To view the completed draws for Dudley (British Open Veterans Champs 2010), please click here.

A capacity entry of 438 and a waiting list of late entrants testified to the continuing popularity if the British Open Indoor Championships, though we were disappointed not to see some of the younger players already selected for the World Team Championships in Mexico.  That said, there were still some high class players on display and some very entertaining and competitive matches to be viewed. New arrival Tom Spinks overcame No 1 seed, Seb Jackson, in a close-fought semi-final of the Men’s 35.  Danny Ward played to a high level in the final, but had to be content with the runner-up spot.  In the 40s Matt Coombes was in ruthless mood, happy to play long baseline rallies with Adam Boucher but always having the final word. 

The 45s saw Steve Brett capitalise on his second seed placing to reach the final in a succession of straight set wins where he met the unseeded Neil Howitt who had ousted top seed, Jon Ison.  Their first set tie-break, won finally by Steve, was a thriller and he held on to take the title in two close sets.
In the 50s, Alec Allen was the winner as predicted, passing a severe test from Harvey Becker on the way and Paul French won the 55s, needing a second set tie-break to defeat Stephen Cargo in the semi-final before taking on Martin Cornish.

The surprise package of the Men’s 60, to an audience more accustomed to seeing the Bland/Tutt duo contesting the final, was John Hilton who first took out Richard Tutt in a three-set semi-final and then beat Keith Bland in the final.  Bland and Tutt faced Hilton, with Alan Dalton in the doubles final and finally emerged the winners on the final set tie-break and after a match lasting over three hours.

Derek Bradshaw beat doubles partner Alan Purnell to win the 65s title after which they joined up to win the doubles over Norman Church and Mike Francis.  The 70s went to the unseeded John Andrews in a straight sets defeat of Clive Hutchings while David Garman took care of the 75s where he proved too experienced for Leonard Phillips making a first appearance in a final.  The 80s saw a repeat of a match-up featured over many years in which Paul Drane beat his doubles partner, John Draper, as they matched each other again in age-group terms.

There was a disappointingly small entry in the Women’s events.  Anne Meredith came through in the combined 35/40 singles while Rachel Apsey cemented a good week by beating the first and second seeds to win the 45s.  Anthea Stewart and Chris French played another of their series of close matches with Anthea again emerging the winner of the 50 singles.  Sally Freeman beat Pauline Fisher in two close sets to take the 55 singles and Shirley Fox fought back from a set down to beat Penny Sheehan in the 60s.
Sue Hill recovered from losing the first set to Christine Lockhart in the 65s final.  In the 70s, Ruth Weston’s opponent, Jean Porter, retired through injury in the second set, Ruth having already won the first. In the 75s, Cynthia Smith played well in the final but June Pearce, newly arrived in the age group, was the winner in two sets.