Tom Baron - Over 80s National Champion

Tom Baron, Blackburn Northern's oldest active playing member, took both singles and doubles titles in the over eighties event at the National Indoor Championships held in Brierley Hill. Tom has just moved up into the eighties age group and had been practising hard for several months. Tom is to be regularly seen playing both singles and doubles in the tennis dome on weekday mornings.

This is the culmination of many years of effort -Tom first started playing in Veteran championships in the early eighties and had previously lost in three doubles finals and one singles final. This year he got his tactics just right against very experienced opponents and Tom has thanked John Waddicor, Brian Cook and Peter Ellison for practice and tactical advice.

In the doubles Tom was partnered by Tom Eastop from Devon and in the final beat John Draper and Paul Drane 6-4, 6-4. Draper and Drane have represented GB for many years and have regularly reached the semi-finals at World Championships.

Tom is pictured being presented with his trophy by Alan Purnell, chairman of the Vets Lawn Tennis Assocation of Great Britain.