The Isle of Man LTA Senior Championships sponsored by Pokerstars commenced at the Ballaughton Meadows courts on Sunday with some of the club's junior players having the courage to try their skills against established senior players. This is good to see as it gives them new opponents with a different type of game plan which is all good experience. No doubt in 2 or 3 years time their names will be appearing regularly in senior events. Unfortunately the women's entry was low - why do the female players not compete? I'd love to know - there was never a shortage of opponents when I played and competition was fierce.

Finals Day is this Sunday (18th).

Results from early rounds: Women's singles 1st round Hannah Snidal bt Charlotte Clarke 6/1 6/3, Aalish Kelly bt Sarah Long 6/3 6/0; S/finals Karen Faragher bt Hannah Snidal 6/0 7/6 (2), Elena Snidal bt Aalish Kelly  6/0 6/0. Men's Singles Qualifying rounds Nerijus Gricevicius bt Nick Kelly 7/5 6/4, Garreth Roome bt James Clarke 6/0 6/4, Dean Morgan bt Jonathan Gower Jackson  7/5 1/6 (10-8). Mixed Doubles - 1st round Nerijus Gricevicius/Katsuyo Yamazaki bt Nick Kelly/Aalish Kelly 6/1 6/1, Jim Travers/Hannah Snidal bt Garreth Roome/Charlotte Clarke 6/0 6/4.

It's back to junior competition for the next event at the club with the Annual Albany/Equiom Junior Open which will be held from Saturday 8 - Sunday 16 July.

Entries close at 6pm on Sunday 2 July. Last year's winners are asked to return the shields, engraved, to the club office. Events are U8 (red ball), U9 (orange ball), U10 (green ball). U12, U14 and U18 singles plus doubles. Forms will be available from this weekend by e-mail to Albany juniors plus other clubs for their juniors. Every entrant will receive an Equiom 2017 T shirt.