Tim Webster, former professional tennis player and now full-time coach, retained his Cornwall hard-court title last week in the County Tennis Championships, held at the Heron Tennis Centre – by beating his own pupil, writes Tim Hill.

In a high-quality final, Web-

ster overcame 17-year-old John Richards from Penzance 6-3, 6-1. Webster currently coaches some of the nation's leading juniors at the Sutton Tennis Academy in south London, including Richards – who left Cornwall last year in a bid to improve his playing standard.

There is no doubt that the move has paid off for the youngster, after a promising summer in which he has won the Penzance Open and was the stand-out player at Men's County Week. The ladies' singles and doubles finals were sadly cancelled after number one seed Vicki Terry–Short was rushed to hospital with chest pains.

Thankfully, the hospital trip was a precaution and nothing serious came of her sudden illness.

Most affected by this was Claire Tresidder of Falmouth, who was due to face Terry-Short in both finals; Tresidder was aiming to win the singles title she narrowly missed out on last year. The other two main events that took place saw Cornwall captain Andy Hill (St Austell) and John Richards finally get one over Webster by beating him and Ryan Fern (Truro) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.

Later, Fern managed to walk away with the mixed doubles title after he and partner Helen Stubbs (Truro) defeated Tresidder and the impressive Colin Jones of Porthleven 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.