Members at Westcliff Hardcourts were in shock this week after club president David Lloyd was given the sack as Britain's Davis Cup captain.

Lloyd has been a member of the club since his junior days and still visits the Hardcourts occasionally from his home in Surrey.

He took over the Davis Cup captaincy in 1995 but was relieved of his post by LTA chiefs this week less than a month after the British team lost 4-1 against the Czech in the famous competition.

"Obviously the club is sad that their president has parted company with the LTA in his standing as Davis Cup captain," said a club spokesman. "It also severs the LTA links with their most successful Wimbledon champion.

"He has got to be one of the greatest players that we have had in England and it is a shame that his departure from the Davis Cup team has come about this way."

"We were delighted when he was appointed as Davis Cup captain. We sent a letter of congratulations to him from the club."

The LTA claimed Lloyd's position as Davis Cup captain had become unworkable after his public criticism of players and coaches.

The association sacked Lloyd following his outburst about young players' fitness and coaching techniques, which followed Britain's defeat in the Czech Republic.

Lloyd, 52, was replaced by former Wimbledon semi-finalist Roger Taylor.

But the Hardcourts spokesman said:"David has always been known for his forthright approach to tennis matters.

"However, one thing is David is a first class team member. If you have him in your team, he gives all for the team - his commitment to club, county and international teams is always 110 per cent.

"From the early days he has always shown a determination and will to win. His support for this club when he was playing for us was fantastic."

The highlight of Lloyd's club career was when he won the National Club Championships in 1981 with Hardcourts clubmates Tony Lloyd, Brian Watts, Ian Currie and Gerrard Wright.

Stateham and Adams triumph

Val Stateham and John Adams emerged as the champions of the over-55 veterans tournament held at Basildon's David Lloyd Centre on Sunday.

They won their group to meet the winners of the other qualifying group, Graham Murray and Eddie Rooks, but Stateham and Adams took the final 7-6 6-1.

The semi-finalists were Mike Thurlow and Graham Bruce plus John Drum and Bryan Rivers.

Westcliff Hardcourts travelled to Billericay in an Essex Winter League Division One match and won 4-0.

Tracey Chesher, Fiona Stone, Steffi Rodrigues and Dawn Handelaar were the winning quartet.

Thorpe Bay entertained Westcliff Hard's ladies in the same division and won 4-0.

Kirsten Warner and Chloe Taylor beat Brenda Corlett and Sue Blackshaw, but the Hardcourts were forced to concede a walkover in the second rubber when Vanessa Irvine was forced to scratch at the last minute.

Bay's men went to Gidea Park in Men's Division One and notched up a 4-0 win thanks to John Lee, Simon Cuthbert, Graham Bloomfield and Robin Jackson.

Westcliff Hardcourts will play their first game in the National Singles League on April 16 when then men will play Frinton and the ladies' Newmarket. Both games are due to be played at home.

Leigh & Westcliff League

Mens

Westcliff Hardcourts are sitting pretty at the top of Men's Division One and Two plus Ladies Division One leagues this week.

But they are not having it all their own way as Kent Elms are claiming the top spot in the first three mixed divisions.

The Hardcourts' men's team stretched their lead to seven points after beating fourth-placed Rayleigh in the only Division One match played this week.

Results

Division One: Rayleigh v Westcliff Hard 2-4.

Division Two: Westcliff Hard 2 v Invicta 3-2.

Division Three: Westcliff Hard 3 v leigh 2 4-0, Leigh 2 v Hadleigh Park 4-0.

Division Four: Westcliff Lawn 3 v Wickford 2 0-4, Thorpe Bay 3 v Kent Elms 3 4-0.

Division Six: Rochford v Invicta 4 2-2, Thorpe Bay 5 v Westcliff Hard 5 4-1.

Ladies

The Hardcourts' ladies team picked up a maximum six points to stretch their Division One lead to nine points as second and third placed Kent Elms and Leigh were not in action this week.

Thorpe Bay picked up a useful four points in their game against table-propping Hadleigh Park which saw the level with Leigh on points from one game more.

Results

Division One: Westcliff Lawn v Westcliff Hard 0-4, Hadleigh Park v Thorpe Bay 2-4.

Division Four: St Peters v Crowstone 3-2, Southend Lawn v St Peters 0-4, Crowstone v Hockley 2 2-2.

Mixed

Kent Elms maintained their lead at the top of Mixed Division One despite being beaten by second-placed Westcliff Hard.

Wickford's seconds got their easiest points of the season in Division Four when Westcliff Hard's thirds were unable to field a team and handed the Swan Lane players a walkover.

Results

Division One: Westcliff Hard v Kent Elms 4-2, Westcliff Lawn v Invicta 4-0.

Division Two: Westcliff Lawn v Invicta 4-0.

Division Three: Kent Elms v Leigh 2-2, Invicta 2 v Westcliff Lawn 2 1-4, Thorpe Bay 2 v Westcliff Hard 2 4-1.

Division Four: Wickford 2 v Westcliff Hard 3 4-0.

Division Five: Westcliff Hard 4 v St Peters 4-1, Southend Lawn 3 v Rochford 4-2.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.