurg and Brenda Davis. Brenda has only recently joined the club and has made a big impact on the local tennis scene in a short space of time. One of the most keenly fought matches in the early rounds involved Davy Thompson and Donal Burns against Innes Redmond and Ollie Campbell. Innes and Ollie stubbornly refused to lie down and emerged deserved victors by the narrowest of margins 3-2. Eamon Rasdale and Sonja Hateboer put themselves in contention with a good win over Neville Crawford and Claire Gillen. Other players which featured prominently included Avril Kee, Roisin O'Connell and the prodical daughter Josie Gillen who was returning to the circuit after a temporary break away from the game.

Runners-up receive their prizes The finalists consisted of the men and ladies with the highest number of games won from the earlier rounds. Donal Burns just edged out the luckless Eamonn Rasdale for a place in the final, in which Donal partnered a rejuvenated Jenny Humphries against Alistair McClurg and Linda Corrigan. This proved the tightest match of the night with Jenny and Donal managing to keep their heads at a critical stage which resulted in them saving three match points to draw level. Once again, the deciding game saw them come from behind and with Donal's serve and nerve holding up well, they emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins.

Presentations were made to the finalists by Mrs Phyllis Winslow, who has supported the tournament since its inception in 1997. It was a fitting end to a great evening. Mrs Winslow stated that her late husband Mervyn would have been delighted with the large entry and the sustained progress which the club has made over the past decade. Tribute was also paid to Linda Corrigan for organising the food for the night which was expertly prepared by Nasseem Booth and Rhonda Howe.