WITH Covid restrictions now lifted to allow travel across all of Scotland’s local authority areas for non-essential purposes, Helensburgh Tennis Club’s various teams have seen their campaigns gather pace in recent weeks.

The club’s ladies’ first team is performing well at a high level, while the ladies’ over 60s first team is also catching the eye with some strong performances.

After a two week break, Helensburgh’s ladies’ first team resumed their summer campaign with a home match against Giffnock 2.

The visitors had to default sets for late arrival but quickly imposed themselves and, despite two Helensburgh pairs competing well, the host team couldn’t quite manage to collect any more sets.

At first couple Katie Nicolson and Ann Morison enjoyed a closer match and with dogged determination and attacking play they just managed to secure the first set but in the second and third sets, despite long rallies and numerous deuce games, their momentum stalled a little, allowing the match to frustratingly turn in the visitors’ favour.

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Giffnock picking up both the remaining sets to give the East Renfrewshire side an overall 6-3 victory and a comfortable middle position in a very strong top division.

In division five, the Helensburgh ladies’ second team had three matches in hand to raise themselves from the lower reaches of the table, but despite a close fought three sets at first couple they went down 8-1 to Rutherglen in their latest away match.

The ladies’ over-60 first team took on local rivals Craighelen at home last Thursday, and first couple Liz Wylie and Val Pace won two very competitive first sets 6-3, 7-5, and then stormed through the third set winning 6-0.

Second couple Jackie Hunter and Janette Howieson lost their first set 4-6, but then came back to win the next two sets 6-3, 7-6.

After two comfortable 5-1 victories against Craighelen and Glasgow University Staff, the latest match away to Hamilton saw them succumb 6-0 to the division’s leaders, but they remain second in the overall standings.

In division three, the ladies’ over-60 second team lost by four sets to two in their last two matches, firstly away to Nuffield Milngavie on May 27 and then on June 3.

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The local derby against Craighelen was a close fought match at first couple, with three tight sets played with long rallies and glimpses of possible victory along the way.

New to the matches this season, Young Wha McCrae and Dari Young played an impressive solid first two sets, after which the opposition rallied round and took the third set 7-5.

The team’s results are slowly improving , but with only two matches left they are running out of opportunities to secure a win before the end of the season.

Helensburgh’s men’s over 60s team finished their season with a local derby against Craighelen. Helensburgh’s first couple won, but with some close sets on evenly matched couples, the match was drawn.

Though the result left both teams at the foot of the division, all players competed strongly and enjoyed the season.

The club’s other men’s teams have also been in action and will be reported on soon.

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