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Tennis: Barker ends Dyer’s 12 year run as island champion

Tennis: Barker ends Dyer’s 12 year run as island champion

Thursday 26 September 2024

Tennis: Barker ends Dyer’s 12 year run as island champion

Thursday 26 September 2024


There was a time when Lauren Barker thought she would never beat Jo Dyer in the island championships.

But finally she has lifted the trophy and in doing so ended Dyer’s 12 year reign.

Dyer started strongly taking the first set 6-2, but Barker settled and started to play confident tennis to take the second 6-3.

With the scores level, a ten point Match Tie-Breaker would decide the match.

Jo_Dyer_and_Lauren_Barker_Ladies_Singles_Finalists.png

Pictured: Jo Dyer (left) and Lauren Barker.

Barker started well and managed to stay ahead winning 10-8 to lift the trophy for the first time.

"I am so happy to have finally won the Hiscox Island Championships," said Barker, a nine time finalist.

"I've been playing in the tournament for years and have had success in the doubles but Jo has been so dominant in the singles for so long that I thought I would never beat her.

"I'm so happy I managed to today. I was a bit nervous in the first set but then I started to play really well and I was proud of how I managed to keep my cool in the tiebreak. I'm just so chuffed."

Rob_West_and_Nico_Robinson_Mens_Singles_Finalists.png

Pictured: Rob West (left) and Nico Robinson.

Rob West had a successful tournament, winning the men's singles and doubles, before teaming up with xx to win the mixed.

In the singles final he once again faced Nico Robinson and blazed to a 6-1, 6-1 win.

In the doubles he played with Tom Turner against Nico and his brother Pete. West and Turner won 6-1, 6-3.

It is a first island title for Turner who recently returned from university in the USA.

Jo_Dyer_Rob_West_Nico_Robinson_and_Lauren_Barker_Mixed_Doubles_Finalists.png

Pictured (l-r): Jo Dyer, Rob West, Nico Robinson and Lauren Barker.

The mixed doubles saw all four singles finalists back on the court as defending champions West and Dyer faced Robinson and Barker.

Robinson and Barker started strongly to win the first set 7-5.

Dyer and West fought back and secured a break to win the next set 6-4, so it came down to another tie-break to decide the match.

Robinson and Barker took an early lead of 4-0 but Dyer and West fought back to level the scores at 5-5.

Robinson and Barker pushed ahead again to 8-7 with two points on their serve, but Dyer and West broke both to lead 9-7.

West and Dyer finally prevailed 10-8 to claim their eighth title in a row.

Ladies_Doubles_Champions_-_L_to_R-_Mike_Williams_Hiscox_Chloe_De_La_Mare_Lauren_Barker_Rick_Denton_LTA_Councillor_for_Channel_Islands.png

Pictured (l-r): Mike Williams (Hiscox), Chloe De La Mare, Lauren Barker, Rick Denton (LTA Councillor for Channel Islands).

In the Ladies' Doubles, Barker paired up with 14 year old Chloe De La Mare to face Dyer and Coutanche.

De La Mare showed no nerves being on court with three members of the Guernsey Island Games team and she and Barker secured victory 6-0, 6-3.

Pictured top: Lauren Barker lifted the island trophy for the first time.

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