South Essex's newest tennis club is keen to make a mark on the local scene.

The David Lloyd Club at Basildon's Festival Leisure Park opened earlier this year at a cost of £8m.

It has already attracted more than 2,000 memberships and now club chiefs are looking forward to getting teams involved in local tennis leagues.

"We will have to wait until next year, but we intend to get involved in the local leagues," said racquets manager Clinton Coleman.

"David Lloyd centres have teams in most leagues around the country."

He also revealed that the club hoped to host more tennis events thanks to the facilities on offer.

The club boasts six indoor carpet courts, offering a slow to medium pace and waist-high bounce.

Outside are a further five carpet courts. These are floodlit and have a medium pace and waist-high bounce.

Coaching is available from the club's head tennis professional Amanda Brown - who was world ranked 63 and played at Wimbledon in the mid-1980s - fellow pros Stuart Hau and Gary Comins, as well as Clinton.

A range of tennis activities are available every day, ranging from beginners' sessions to a club night.

Apart from tennis, badminton and squash are also offered at the club. The centre also has two swimming pools, and a well-equipped gym. A health and beauty suite is also to open soon.

Telephone 01268 662100 for further information about the David Lloyd Club and membership.

Top tips - Clinton Coleman (dark shirt) coaching youngsters at the David Lloyd Club

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Heat is on for veterans

Veteran tennis players showed their mettle at the weekend as they played their league matches in sweltering heat.

Southend Lawn beat Rayleigh 5-3 in Division Three of the Essex League. The Lawn team consisted of Terry Pryor, Graham Evans, Derek Hunnibal and Dennis Rayner.

Westcliff Hard lost by four games to Purleigh, Surrey, after reaching the last 16 of the National Over-45s.

Ashley Compton-Dando, Trevor Stone, Graham Goodale and Bob Hammond were the local players involved, although there was anger in the Essex camp when Ashley was a few minutes late for his match and Purleigh claimed the event.

The Essex over-55 men's team defeated Middlesex 4-1 to stay in Division One of the National Over-55 County League, which the Essex men won last year.

Eddie Rook and Bob Hammond won two doubles games, while Bryan Rivers enjoyed one singles and one doubles victory.

The Essex ladies team have won the over-45 county championship for the first time since its foundation in 1984. No local players were involved.

Finals place for Kirsten

Hockley's Kirsten Mills reached a final when the Forty-five Club of Great Britain celebrated its 25th anniversary at Queenswood School in Hertfordshire.

South Essex was well represented at the weekend event by Steffi Rodrigues and Ian Pitt of Westcliff Hardcourt, Lesley Pitt and Gill Ayres of Westcliff Lawn and Pat Reeves, Alan Young and Pat Reeves of Hockley. There were five tournaments which were followed by a dinner for 130 people and an address by club chairman Clive Bernstein.

New look for Hard

Tennis fans will be able to see the new-look Westcliff Hardcourts on August 22 when the club holds a fun day.

It marks the completion of work to the clubhouse, including building a new bar, and the construction of short tennis courts.

Thirteen lucky for ladies

Westcliff Hardcourts ladies enjoyed a convincing 13-5 win over Thorpe Bay in Division Two of the Essex League.

The Hardcourts' team consisted of Janet Alnatt, Sue Hookway, Steffi Rodrigues, Karen Poole, Claire Hammer-man and Amy Cockle.

Thorpe Bay's team included Mandy Acton, Sophie Owles, Chloe Taylor, Rebecca Appleby and Nicola Worsley, who was forced to retire injured.

Thorpe Bay enjoyed a 6-0 thrashing of Connaught's thirds in Division Three of the County Singles League.

The Bay team included Jon Lee, David Tubbs, Mark Wellington and Graham Bloomfield.

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