HELENSBURGH Tennis Club’s ladies’ first team ended a successful summer campaign with victory in their final match – completing an impressive record of victories in every match bar one this season.

On a scorching hot night in the Burgh, the Helensburgh ladies played host to David Lloyd Hamilton – and they got off to the ideal start, with th efirst pair of Katie Hope and Karrie Walters in commanding form as usual.

They quickly gathered up all three sets for the loss of only five games.

At second couple Ann Morrison and Jo Kerr – the latter sadly playing her last match for the club before she moves to the United States – had a tough match full of lobs, short balls and no pace.

It was a style that didn’t suit either of the Helensburgh ladies, but having lost the first set, the duo dug in and thanks to a combination of patience and persistence managed to win the second set 6-3 and the third 7-5 to ensure Jo’s final match ended on a successful note.

At third couple, Yolande Trewhella and Gay Black faced a consistent pair on the other side of the net and lost the first set.

The Burgh duo did well to battle back and take the second set 6-2, but they couldn’t quite sustain their momentum, and lost the final set 2-6.

Despite that disappointment, Helensburgh still recorded a 6-3 overall win, and as a result finish in third place in Division 1/1, one set behind joint winners Newlands and Western.

Captain Ann Morison praised the team for their consistency, effort and fighting spirit in what is an extremely tight division and said that all members should be justifiably proud of their achievement.

The ladies’ 60+ team finished their summer matches with another win against Hillhead, ensuring that they end their league campaign in third place in their division with a record of five wins and two defeats.

In their final match, Jackie Hunter and Carolan Dobson used all their experience to secure a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win, while on court 2, Youngwha Macrea and Joy Michie won by exactly the same score.

The Helensburgh ladies’ third team also finished in third place in their division courtesy of an emphatic 8-1 win away to Whitecraigs in their final fixture.

Jackie Hunter and Alison Fotheringham were in commanding form in their match, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, and it was a similar story for Sue Macrae and Joanna Crumless, who were never seriously troubled by their opponents on their way to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Janette Howieson and Fiona MacLaren lost their opening set 2-6, but a clever change of tactics saw them take the next two 6-4, 6-3.