Norfolk’s Richard Bloomfield clinches Tier One AEGON British Tour title
Richard Bloomfield returned to winning ways at the Graves Centre in Sheffield as he clinched a Tier One AEGON British Tour title, his first of the year.
In a strong draw, the Norfolk wildcard beat three players ranked inside the world's top 800 to win without the loss of a set, including a 6-4, 6-3 victory over second seed James Marsalek, ranked 629 in the world.
In the earlier rounds, Bloomfield beat James Feaver of Surrey (779) 6-2, 6-4 and Nicolas Rosensweig (746) 6-3, 6-3 to set up the final against Marsalek in commanding fashion.
A single break in each set was enough for the Norfolk man to secure victory and get off the mark in 2012.
Bloomfield will now decide whether or not to take a wildcard for this week's event in Corby, whoch gets under way on Sunday.
• Norfolk's Katherine Barnes picked up a win last week as she topped the round robin group at a 12 and under winter county tournament at Easton College Tennis Centre.
The Grade 4 event largely featured Norfolk entrants but Barnes finished in first place ahead of Suffolk's Ana-Maria Munteanu with a clean sweep of her matches.
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An opening win against Madeleine Hall was the perfect start for Barnes who won 4-0, 4-2 in comfortable fashion.
It was another Norfolk girl, Frances Evans, who provided the toughest test for Barnes after winning the opening set of their clash 4-0, before Barnes came storming back to reverse that score line and force a third set tiebreak.
Barnes edged the tiebreak 10-6 and with it the match to put herself firmly in a position to win and, when she cruised past Munteanu 4-1, 4-0, her top spot was confirmed.
In the boys' event, Alex Watkinson and Laurie Ollerton reached the semi-finals but both were beaten by players from outside of Norfolk.
Ollerton win a marathon third/fourth place play-off which involved three tiebreaks, 4-5 (6) 5-4 (10) 1-0 (3).
Finlay Rowan lost in the final of the consolation draw to Ross Spinner of Suffolk.
