Caroline Buncall has praised the Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club's groundstaff after the successful completion of their open tournament.

A wet summer meant they had very little time to prepare the club's grass courts for what was really six tournaments in one - a Men's $15,000 Futures, a Ladies' $10,000, a men's British Tour, plus juniors, seniors and handicaps.

But tournament director Buncall, who is also the club's general manager, said: "The groundstaff did a fantastic job in difficult circumstances leading up to the tournament because of the rain.

"Then they also really worked their socks off during the tournament, often doing 15-hour days starting at 5am."

Buncall added: "I have just read the International Tennis Federation's report on the tournament and it mentions that there were a few bad bounces.

"Yes, there were a few but even Wimbledon get a few and we haven't got the vast resources to throw at the courts that they have."

Buncall also revealed that the tournament sponsors, life and pensions insurance brokers JM Glendinning, were so happy with the way that things had gone this year that they want to sign on "for a few more years".

She added: "It was a little disappointing that the weather meant we couldn't play all of the finals outdoors but we had a good week's weather in general and I'll try and order even better weather next year."

As far as the two main singles finals are concerned, both went to Australians.

Adam Feeney defeated New Zealand's Daniel King-Turner 6-4, 6-4 in the Men's Futures, and Jessica Moore, not 17 until August 16, beat South African qualifier Lizaan Du Plessis 6-4, 6-2 in the Ladies' $10,000 decider.

The women's final was played on the grass but drizzle meant that all the other senior events were completed indoors.

It was Moore's first Futures title and followed on from her semi-final appearance in the girls' doubles at the French Open.

Feeney, 22, has been based at Sutton in Surrey since mid-March and the tennis centre there is becoming something of an Australian enclave such are the number who train there.

Ilkley was his third Futures title following victories in 2006 in Australia (at Happy Valley) and the United States (in Wisconsin).

He said of the switch from grass to indoors: "We felt the grass court about ten minutes before we were due to go on and it was a little bit greasy but after that it started raining a little bit harder.

"And you don't want anyone to get injured - that is one of the worst things that can happen - so we went indoors."

As for the final, Feeney said: "It was probably the best match I have played all week, which is what you want in a tournament. You don't want to peak too early."

Then just to show how finely things can be balanced in tennis, world No 335 Feeney explained that he had twice faced players ranked in the top 100 and had lost 6-3 in the third and 7-6, 7-6.

He said: "I know I can compete with them given the chance. I am playing in Wrexham next week and then for two weeks in Uzbekistan, which could be interesting."

There was British success in the men's doubles with Ian Flanagan partnering Australian Brydan Klein to the title, and Iain Atkinson (Tyne & Wear) won a highly competitive Tropicana British Tour men's final against Surrey's Matthew Leahy.