EIGHTY competitors, a record in recent years, took part in the Coln Valley Annual Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament in Chedworth on Saturday.

The coveted Speke Challenge Cup was regained by 2011 winners Matthew Irving and Sandra Chambers of Hill & Valley and Beckford (Tewkesbury) in an excellent final against Ben Langley and Charlie Foster from David Lloyd.

The final for the Scott-Smith Salver proved an all-Cirencester challenge, with Jonathan Vickers and Louise Horner-Baggs just edging a hard-fought encounter against George Brooks and Elaine Holwell.

Established more than 30 years ago, the tournament raises money for the Hill & Valley Lawn Tennis Club and for the churches of Chedworth, Coln St Dennis and Coln Rogers.

In the opening round, the groups played on 12 fabulous courts at stunning properties kindly loaned for the day by their owners in Withington, Coln St Denis, Coln Rogers, Fossebridge, Rendcomb, Colesbourne and Aycote.

Host club Hill & Valley LTC provided the majority of the entries but there were also representatives from clubs in Northleach, Cirencester, Nailsworth, Minety, Swindon (David Lloyd), Kintbury, Highworth and Purton.

Tournament coordinator Allison Stock of Hill & Valley LTC said: “It was a vintage day with entries up 20 per cent on last year and we were delighted to welcome 30 new faces.

"We had a new sponsor for 2014, Savills, the weather held for us and we had a home win with Matthew and Sandra who won together three years ago.

"We are hugely grateful to Savills and our other sponsors, to those who donated courts and to all the volunteer helpers who worked so hard on the day and prepared food prior to the event.”