TAVISTOCK pair Linden Hardisty and Josh Brown achieved a total of five wins in key events at Westward Ho tennis tournament last week. The event is in its 20th year and this year attracted a record entry of more than 300. This was an excellent event, played with a competitive but fun and friendly atmosphere, well supported by players and spectators from miles around. Although the Tavistock pair were new to this tournament they were made very welcome. Linden Hardisty, member of Tavistock Tennis Club, and raquets manager at the Devonshire Club, Plymouth, defeated strong opposition from Peter Wilcox, the national deaf champion, to claim the Tableau singles title, whilst stepson Josh Brown, age 16, and one of the youngest in the world to gain his tennis coaching qualification, was runner up in the under 18 Boys singles. Josh, a Tavistock first team player, then went on to win the U18 doubles, and men?s 7-2, 6-2 draw, to qualify for the tableau finale, but finally losing to a much higher rated player from Exeter. Josh and Linden went on to play the mens? doubles, getting to the finals in style, where they played Peter Wilcox and Hamish Mackay. It was a tense match, with the opposition winning the first set 6-4. Linden and Josh pulled back to win the second set on a tie break, and then proceeded to fight through a nail biting champions tie break, watched with relish by the many spectators who were treated to an exciting display of quality tennis. After a close few moments, Josh played a perfect drop volley to win the match for the father and son pair.
