19-year-old Richard Bloomfield completed an excellent week at the Men's $15,000 Futures in Southampton beating South African, Wesley Moodie
2-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 to take his first senior title.

Bloomfield ranked 598 was not seeded and in fact had to qualify for the event despatching a host of higher ranked players along the way to taking the title.

First up was fellow Brit David Sherwood who went down 7-6(8), 2-6, 4-6 in a tough encounter. This set up a clash with the 4th seed Emin Agaev from Azerbaijan. Bloomfield again dug deep and went through 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The biggest challenge though came next in the shape of number 1 seed Rik De Voest ranked some 425 places above. Ignoring the ranking difference, the youngster from Norfolk swept him aside taking the match in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.

Semi-final day approached and all that stood in the way of a final appearance was Swede Marcus Sarstrand, the conqueror of Britain's Mark Hilton in an earlier round. Bloomfield showed little respect however removing the Swede
7-6(5), 6-3 to advance to his first final and a showdown with Moodie.

A special mention must go to Welshman Ian Flanagan who obtained his first world ranking points in Southampton by making the quarter-final stage and bowing out to the eventual runner-up.

Other British representatives in Southampton were Delgado and Hilton who made the 2nd round, whilst Childs, Sherwood, Bamford, Auckland, Kiernan, Layne and Goodall all exited at the first round stage.

17.02.03 - Report by Colin Ryder