In the Café Al Fresco-sponsored Dartmouth closed men’s singles tennis, James Callard beat Tim Grant 6-0, 6-1 and Oliver McGowan-Scanlon 6-0, 6-1 and, in the men’s 45 age group category, Mike Wood beat Grant Morrison 6-3, 7-5 writes Tony Atkins.

While in the men’s doubles, Regatta regulars Steve Cairns and Paul Tucker had a comfortable opener against 22-year-old Ben Brown and McGowan-Scanlon, winning 6-0, 6-1.

It was to be a baptism of fire for tournament debutant Brown. The master’s graduate in engineering felt he hadn’t been good enough to sit this particular examination before.

Meanwhile, in the ladies’ doubles, second seeds Beth Scorer and Anne Woodward beat Karen Davis and Kate Watson 6-2, 6-3, and Sue Manley and Georgina Parker set up a clash with top seeds Charlie Ramsdale and Julie Elliott after beating Marion Foster and Deborah Penn 6-2, 6-3.

In the 45 men’s doubles, pre-event favourites Steve Cairns and Paul Tucker showed a clean pair of heels to John Collins and Davis Hindom 6-0, 6-0 and look set for a final showdown with Anthony Lyons and Colin Wilson.

In the ladies’ 45 doubles Sally Clarke and Philippa Franks beat Maria Avis and Mo Preece 6-3, 6-2 and there was a win in straight sets for Liz Harris and Anne Woodward over Sue Manley and Georgina Parker 6-2, 6-0.

Three of the four semi-finalists in the 45 mixed doubles are already known with top seeds Paul Tucker and Sally Clarke yet to drop a game.

Also through are Jon and Sue Preston who beat David and Georgina Parker 6-1, 6-2, and Stephen Yates and Kate Wilson who denied opponents David Hindom and Liz Harris a deciding set by winning 6-3, 6-4.

In the mixed 60 doubles, Alistair and Soo Forbes beat Harry and Philippa Franks 6-0, 6-0.

In the Open men’s singles, top seed Alfie Flatters is in the same half of the draw as Andrew Norton while in the other half of the draw, the seeding committee expect to see a clash between Marc Sillifant and Peter Avis.

Play was continuing throughout the week with an action-packed finals day programme scheduled for Saturday.