LOCAL BSF Tennis League players brought down the curtain on a successful outdoor season with an equally successful evening at Rivington Barn when the trophies were presented.

Because Easter was late this year, the season start was also late and the number of weeks when the evening light was suitable for matches was limited to the absolute minimum.

The finals of the Men's Divisional cups were all played in the same week as the Presentation evening, so the organisers had to complete some nifty footwork to engrave all the trophies ready for the winners.

The weather this year has been excellent and will probably be looked back on as a vintage year in which the Men's and Junior Leagues have benefited, as they have to complete their matches on the allotted date - or lose the fixture. Out of a total of over 500 planned matches in the 16 weeks season, only around 10 matches were lost to the weather.

This year, the Men's League had a truly climactic finish as, one week out from the season end, only two out of eight divisions had outright winners and all the other places had to be decided on the final evening's matches.

Everything went well from the organisers' point of view and all the champions and runner-up slots were filled without there being any need for play-offs or tie breakers, except in Division Six. Here the runners-up spot was decided in favour of Halliwell Road Meths 'B'.

South College 'C' lost out on a tie-break based on games differences across the season.

In terms of out-performance, three teams deserve mention. Leading the way again are Holcombe Brook S.C.'A' who completed an unbeaten season with one of the best games difference records.

However, also in line for an award for truly magnificent performances would be Longsight Meths 'A' and Tyldesley 'B' who, whilst losing a single match, nonetheless racked up a better for and against games record than even the fabled 'Brook 'A' team.

For all round club performance, the Stand club shines as its two teams both managed to become champions of their respective divisions. Stand 'A' will, for the first time, have the opportunity to test their talents against the best in the Men's Premier Division and it will be interesting to see how this talented group fare in the higher echelons.

Two candidates in line for the wooden spoon are Markland Hill and Lostock 'A' teams. Both are products of large clubs being well endowed with excellent facilities, including resident coaches, floodlights and with lots of members who can play on some of the best surfaces and conditions in the area.

Two matches out from the end of the season, both were just outside the Division One relegation zone and, whilst both had a comfortable points total in comparison to the teams below them, their position did not reflect the standing of the two clubs.

In the event, the Lostock 'A' team got its act together to finish mid-table, but the 'Hill could do no better than just escape relegation.

Newcomers David Lloyd Manchester entirely justified the tennis committee's decision to start them in the Men's League with a Division Three seeding.

With a colossal tennis membership, we assume they have some flexibility to select players of almost any ability up to county standard and it is a testament to the excellence of Longsight Meths 'A' that the new team finished in the runners-up spot to them in Division Three.

In the Junior League, top marks go to the two Markland Hill teams who bagged the top honours in Division Two and Three.

Their young squads have matured well this year and their 'A' team always looked too good for Division Two and should be able to hold their own one division higher next year.

Junior Division One is a hotbed of competition and bright sparks Tyldesley really took the fight to Lostock 'A' who were beaten by them in the final match. However, the Lostock team had excellent form across the season and managed to hold on to the champ's spot for the second time.

However, things will be different next year as Lostock will lose three of their top juniors to the senior ranks and the likes of Tyldesley, Hawkshaw, Eagley and Leigh, who all run junior coaching programmes, can be expected to challenge for the top spot.

In the Mixed League, matches were more predicable.

Division One was effectively two leagues (top four and bottom four). Division Two was refreshing with Bolton Cricket Club regaining First Division status after many years in the lower regions. Division Three's David Lloyd (Manchester) 'A' just missed out on promotion. Their B team was relegated to Division Four, but enjoyed their tennis.

Mixed team of the year must be Harwood Christ Church who, having dropped from Division Three to Division Six in consecutive seasons, won all their 12 matches to start moving upwards again.

Just because the season has finished, many players will not be putting their racquets away but will be relishing the start of the Winter Indoor League run by Colin Sharples. He has the organisation well in hand and teams wishing to enter should contact him quickly.

The new Bolton Arena is the biggest event on the horizon for the next year. Last week the Bolton Metro School Sports Development Officer, Anthony Turner, held an open meeting at the Reebok to widen the discussion to interested groups from the area.

Scheduled to open in Spring next year, he revealed how far they have progressed with this extensive and impressive development. Last week the six outdoor fast-dry clay courts were laid and details were given of the eight acrylic surface indoor courts, which can be configured to a single show-court for 4,500 spectators.

Mr Turner is spearheading a campaign to raise the profile of tennis with all young people in the area. Fundamental to this is the success of getting this message across to the local schools in particular and all young people in general.

The Bolton Arena is a fabulous sports facility with options which go beyond tennis, including a six to eight lane athletics track, aerobics and dance studio and one of the finest health and fitness suites in the region which is open to all on a pay and use basis.