THE new year started with a bang for Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club (DTSC) with a maximum turnout of 24 players for the first Fun Handicap Tournament of the year.

Players of all abilities participated using a handicap scoring system. 

The format for the tournament was mixed doubles and everyone played three matches with different partners, trying to win as many games as possible.

Players were split into two groups and the top man and woman in each progressed into the finals.

The handicap scoring system levelled up the differing abilities, which led to some long, very competitive matches.

READ MORE: Dorchester crown two first-time champions

After a fun and thankfully sunny and dry day, among the four finalists were afternoon winners Ros Clark, undefeated in the group stage, and Sarah Skidmore.

Skidmore was playing as a man, as the club were short of men and who had only flown back from Australia 24 hours beforehand, versus unbeaten Laura Dodington and Chris Porter, who had won the morning group. 

Clark and Skidmore were behind for most of the match but saved a match point at 5-6, 40-40 on a sudden-death deuce.

Clark’s put-away volley hit the top of the net and trickled over to take the final into a tie-break.

Skidmore and Clark then went ahead for the first time in the match in the early stages of the breaker, but after a couple of nervy points Porter and Dodington hung on to win the tie-break and the tournament.

DTSC chairman Al Clark presented the champagne to the winners and said: “I’m delighted to see so many people out on court at the start of the year and also thankful that the torrential rain stopped for a few hours and we’ve been able to play this tournament in the sunshine under lovely blue skies.”

To mark the start of 2023, DTSC have a New Year’s promotion of a three-month introductory membership.

The cost is only £60 and covers tennis, squash, racketball or table tennis with all court lights included in the price.

Anyone taking up this offer will be able to play any of the sports for fun, join in with club sessions, have some coaching, enter a tournament or play in a team.

Once the three months is up, new members have the option to convert to a full club membership.

For more information, visit www.dtsc.org.uk or email: admin@dtsc.org.uk or phone 01305 268103 from 9-11am on weekdays.