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The British Mixed Doubles Invitation Championship
Sponsored by British Land 
There was some brilliant tennis played throughout the weekend. I thought the overall standard was better than I can recall, with some very close matches – 10 of the 27 matches went to three sets and 16 of the 65 sets played went to 6-5. Karen Hird and Andrew Petrie, who were in the middle of the pack on handicap, won the Championship, only dropping the first set they played in the tournament. Karen Hird at no more than 5’ 0” played a very solid all round game and kept her talented but volatile partner calm and under control, especially in the Final. They beat Sarah Metherell and Anthony Clake 6-4, 6-2 in a disappointing Final in which the losers were well below par. Earlier they had looked to be odds on favourites, after they had put out the hitherto dominant pairing of Jill Newby and Roy Fraser in a three set Quarter Final. Meanwhile Aldona Greenwood and Adrian Fawcus, one of the weakest pairs on handicap, came through the repêchage to surprisingly beat the other fancied pair of Tiffany Fielden and Duncan Colquhoun, also in the Quarters. All in all a very good tournament.
Colin Dean
