A father-son tennis double act from West Tytherley strutted their stuff on the big stage at the National Finals of the Quorn Family Tennis Cup.

There’s a 31-year age gap between Mick and Hamish Goulding but they proved a formidable partnership at state-of-the-art National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Hamish, 13, revelled in the chance to play six, competitive matches alongside his father.

“I started playing tennis from the age of four and have loved it ever since,” said the Bishop Wordsworth’s School pupil.

“My family help me quite a lot, my dad encourage me to play when I was younger and my grandparents take me to training and tournaments.

“I’d like to keep playing tennis in the future and events like this make me want to carry on.

“I like playing doubles but I haven’t played that much of it, so it’s nice to learn more.

“It’s amazing knowing Andy Murray trains there and very inspiring.”

The fourth edition of the Quorn Family Tennis Cup, an increasingly unique opportunity for adults and juniors to play doubles together, brought the top 16 family pairings in the country under one roof.

The competitors were whittled down to finalists through hard-fought, regional competition - Mick and Hamish prevailing in qualifiers staged in Southampton, at David Lloyd West End.

It was a yellow-ball event, targeted at juniors from 10 and 18, with the LTA also staging red ball versions, aimed at kids under the age of 10, where 7,000 players take to the court nationally.

Mick and Hamish were given treatment worthy of tour professionals and offered the same trappings and luxuries as Andy Murray and Kyle Edmund at SW15.

Mick was thrilled to get the chance to play at the venue and share his love of the sport with his son.

“It’s great to see the progress he’s making - it’s just a pity he has to play with me,” said he said.

“If he had a decent partner, he’d have a better chance!

“I love going to watch him, whether its singles or doubles.

“When I played tennis at his age it was all about the camaraderie and the friends and I hope it’s the same for him.

“It was quite a unique event. It feels great to play together; sometimes it feels like I let the side down but I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.”

The Quorn Family Tennis Cup has Red Ball events for under 10’s as well as Yellow ball events for juniors up to 18. All the events are fun, family focussed and are always doubles events where parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents get to play as well. Find out more at www.lta.org.uk/quorntennis