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A dramatic match saw a Leverstock Green pair build on their Guinness World Record tennis triumphs.
Coach at Leverstock Green Tennis Club Graham Fish and member Stuart Foster won the men's doubles title for the 23rd consecutive year at the club's closed championships on Sunday.
Far from a walkover, the pair - who are both 46 and have four World Records between them - overcame match points for opponents Scott Paxton and Michael Evans to win again.
It made it four decades in which the pair have won the title - the 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s.
"It's great to keep it going," said Stuart, who holds records for most championships won by an individual at the same club, most doubles won as a pair with Graham and most mixed titles.
"I thought we had lost it when I double faulted to give them match point. You could hear a pin drop on the next point!
"It took all our experience to get us through."
Stuart, who came back from a set down to beat Graham in the men's singles earlier in the day, teamed up with his rival to win 6-7, 7-6, 6-2.
He won the mixed doubles title for the fifth time with Alissa Ayling overcoming Graham and Ashleigh Nicholls.
The ladies tableau was taken this year by Kirsty Cawley, 14, who beat last year's champion Ashleigh Nicholls to become the youngest ever winner.
Riya Patel, also 14, won the ladies singles series three competition against Anne Baughan.
Tom Cullinan, 15, won a fantastic match against senior Barry Dixon in the mens series three singles while 13-year-old Casey Linsell beat Lei Chen for the mens singles plate.
Youngsters Jack Trent and Oliver Cawley took the mens doubles plate against Iain Smith and Richard Metcalf with
Sarah and Holly Cottingham winning the battle of the mum and daughter sides against from Lorna and Kelly Hosier in the ladies doubles plate.
Laura Bishop and Alissa Ayling took the ladies doubles title for the third year running against Tracey Woof and Lynne Moore with Tracey Woof beating Lynne Moore to the ladies 40+ title.
In the juniors Elliott Ashby won the boys final against James Craske while Keziah Buckley took the girls title from doubles partner Isobel Lane.
Oliver Ayres and Addison Petrie snatched the doubles against David and Daniel Nickalls while Kezia took to the court again with Isobel to beat Sophie Herring and Anna Povey.
She then teamed up with Addison Petrie to win the mixed doubles against Isobel and Abeek Dutta.
by Jake Rusby
jake.rusby@jpress.co.uk
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
