South Ham tennis stars were among the finalists at the Devon senior county closed championships at Tor­quay writes Tony Atkins.

Abigail Skelley faced arguably the toughest test that befell anyone as she attempted to dethrone seven-time ladies champion Ken­dal Brown.

In the final, the 17-year-old Ivybridge college student battled bravely like so many before her, but she was beaten 6-1, 6-1 by the Torquinian as former British Colleges' champion Brown, 24, made it eight singles titles in a row.

'There were places where I could have done better, like my serve,' the reigning junior county champion, said, 'but I was keen to get out there and play her as I need matches like this to step up my own game.'

In the men's singles, Alfie Flatters, the number seven seed and a champion at Regatta Week, was looking to complete a successful defence of his title, but the county champion was beaten by 17-year-old top seed Emerson Styles (Barnstaple) 6-4, 6-3.

In the semi-finals, Flatters had won a thriller against former Regatta champion Steven Wood 4-6, 7-5, 10-7, but was unable to get the better of the American university-bound Styles.

'Emerson was just too relentless,'Flatters said, 'but on the whole I'm pleased with the last few days.'

A record entry in the men's singles saw Newton Ferrers Erik Wilson seeded three, but one of Devon's brightest young hopes was beaten in two rain-enforced short sets by eventual semi-finalist Lewie Parker (Dolton) 4-1, 4-1.

Dartmouth closed champion Hugh Ryder was beaten in straight sets by eighth seed Rhys Dunford (Ivybridge), who eventually fell to unseeded Dave Palmer (Teignmouth TC) 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, 10-5. Dunford reached the semi-finals of the mixed with Abigail Skelley. South Devon Tennis Centre star Patrick Daykin impressed throughout. Beaten in the semi-finals of the singles by Flatters 7-5, 6-1, Daykin was to win the doubles with Steven Wood, with victory over Andrew Norton and Dave Palmer 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.

Ivybridge's Mia Loye and Mae Dartnell were beaten in the ladies' final by the unrelated Kate and Kendal Brown 6-4, 6-4.

Alistair Forbes (Dart­mouth) and Julia Elliott (Stoke Fleming), who have both won titles at Regatta, beat Peter Ford and Heather Nicholson 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 to reach the last four of the 45/40 mixed doubles.

Former Salcombe player Sandy Matthews was a semi-finalist in the men's 55 doubles with Anthony Lyons (Kingswear) reaching the same stage in the singles.

Gordon Mudge, Brit­ish junior Wimbledon champion in 1954, just 12 months after winning the Devon senior singles for the first time, was guest of honour at this year's county closed where he presented the awards.