HELENSBURGH Tennis Club’s men’s first team have started the new season in great style with two home wins.

Third couple Felix Carpenter and Alan MacBeath were in top form against Strathgryffe, winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-0, while Ciaran Losh and Stephen Lewis at second couple won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and first couple Fraser Fulton and David Reid lost 7-5, 2-6, 4-6 as Helensburgh completed a 6-3 victory.

Against Broomhill, Bobby Kerr partnered Felix Carpenter at third couple lost 4-6, 6-1, 2-6, but there were no such issues for MacBeath and Lewis at second couple as they stormed to a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win.

Fulton and Reid at first couple snatched the opening set 7-5 before moving up a gear in the next two, winning 6-1, 6-2 to complete a 7-2 overall win.

The men’s second team has had a mixed start, losing 3-6 at home to Strathgryffe before bouncing back in style with a 7-2 win away to Woodend.

In the latter match, first couple Hadden Smith and Bill Ram won 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, while second couple Alastair Hope and David McCowan won the first set on a 7-2 tie break; the second set was lost, again on a tie break by 5-7, but in the deciding set the Helensburgh pair took the honours 6-1.

Third couple Stephen Humphreys and Iain McLaren rounded off a great night with a 6-2, 6-3, 3-6 win.

The club’s first social event since the lifting of Covid restrictions saw Joanna Crumless and Jim Hunter win a social tournament before the participants enjoyed a Chinese meal.

The evening also saw Ann Morison receive an honorary life membership to thank her for all the work she has given to the club over many years.

The next event will be the annual Marie Curie tournament where all four local clubs will join to raise money for the charity in memory of much loved local player Marie Dixon.