HOLCOMBE Brook Sports Club will be in action on two fronts in tennis's National Club League finals next week as both their mens and ladies teams have qualified.
The prestigious competition is to be held at the West Hants Club, Bournemouth on Thursday, September 13 and runs each day to Sunday, September 17.
It's a rare indeed to have both sexes in the final shakeup and Holcombe are the only club in the country that can boast such a feat.
The top eight ladies and mens team in the country play off to be the National Club League champions of the UK.
Brook's ladies team were the final National winners in 1993 and have been runners-up in 1995, 1998 and finished third last year while this is the first time the mens' team have qualified for the National finals.
Representing Holcombe Brook in the ladies squad is former British number four, Abigail Tordoff; Russian, former world ranked 125, Julia Lutrova; Alison Smith, former British number three Alison Smith, Gina Niland, County Irish Federation player plus Lancashire County competitors Rachel Anders, Danielle Hock, Lisa Jackson, Sue Lawson and Emma Tootell.
They were unbeaten in the North West Regional League having defeated Queens Halifax, David Lloyd Derby, Telford, David Lloyd Manchester and drawn with Manchester Northern.
Qualification for the finals came after they defeated Birmingham's Edgbaston Priory 4-2 in the subsequent play-offs.
The mens team, who also finished second in their Regional League defeated Dave Lloyd Birmingham 4-0 in their play-off.
Prior to that they saw off Loughborough University, Manchester Northern, Kirkby Steven, Alkrington and Wrexham and are represented by current Lancashire champion Mark Schofield; Lancashire captain Eric Knowles; and County players Mark Openshaw, and Simon Roberts plus Neil Gibson.
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