TENNIS

Dawlish-based Devon star Kate Barthelemy celebrated a ninth ladies' doubles title at the 2002 Devon County Closed Championships at Exmouth on Monday with victory alongside Kirsty Gray from Plymouth.

Twice a winner with former Totnes player Lisa Webber, Exeter University graduate Barthelemy made it seven wins in a row with Gray when they followed up their semi-final defeat of Debbie Gatting and Caroline Vallance (Bovey Tracey) to beat Amanda Cox (Exeter) and Camilla Knight (Plymouth) 6-1, 6-1 in the final.

But there was a surprise defeat in the County Club Men's Doubles final for twins Robert and Peter Elver from Dawlish, when the four-times champions went down 6-1, 6-7, 6-1 to Simon Jones and Ben Findel-Hawkins from the host club, Cranford.

"We just couldn't break their serve all match and we were completely blown away first set," said Peter Elver.

In the men's singles, Teignmouth schoolboys David Palmer and Jason Collins did well with the title won for the first time by Ross Elliott from Ivybridge. Great Britain junior Nicola Trelease, 13, beat defending ladies' champion Lois Fletcher (Plymouth) 6-4, 6-4 in the final with Bovey Invitation mixed doubles competitor Jacqui Warrender going down to Carla Keenan (Ebford) 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round.

RESULTS: Men's singles. Semi-finals: R Elliott bt A Neuman 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(7-5). H Holmes bt N Owen 6-2, 2-1 retired. Final: R Elliott bt H Holmes 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. Ladies' singles, Final: N Trelease bt L Fletcher 6-4, 6-4. Men's doubles. Semi-finals: P Bell & A Nueman bt R Short & L Webster 7-6 (9-7), 6-2. A Koval & J Walsh bt J Allen & H Holmes 5-7(5-7), 6-2, 6-1. Final: P Bell & A Neuman bt A Koval & J Walsh 6-1, 6-1. Ladies' doubles. Semi-finals: K Barthelemy & K Gray bt D Gatting & C Vallance 6-1, 6-1. C Knight & A Cox bt S Langford & K Spicer 7-5, 6-1. Final: K Barthelemy & K Gray bt C Knight & A Cox 6-1, 6-1. Mixed doubles. Semi-finals: A Neuman & A Cox bt K Leck & J Warrender 6-2, 6-2. J Walsh & K Barthelemy bt D Jones & K Gray 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Final: A Nueman & A Cox bt J Walsh & K Barthelemy 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Men's veteran singles. Final: J Walsh bt L Webster 6-4, 6-3.

Men's veteran doubles, Final: R Short & L Webster bt D Heaton & T Holmes

6-2, 6-4. Ladies' veteran doubles, Final: S Roberts & A Tait bt A Robinson & L Knight 6-0, 6-4. Men's County Club Doubles. 1 B Findel-Hawkins & S Jones bt R & P Elver 6-1, 6-7, 6-1.

Mixed veteran doubles, 1 R Short & A Robinson. 2 R Avent & D Bradshaw.