Top seed struggles through IAN Stott, the No 1 seed, and reigning champion, failed to produce his best form when he came up against the 1996 Boys Singles champion last evening in the BSF Tennis Championships.

Simon Pearson matched Stott in end to end rallies, but lacked the experience to convert a 5-4 scoreline to his advantage in the first set.

There was little change in Stott's indifferent approach to the game until he realised that he could have a real challenge on hand. At this stage he used his experience to vary the game with a series of drop shots and lobs to win the second set 6-2.

Stuart Holloway was the first person to book a semi final, mens singles place when he won 1 and 3 against Ian Long who seemed a little jaded after his three-set match on Tuesday.

The Veteran Mixed Doubles is now a well-established event, with fewer people wishing to hide their age.

The Longsight contingent to find success in this area, Bill Roscoe and Susan McClelland (scr) beat John Cardwell and Emily Warner (-15.3) (Hawkshaw) 3 and 1. Ray Haworth and Ilona Kilburn (-0.3) beat Herbert Dixon and Rosie Howell (-0.3) (Lostock) 3 and 2, and Dave Gregory and Ann Waddicar (-15.3) overcame John and Georgie Barrow (-15) (Walkden). Two other matches in this event produced three set encounters. Peter and Clare Brown (-0.3) (Markland Hill) beat Walmer's John and Fran Biggins (-15) 4-6,6-0,6-3, while last year's winners and biggest back markers Malcolm Dow and Sylvia Cartwright (Hawkshaw) playing off (-30.3) lost in the last game to Colin Lynch and Daphne Dixon (-15.3) from Lostock. The scoreline 6-5,3-6,6-5.

Handicap Veterans Mixed Doubles - 1st Round: R Howarth & I Kilburn (-0.3) bt T McEwing & L Tetik (scr) 6-3,6-4. 2nd Round: D Gregory & A Waddicar (-15.3) bt J & G Barrow (-15) 6-3,6-4, P & C Brown (-0.3) bt J & F Biggins (-15) 4-6,6-0,6-3, R Howarth & I Kilburn (-0.3) bt H Dixon & R Howell (-0.3) 6-3,6-2. Quarter Final: C Lynch & D Dixon (-15.3) bt M Dow & S Cartwright (-30.3) 6-2,6-2, B Roscoe & S McClelland (scr) bt J Cardwell & E Warner (-15.3) 6-3,6-1.

Handicap Ladies Doubles - 2nd Round: N Wood & S Howell (-30) bt G Gittins & A Waddicar (-15) 5-6,6-4,6-2, L Tetik & P Teasdale (-15) bt S Heywood & H Teasdale (-15.3) 6-4,6-2. Quarter Final: R Cox & M Gallagher bt C Glassbrook & C Brown w/o.

Handicap Mixed Doubles - 2nd Round: S Hunt & J Wilson (-0.3) bt S Gallagher & K Harrington (scr) 6-1,6-2. Quarter Final: M Smith & K Grant (-0.3) bt D McDermott & L Gorse (-15) 6-4,6-4.

Handicap Mens Doubles - Quarter Final: P Hackin & N Holmes (-15.3) bt C & D Hughes (scr) 6-0,6-4.

Girls Doubles - Quarter Final: H Warrington & T Ramlogan bt J Cain & H Stribling 6-1,6-3.

Mens Singles - 2nd Round: I Stott bt S Pearson 6-4,6-2. Quarter Final: S Holloway bt I Long 6-1,6-3.

Girls Singles - Quarter Final: H Warrington bt J Taylor 6-1,6-1.

Level Mixed Doubles - 2nd Round: P Lonnen & D Dixon bt K Roberts & N Butler w/o. Quarter Final: S Denner & S Warrington bt D Buckley & A Smith 6-3,6-2.

Mens Plate - 1st Round: A Jackson bt E Tetik 6-0,6-1, J Walmsley bt J Lonnen w/o, J Hammond bt M Ince w/o, M Smith bt B Millington 6-2,6-3, A Roberts bt G R Edgington 6-2,6-0.

Junior Mixed Doubles - Quarter Final: R Tetik & V Boon bt I Lindley & J Cain 3-6,6-1,6-1. 2nd Round: S Roberts & E Tootell bt D Tootell & L Edwards 6-0,6-0.

Boys Doubles - 2nd Round: A Worsley & D Reade bt S & T Mataciunas 6-2,6-2.

Ladies Doubles - Semi Final: D O'Brien & A Smith bt S Howell & C Pyatt 6-4,6-2.

Mens Doubles - Quarter Final: M Robinson & M Coyne bt C Taylor & G Wood 6-0,6-0.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.