02/09/2026
CARY PARK’S GOLDEN GIRLS WIN THE DARTMOUTH OPEN AT FIRST TIME OF ASKING!
Huge congratulations to Claire Palmer and Julie Lee who took the prestigious Dartmouth Open Over 45 Ladies Doubles title yesterday – in their first ever senior competition.
The tournament has just been raised from Level Four to Level Three meaning it attracts top talent from all over the county.
Claire and Julie, who have only just started playing together, beat Fiona Somerville of Sidmouth A and Holly Wood of David Lloyd, Exeter 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 to win the trophy which is being presented today.
Starting as favourites, the younger pair began strongly and took the first set 6-4 against a somewhat nervy Claire and Julie.
But the Cary Park twosome dug deep to pull back the second set by the same score and then smash the tie break 10-7 after an early break.
Julie said: ‘We were so nervous when the match started; it was a new experience for both of us against a more experienced pair.
‘But I was very proud that we didn’t let our heads go down. We defended brilliantly against our more aggressive opponents, and that’s what kept us in it.
‘We just kept at it, and gradually they started to make more mistakes. We decided we had to be more offensive-minded and we got stronger and stronger’
Claire said: ‘At one stage, we were very nervous and they were pushing us back, but we had tremendous support from Linda and Carol from Cary Park and a stack of other friends. And every time we started to falter, we could hear them shouting encouragement. I think that’s what got us through it.’
Both Julie and Claire have played for Devon this season and are among three lady county players at Cary Park (not including Kendal, of course) along with Jane McGovern who plays for Somerset.
Claire said: ‘But I think she’s going to switch to Devon next year, so we have a very strong contingent at Cary Park’. Julie added: ‘We have a lot of other very good ladies and it means that competition is very strong at Cary Park’.
Julie said: ‘What was lovely was that we were wearing matching outfits and everyone was saying how that made us stand out. So it was a good job we won!’
