Sussex No.1 Ritchie Venner will defend his Hollington Open title on Sunday.

He will face strong opposition from Peter Bartram and Andy Walker, both from Worthing, and former seven-times Hastings champion Paul Barry.

The Hollington senior tournament, which will be preceded on Saturday by a junior event, has attracted five of the top women players in Sussex, headed by top seed and defending champion Rose Rainton (Bexhill).

Former Sussex champion Teresa Bennett (Eastbourne) returns to the fray after having her third baby. Younger players like Sara Coggon (Hastings) and Sarah Stedman (Arundel) are also entered, along with the England No.20 veteran Sheila King.

Players are warned strict new rules on service are expected to become compulsory from September.

The ball must be visible at all times during the service action to both the receiver and the umpire. Also, the ball will have to be thrown higher, the exact minimum height will be known shortly.

Carol Beames (Brighton) is expected to be nominated as national councillor for Sussex in place of David Berriman at a meeting of the Sussex Association in Patcham next Sunday.