James Andrews School of Golf

Bronze for tennis ace

Frances Candy has scooped a bronze medal at a global tennis competition for the second consecutive year. The St Leonards-based star was part of the only British ladies' team to record a top three finish at the Veterans' World Open Team Championships last week.

Candy, who coaches the sport at Sedlescombe Golf Club, said: "As the days progressed, I got tighter and better, and was hitting the ball much more crisply."

Candy won four of her five singles matches and four of her five doubles ties as the 50-55 years side flourished in Turkey.

She began the event by losing her singles clash 3-6, 4-6 against France, but made amends by clinching the doubles with Jane Rushby (Leicestershire) 6-1, 6-2 for a 2-1 overall victory. Candy then breezed through her singles 6-0, 6-0 as Great Britain cruised past the host nation 3-0 to leave them on the brink of winning their four-strong group. This they did by virtue of a 3-0 success over Spain, although Candy had to recover from 6-2 down in the first set tie-break to win her singles 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

Britain were eventually beaten 2-1 by eventual runners-up Australia in the semi-finals despite Candy chalking up a marvellous 7-5, 7-5 triumph over Paula Bongetti. But she and Rushby were edged out 7-6, 6-4 in a very close decisive doubles contest which spanned two hours.

Candy made short work of Maria Gwyer 6-2, 6-0 and clinched the doubles as Britain saw off Austria 3-0 in the bronze medal play-off. The tournament marked Candy's fourth international appearance at veteran level on top of the one selection she received in the under-21 age group.