Coordinator Ann Welke said in previous years the tournament had finished mid-afternoon on the final day so that people who travel long distances to compete can get home reasonably early.

But last weekend’s event didn’t wind up until 8pm on Monday night due to the record number of people taking part.

“We are trying to get more courts now,” Mrs Welke said.

“We run the international professional tournament in November and we will be running that again this year and we just need more courts.”

The club is hoping to get three new courts and resurface two existing courts that are currently unavailable for tournament use.

(Since the writing of this article Magellan Metals has announced the Esperance Tennis Club will receive $50,000 to build three new tennis courts and resurface the two existing courts, with further funding to be confirmed for 2011.)

Mrs Welke said the club was a hive of activity during the three-day tournament, with local players performing well.

Last year’s women’s singles winner, Carla Welke, defended her title in the final but was defeated by Imogen Holmes from Hensman.

The pair teamed up to win the women’s doubles against Lucy Drewe and Lucy Clark (Hensman).

In the men’s doubles, Paul Habron and Vincent Drewe put up a good fight but were defeated by Scott Culpin (Northshore) and Ashwin Sharma (Bullcreek).

Sharma also won the men’s singles final, defeating Josh Winteron (UWA).

Munglinup players Bernadette and Doc Fetherstonhaugh won the over 45 mixed doubles.

Kathy Ashby and Margot Siemer came second in the over 45 women’s doubles while Drew Vincent and Jock Vincent (Cottesloe) won the over 45 men’s doubles.

In the under 16 boys’ doubles, Alex Baxter and Corey Johnson came second while Jade O’Callaghan also came second in the under 16 girls’ final.

Bradley Scheer defeated the second and third seeds to contest the final of the under 12 boys’ singles, but was defeated by the number one seed, Ben Webster (Dalkeith).

It was an all-Esperance encounter in the mixed under 10 doubles, with Lachlan Adamson and Chet Stewart defeating Sam Ashby and Rowen Flood.

Esperance players also contested the under 10 girls’ singles with Rebecca Schutz defeating Amy Colgan.

Alicia Jackson and Maree Jackson won the women’s doubles two, while Munglinup players Kieran Barrett and Steve Pink won the men’s doubles two. Jessica Ferguson won the women’s singles two.

Mrs Welke said 70 trophies and $2600 of prizemoney was awarded to participants in the tournament.