KIRKBY Stephen Grammar School Sports College's community sports officer and head tennis coach Gary Payton has made a return to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Tour, competing in the British Open Seniors Championships in Birmingham.
And Gary's return got off to a flying start and has got off to a flying start. At time of going to press, Gary was heading back down to the Midlands where he will play his quarter final match against Yorkshire's Mike Harpin. Gary has already gone safely through three rounds to get this far, including an excellent but very tight 7/6 6/4 win over twice British champion and number two seed Graeme Adams in the last 16. The win now keeps Gary on course for a possible final encounter with former Wimbledon quarter finalist and British number one Jeremy Bates.
Gary's next stop on the Tour is Glasgow, hopefully followed by events in Austria and Belarus over the Easter break before representing his native Wales in the Four Nations Championships in Scotland in May.
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