IT takes many people to make a tournament as big as the Fuzion 100 Ilkley Trophy, particularly all of the volunteers.

But Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club & Squash Club chairman Stephen Hepplewhite possibly saved the most important thank you until last on what had been a generally excellent week's weather.

Speaking after the conclusion of the men's singles final on Sunday, he said: "I want to thank groundsman Richard Lord, his assistant Will Rigg and the rest of the grounds crew.

"They have been getting up while the rest of us are still in bed and have done a fantastic job."

The Centre Court has been the show court in the previous three years of the tournament in more ways than one but this year the prime piece of turf at ILTSC has been joined by No 1 Court, No 2 Court and the other front-tier courts in providing Wimbledon-standard quality grass for Wimbledon-quality players.

Lord, finally able to relax after weeks of endeavour, said last Sunday night: "Andy Ward (Leicestershire County Cricket Club head groundsman), on the recommendation of Wimbledon's head groundsman Neil Stubley, came up to offer us advice on how to mow the grass courts and how to prepare them for the tournament.

"I am very pleased with how they played, and the feedback of the players has been good."

Players naturally talk to each other about how good a tournament was, and the standard of the courts and the helpfulness of the tournament committee, headed by tournament director Charlie Maunder, and the volunteers can only help the Ilkley Trophy gain more stature in future years.

Hepplewhite, speaking after an excellent women's singles final in which Tereza Smitkova beat Dayana Yastremska, Hepplewhite said: "A total of 180 volunteers put in 3,500 hours during the tournament, so they deserve a round of applause, while we also brought in 50 schools and 1500 children to our outreach (coaching) programme, and some of the children hadn't picked up a racquet before.

"As for the crowds, after last year, when we had a 20 per cent rise, this year we have had a 50 per cent rise."

Meanwhile, Wimbledon may have its strawberry count, but, and maybe it is a Northern thing, Ilkley has its burger count.

Hepplewhite revealed after the women's final concluded: "Last year we sold 4,500," and then kept the crowd of tenterhooks before revealing (drum roll) after the men's final: "This year we have sold 4,788."

The club's Festival of Tennis continues with their club championship on July 7-14, men's Group Four of County Week on July 23-27 (Lancashire, Somerset, Northamptonshire, Berkshire, West of Scotland, Leicestershire) and the LTA British Tour Tier Two event and the Ilkley Open on Saturday, July 28-Sunday, August 5.