Westside LTC have reached the semi-finals of the National Over-35 Inter-Club Tennis Championships, writes Mike Sinclair.

Victories over Crawley, Dorking and Warwick Boat Club have taken them to the last four for the loss of only one rubber.

Austin Coventry and Graeme Alston have played in all three matches, with Adrian Blackman and Jon Entract playing two and Iain Fraser and Oliver Backhouse the other.

In the semis, Westside expect to play Esporta Thorpe Wood, who can call on former British number one Jeremy Bates and fellow ex-Davis Cup player Nick Fulwood.

Westside's strength in depth was displayed at the recent Veterans' County Cup (Over 35) tournament at Eastbourne where ten of the club's members represented ten different counties.

Gail Yorsten played for Lancashire who won Ladies Group One while Alison Taylor, Westside's head coach, represented Surrey, Jo Shepherd played for Hereford and Worcestershire and Caroline Joy was in the Somerset team.

In the men's event, Austin Coventry played for East of Scotland, Simon Bramwell for Hertfordshire, Adrian Blackman for Cambridgeshire, Oliver Backhouse for Staffordshire, Andy Truscott for Cornwall and Jon Entract for Dorset.

The representation from the Wimbledon-based demonstrates just how Westside's reputation has attracted many good players moving to London from various parts of the country in recent years.

Meanwhile, Westside over-55 men's team's run in the National Inter-Club Championships ended when they were beaten in the quarter-finals by Roehampton.