Westcliff Lawn’s veteran team are determined to wrestle back the Ian Pitt Veterans Cup from Gidea Park next year.

Defending champions Westcliff Lawn lost 2½-½ to Gidea Park in Sunday’s Essex County LTA final at Deanes Indoor Tennis Centre in Thundersley.

It was the fourth consecutive time the London Road club had contested the final but captain Steve Wynn is determined to regain the trophy next year.

“It was a tremendous disappointment for us as we wanted to successfully defend the cup,” said Wynn.

“We had our full team out but they had a good team out and they were stronger than us.

“They played better than us on the day, but we will be gunning for them next year.”

Wynn and his partner Alan Kemp lost 6-2 6-4 to Gidea’s Peter Mott and John Caddies.

Lawn’s Graham Goodale and Paul Mower drew 7-6 2-1 with Neil Taylor and Julian Lewis.

But Dave Bono and Wayne Lemoine defeated Westcliff’s Gary Reynolds and Iain MacDonald 6-4, 6-4.

Thorpe Bay’s ladies also lost 2½-½ in their Harry Brickwood Ladies Veteran’s Cup final against Colchester-based The Essex. Kris Newberry and Sue Sergeant went down 7-6, 6-1 to Soozi Rowbotham and Julie Sexton.

Lynn May and Sally Margerison drew with Kerry Porter and Tina Cowie 7-5 3-6.

Heather Clarke and Sarah Potts lost 6-1 6-2 to Sue Bennett and Fiona Courtauld.

It was the first time The Essex had won the competition.

Grove Chelmsford won the Don Barton Mixed Cup for the first time as they defeated The Essex 2-1.

Denise Downey and Olly Greenslade beat Kerry Porter and Richard Sexton 6-1, 6-2 Tatiana Golikov and Anne Burton lost 3-6, 1-6 to The Essex’s Natalie Hearn-Smith and Julie Sexton.

But Mark Crick and Trevor Stone beat Martin Blackwell and Richard Hallett 6-3 6-1.