The first of this year's open tournaments - the ladies' doubles event - took place at Braintree Lawn Tennis Club.

It was staged on the club's artificial grass courts in dry weather for a change.

The entry this year included pairs from two new clubs.

The group stage commenced at 10.15am, when each pair played one extended set against all the other pairs in their group.

Three rounds were completed before lunch and the final matches in the group stage were played immediately after.

The top two pairs in each of the two groups then played semi-finals, consisting of the best of two short sets.

Lydia Seleska and Amy Rumble (Braintree LTC) won the first set against Mary Joslin and Carol Mugwanya (Maylands LTC) 4-2, but then lost the second set 4-1.

They then played a championship tie-break to decide the match, which Seleska and Rumble won 10-6.

The other semi-final was between Braintree pair Fran Hewitt and Emine Weaire and Jenny Appleby and Janice McDonald, of Bishop's Stortford.

The Braintree pair went through to the final after winning 4-1, 4-2.

The tournament has been running for eight years and this was the first that saw an all-Braintree final.

The spectators enjoyed a closely-contested match, with Seleska and Rumble emerging as victors, 7-5, 6-4.

The club president and tournament referee Philip Welch presented cups to the winners.

Seleska and Rumble are certainly the youngest pair to take the cup - they are both 14 and are the club's brightest stars.

More tournaments are due to be played over the summer, with the next being the open junior singles (June 27 to 29).

Braintree LTC welcomes all budding tennis players. Visit the club on Sunday afternoons for a free taster session. More details can be found on www.braintreeltc.co.uk or by phoning Sue Spinks on 01376 322030.