CHRIS Pearce and Gerry Nikitopoulos won an all Kintbury final of the annual veterans men’s doubles at Preston Candover Tennis Club, writes RICHARD MOLE.

After the postponement of the original scheduled tournament due to the weather a total of eight pairs took part in the rearranged event.

The pairs were split into two groups of four with the top two teams in each group going through to the semi finals based on games won.

In the first group, despite losing their first match Pearce and Nikitopoulos (Kintbury) ran out winners of the group beating both the other pairs Luis Morris and Nicolae Chiria (Whitchurch) and Tony Vanderslott and Jeff Watson (Waverley).

The other pair in the group Steve Brown and Kevin Beaumont (Waverley) having beaten the group winners, lost out on the runners up position to Luis Morris and Nicolae Chiria who advanced to the semi-finals.

In group two both Mike Prince and Chris Procter (Kintbury) and Mark Goffin and John Garrett (Beechdown) won their opening two matches.

They both beat Alan Wilson and Barclay Martin (Waverley) and Rex Groves and Tim Rice (Totally Tennis).

In the match between the two unbeaten pairs Prince and Procter took the honours to go through as group winners with Goffin and Garrett taking the runners up spot.

In the semi finals, Pearce and Nikitopoulos beat Goffin and Garrett 6-2 and Procter and Prince beat Morris and Chiria 6-4 to set up an all Kintbury final.

A closely fought set saw Pearce and Nikitopoulos take the title 6-3.

In the plate final Watson and Vanderslott overcame Beaumont and Brown 6-3.

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