Frances Candy was part of the British team which came second in the Caretta Cup at US International Club Week in Washington DC.

Great Britain were one of eight countries – each comprising one over-50s player and two over-60s - taking part in the ladies' team knockout event at the Chevy Chase Club.

Seeded third, Britain enjoyed an easy passage through the quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-0 success against Bahamas/Barbados, Candy winning her singles 6-0, 6-1 and doubles 8-2.

Britain then upset second seeds Germany in the semi-finals, although this was a much closer encounter and it went down to the wire in the deciding doubles runner.

Candy was edged out 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (5-7) in a two-and-a-half hours singles tie by former world number 28 Heidi Eisterlekner after having four points for the second set at 5-3.

But team-mate Sue Hill took her singles match in two tight sets and they scraped home 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 10-6 in a close-fought doubles contest spanning more than two hours.

The final against the host nation didn't go quite so well, however, as Britain were beaten 2-0 in a match switched indoors due to rain with each rubber the first to eight games.

Candy was sunk 8-0 by a near faultless display from Diane Fishburne, the world number one in her age group, and fellow Brit Fran McClennan was beaten 8-3.

International Clubs allow present and past international players, many of whom have Davis Cup or Federation Cup experience, to promote and renew friendships across the world.

Earlier last month, Candy helped Sussex win Division Two of the Women's 35 Inter-County Championships in appalling weather at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne.

Candy didn't play in the opening 5-0 win over Lancashire, but bagged her singles 6-2, 6-0 and the doubles with Helen Mitchell as Kent were dispatched 3-0.

She lost 6-2, 6-2 in her singles against Surrey the following day, yet Mitchell took her singles, and Jenny Hughes and Stephanie Trill landed the doubles as Sussex won 2-1.

Candy has again been selected to represent Great Britain in the women's 50 category at the International Tennis Federation Seniors World Team Championships in Turkey next month.