Heavy overnight rain could not stop the safe conclusion of the l2lst Framlingham Tournament at the College on Saturday, Suffolk Men’s Champion Matt Hough maintaining his fine unbeaten summer run in a high-quality Open Singles decider against top seed Tom Hands, from Cambridgeshire.

Big-serving Hough, unbeaten at both Felixstowe and Framlingham, where he did not drop a set, now moves on in confident form to next week’s British Tier event at Worthing.

Hands certainly played his part, but despite breaking back to 5-5 in the opening set, it was Hough who once again seemed to have that match-winning quality, raising his game when required.

The Open Ladies’ Singles Final was a disappointing one, Suffolk’s Hannah Vickers unable to retain her title against the 17-year-old Norfolk player Madeline Brooks, who never looked back after breezing to the first set 6-0.

The Open title was some consolation for Brooks, who lost in the 18U decider to county colleague Maria Andrews, though Hands had earlier lost convincingly 6-0 6-2 in the 18U to Ben Clark.

One of the outstanding Grade 3 Junior Finals saw Harry Hylton upsetting Noah Cutting in the 14U Singles, Hylton battling through to win 6-1 5-7 (10-4) in a hard-fought encounter. Suffolk’s Jared Bones lifted the 16U title after the withdrawal of Ben Jones with a shoulder injury.

All three men’s titles were retained in the Senior Singles events, Paul Hammond (45), Peter Taylor (55) and Peter Brown (65) all champions again, and it was great to see Joan Hassell winning the Ladies’ Handicap Doubles in her 57th year with daughter Julia, and the 60.O Mixed with Colin Stephenson.

High praise was given to retiring Referee Steve Pilcher, who has worked tirelessly on the on-line system for over ten years.