SOUTH Essex clubs triumphed in two of the three Essex Winter Cup finals.

Westcliff Hardcourts took the Harry Brickwood Ladies’ Veterans’ Cup and Westcliff Lawn claimed the Ian Pitt Men’s Veterans’ Cup.

Hard’s success saw them as number two seeds for the competition and they defeated Frinton 3-0 in the final at Deanes Indoor Tennis Centre in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley.

Karen Poole and Fiona Stone gave Hard the perfect start with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Frinton’s Ann Crossbey and Veronica Petten.

Sue Hookway and Sue Blackshaw ensured Hard would win the trophy with a 7-6 6-2 triumph over Kay Mansfield and Julia Holder.

Linda Vaughan and Sue Levy suffered a setback when Fenella Pearey and Liz Burridge won their first set 6-1.

But Vaughan and Levy recovered to win the second set 6-4 and then prevail 10-4 in a match tiebreak.

The cup was presented to the winners by Essex LTA competitions secretary Harry Brickwood.

Westcliff Lawn, who were also second seeds, recorded a 3-0 triumph over Brentwood’s Clearview to lift the Ian Pitt Men’s Veterans’ Cup.

Steve Wynn and Iain MacDonald beat Dave Overton and Stuart Cummings 7-5 6-1 in the first rubber.

Dave Lambe and Graham Goodale then defeated Dave Dench and Mike Robinson 6-2 6-3 to secure the win.

And in a third rubber that echoed Hard’s match, Clearview’s Ron Barham and Dave Frost took the first set 6-4 before Mark Butler and Taifur Rahman hit back to win 7-5 and take the match tiebreak 10-3. The trophy was presented by Ian Pitt.

Number four seeds Cranston Park, from Upminster, won the Don Barton Mixed Cup following a 2.5-.5 win over Danbury.

Faye Dixey and Laura Bain beat Zoe Ford and Suzanne Braodbridge 6-0 6-0 before Claire Dixey and Lee Duncan saw off Melissa Faux and Matt Ford 6-1 6-1.

Mark Downs and Oli Kazemi drew against Rob Leach and Craig Davies before John Tucker presented the trophy.

The event was organised by Richard Blackburn, a member of Essex’s Competitions Committee with the help of Harry Brickwood, Lesley and Ian Pitt, Mave and John Blewett and George Sabiniak.

>Rayleigh’s team of Gary Coombes, John Blewett, Mark Rose and Phil Alderton drew 2-2 in their Essex Men’s Veteran Division One match with Westcliff Lawn.