After two very wet days, the Framlingham Tennis Tournament ended on a high note on Saturday with special celebrations for the 125th anniversary, writes Chris Clarke.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jez Cowley plays a volley as Matt Hough watches on. The duo won the Suffolk doubles title at Framlingham. Picture: ANTHONY WILLOUGHBYJez Cowley plays a volley as Matt Hough watches on. The duo won the Suffolk doubles title at Framlingham. Picture: ANTHONY WILLOUGHBY (Image: Archant)

Many old faces from years gone by, some visiting for the first time in 40 years, enjoyed some very good matches in all events from the Open, Senior and Junior sections and a special celebratory tea.

The Suffolk closed finals had been held over from the wet day on Thursday. The men’s event was won by Matt Hough, who overcame his fellow champion county colleague Ryan Lambert 6-4, 6-2, whilst in the ladies’ final Katie Tassell was too strong for her young opponent, Maddie McLoughlin, who was probably overcome by nerves in the end.

She led the match 4-1 in the first set but then experience came through with Tassell winning 6-4, 6-0. It was an incredible achievement for Tassell to win the title for the 11th time, exactly 30 years from her first win in 1988.

In the Open events Daniel Dean beat Benjamin Stanford in a very tight match 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 (7). Dean won the 18 and under title as well in an equally absorbing match coming through 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (6).

East Anglian Daily Times: Jez Cowley cushions a volley on his way to the doubles title at Framlingham. Picture: ANTHONY WILLOUGHBYJez Cowley cushions a volley on his way to the doubles title at Framlingham. Picture: ANTHONY WILLOUGHBY (Image: Archant)

It was an all-Norfolk final in the Ladies’ Open with Vianne Palffy overcoming number three seed Rosie Pooley 7-6, 6-4, after Pooley had won a particularly tight three set semi-final against number two seed Megan Carmichael from Cambridgeshire.

Only doubles events were able to be played on grass after the rain of the previous two days and there was a really good crowd to enjoy the Suffolk men’s doubles being won by county captain Jez Cowley and Hough against younger members of the Suffolk squad, Harper Mills and Asa Sumner Keens, who gave a spirited performance but were outplayed 6-2, 6-0.

The Men’s Open Doubles saw a close encounter played later in the evening, with top seeds Dean and Tom Skinner winning the third set championship tiebreaker to seven points against number two seeds Daniel Chamoun and Harry Ketteringham.

Chairman James Lightfoot and his team of volunteers, together with the professionalism of referee Peter Grimsdale and the dedicated Framlingham College catering and ground staff, can feel that this special year was a success for young and old alike.

East Anglian Daily Times: Daniel Dean won the Open men's singles title at Framlingham. Picture: ANTHONY WILLOUGHBYDaniel Dean won the Open men's singles title at Framlingham. Picture: ANTHONY WILLOUGHBY (Image: Archant)

Winners of selected events -

Men’s Open singles – Daniel Dean. Ladies Open singles – Vianne Palffy. Men’s Open doubles - Daniel Dean and Tom Skinner. Ladies Open doubles Megan Carmichael and Evie Smart. Men’s 45 singles – Scott Martin. Ladies 50 singles – Elizabeth Cubitt. Girls 18 singles – Megan Carmichael. Boys 16 singles - Thomas Drayton. Girls 16 singles - Weiqi Ye. Boys 14 singles – Andrew Wilson. Girls 14 singles Weiqi Ye. Boys 12 singles - Saul Hindmarch. Girls 12 singles - Tilly McLoughlin.