Nick Greenwood found it "great therapy" to compete in the Sussex Veterans Championship and lift his first 60 and over singles title.

The Sussex LTA president was caught up in the terrorist atrocities in New York.

But he said: "Playing a bit of tennis in the quiet of the Brighton Health and Racquets Club in Falmer was great therapy.

"My wife and I were pretty shaken up in New York. We were in a hotel opposite the World Trade Center and I saw the first tower on fire and the second plane go into the other. "But we were evacuated safely before the towers collapsed.

"We had to leave our luggage and passport and I just had a credit card and some money. I am in the throes of trying to get all our property back through a company I deal with in the city, but obviously they've got a lot of high priorities at the moment.

"It was quite traumatic. From that to Falmer was quite a contrast, but a welcome one that was a big help."

Greenwood (Rudgwick) overcame Brian Layfield (Southdown) 6-2 6-1. But Layfield teamed up with Graham Chandler (Angmering) to retain the doubles with a 6-1 6-1 final victory against Mike Hanlon and Dave Stannard (Devonshire Park, Eastbourne).

Layfield also won the mixed doubles 105 (men 55 and over and ladies 50 and over) thanks to a 6-1 6-0 final win with Wendy Tait (Brighton Parks) against Chandler and Ann Woodhead (Bognor).

Andy McClay (Brighton Health and Racquets, Falmer) grabbed his first two county veterans titles.

He overcame clubmate Ian King 6-2 6-1 in the 35 and over singles before linking with David Frank, another clubmate, to secure the doubles crown with a 7-6 6-2 triumph over Wickwoods duo Eddie Harding and Chris Tyler. David Butler was another new champion. The Seaford ace saw off Graham Taylor (Comptons, Horsham) 6-0 6-2 in the 45 and over singles.

But he tasted defeat when he and clubmate Hugh Osborne were beaten 7-5 6-0 by Wickwoods pair Rolf Luer and Tony Clark in the doubles.

In the ladies, Lyn Paterson (Brighton Parks) completed a hat-trick. She retained her singles title by finishing first in a round-robin with Sally Lewin (Limpsfield, East Grinstead) runner-up.

Paterson and Tait were too strong for Alison Smith and Susan Skeel (Horsted Keynes) in the ladies' doubles, winning 6-3 6-2.

She then partnered Mike Jenner, also Brighton Parks, to victory in the mixed 85s (ladies 40 and over, men 45 and over). They defeated Luer and Brighton Health and Racquet's Nicky Palmer 6-1 7-6. Cathy Downey and Valerie Turley (Horsham) secured the 40 and overs doubles title.