Saffron Walden’s Castle Hill Tennis Club annual veterans’ tournament attracted 18 competitors and one of this year’s winners followed up on her success from 12 months ago to reach the final – only to lose out in the last match.

Anne Taylor, this time partnered with club chairman Peter Smith, lost to Deb Lench and Andrew Ketteridge 6-2 in the one-set final after round robin heats.

In 2016 Anne won with her husband Colin.

Entrants do not know who they will be paired with as the competition progresses.

Men and women are awarded points depending on their success in each of men’s or women’s doubles rounds over best of five games, and according to the age brackets, over-75, 70, 65 or 60.

In the semis and final, the pairs are then mixed and matched, with the highest scoring woman playing with the lowest scoring man, and vice-versa.

The event finished with a barbecue.