THE future is bright at Dunfermline Tennis Club after their youngsters served up success in their annual club championship event.

And, in addition, three of their younger age groups claimed county league titles to mark what head coach Alan Russell has described as "another successful year" for the club, which this year is celebrating 140 years on court.

A total of 91 players competed in 22 events, which ranged in age from under-eight to seniors, as part of the club championships and saw David Holmes, for a ninth successive season, take the men's singles title, as well as the doubles with Simon Pattison.

Jane Russell, playing for the first time since 2004, was the winner of the ladies' singles competition, before teaming up with daughter Lauren to take the ladies' doubles crown.

But it was some of the club's junior members who particularly impressed, with 14-year-old Lewis Mackintosh winning four events – the under-14, under-16 and under-18 boys' singles, and the under-18 doubles with Laurent Trepanier – while Maria Gourley, 12, was victorious in the under-14, under-18 and handicap ladies' singles competitions.

Alan, who himself picked up the mixed doubles crown with Carol Williams, commented: "It was good and we had events at under-eight, under-nine, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 age groups, as well as five open and four handicap events.

"Lewis Mackintosh is probably our most promising junior. He's a good athlete and a good player but also works very hard. He's had setbacks with injury – he had a leg break last year and had some time out – but has come back really strong.

"Maria Gourley is only 12 but won the girls' 14s and 18s, and is very promising too. It's good when the juniors make a big impact; it's a wee reward for them and shows that they're on the right track.

"Another noteable event was Rory Payne winning the under-10 final, in which he beat Liam King. Liam had won the eight and nine under last year and it was a lovely final; they were so sporting and friendly.

"We were able to use them as great examples of sportsmanship, and it's important in a club situation to have a good team atmosphere."

He added: "In team tennis, we had three First Division (East of Scotland) wins, with the boys' under-12s and 18s, and the girls' under-16s.

"It has been another successful year."

Other winners in the club championship were: Ollie Buchanan (under-eight singles), Liam King (under-nine singles), Rory Payne (under-10 singles), Rowan Speed (under-12 boys' singles), Scott Morrison and Rowan Speed (under-14 boys' doubles), Elizabeth Smith and Mary Sparling (handicap ladies' doubles), Stephen Burns and Michael Russell (handicap men's doubles) and Fraser Speed (handicap men's singles).