MARTIN Isherwood and Mike Prince from Andover won the annual Basingstoke and District Tennis League men’s veteran doubles for the first time.

The tournament took place at Preston Candover Tennis Club, with 12 doubles partnerships from a variety of clubs taking part, writes Richard Mole.

The pairs were split into three groups, with the winner of each group, plus the best runners-up, making it to the semi-finals.

Isherwood and Prince proved very effective as they won group A.

Things may have been different for them as they were trailing 4-3 to the Preston Candover pairing of Steve Grove and Paul Cook when the latter had to retire due to injury.

Beechdown’s Hoss Ashraf and Darren Giddings secured their one victory over the other pairing in the group, Goodworth Clatford’s Geoff Mulhern and Richard Hancock.

Group B saw 2011 champions Chris Wise and Pete Seward from RSF dominate, with only Waverley’s Malcolm McPhail and Paul Byrne providing any real opposition.

Jeff Lill and Trevor Blake from Andover were successful in their final match of the group over Winchester’s Al Taylor and Ian Taylor.

Group C included six-time winners, Kingsclere’s Chris Pearce and Oakley’s Paul Rattue, and they looked on course to win the group after victories against Andy Wallace (BDH) and Richard Mole (Preston Candover) and Preston Candover pair Neil Dainton/Oscar O’Herlihy.

However, Totally Tennis’ Tim Rice and Rex Groves had other ideas and sprung a real surprise by beating the former champions before going on to win the group.

In the semi-finals, Rice and Groves were drawn to play Wise and Seaward, but their earlier form appeared to dwindle as Wise and Seaward won 6-3.

The other semi saw Chris Pearce and Paul Rattue, who came through as best losers, lose to Isherwood and Prince 6-3. They then went on to win the final with a 6-2 victory.

In the plate final, Waverley’s Malcolm McPhail/Paul Byrne beat Jeff Lill/Trevor Blake 6-3.

The organisers would like to thank Preston Candover for the use of their facilities.