SINCE the LTA introduced rankings last year for all players that compete in tournaments, the increase in entries has shown a remarkable upturn.

Entries for the annual rankings tournament at Littletons, sponsored by R Sinclair Transport, doubled from last year's record total and 120 junior players competed in the 17 events on offer.

The club was prepared for the rise in numbers by holding the tournament over four days rather than the usual three and kindly having use of four courts at Blackminster Middle School.

The highlight was probably the Under-12 boys doubles final that saw Greg-Leigh Jones and James Nolan from Bromsgrove defeat Jonathon Burgess and Ben Lane (Warwick Boat Club) 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 in the Champion-ship tie-break.

Host club Under-14 members, George Ricketts and Rob Moore, both had some tough matches in a draw entry of 30.

They both managed to reach the semi-finals with the former losing to Jonathon Southham, Hereford and Worcestershire's No 4 and his clubmate and losing to Gloucestershire's No 2 Felix Clarke who went on to win the title.

Other local boys who enjoyed some good successes were James Excell who reached the final of the Under- 18 boys doubles with Ryan Hard-iman of Manor Park losing to Pershore's John Chidwell and Step-hen Barnett of Leominster,

Joe Sinclair, a loser in the first round of the Under-18 boys event, went on to produce some excellent tennis and win the final of the Conso-lation with victory over Stephen Barnett.

The Under-14 tournament was the highlight of the girls event with finalists Steffi Rei L Varias from Wor-cester and Manor Park's Katherine Panton-Kent thrilling the crowd as the latter recorded a 6-2, 6-2 triumph.