TENNIS: HERNE BAY’S ACES MAKE CLUB HISTORY

Herne Bay LTC secured top spot in three divisions of the Kent League – an unprecedented achievement in the club’s history.

In their penultimate match in Division 2B, the Mixed 1 whitewashed injury-hit Bromley Mixed 2 at home.

Needing a 3-1 win in the remaining fixture, the Mixed 1 team travelled to Tunbridge Wells 3 and in the first round, Peter Elsden/anne Gibbs and Ben Keighley/louise Tucker won in straight sets.

Keighley/tucker had a close rubber against the hosts’ first pair, eventually going down in a championship tie-breaker but Elsden/gibbs again won their second rubber in straight sets to clinch the match and top the division.

Mixed 2 played out winning draws in their remaining two matches at Frindsbury 1 and at home to nearest challegers Freedom Fitness 2 to take the title in Division 3A.

Graham Miles/danielle Miles and Dan Walker/nicola Mileham won by six sets to five in the first match and five to four in the second.

In Division 6A, Mixed 3 triumphed in the closest of groups. Playing at nearest challengers Brenchley & Matfield 2, Bay had to come away with two rubbers to guarantee top spot and did so through Matt Newman/sarah Pout and Eddie Fisher/diana High.

The teams drew 2-2 in rubbers but with both clubs tied on points Bay took the spoils with an overall superior rubbers/ sets ratio.

The Ladies’ Midweek 1 team are another with a good chance of topping their group in Division 1.

Bay came away with a 4-0 win at Canterbury 1 through Kay Mileham/ Nicola Mileham and Anne Gibbs/caroline Packer and won 3-1 at home to David Lloyd Kings Hill with Sarah Pout replacing Packer.

Bay and Tunbridge Wells 1 have won all four games so far and face a thrilling finale at Wells.

Ladies 2 finished on a high in Division 3A when they won 3-1 at home to Meopham through Caroline Packer/denise Parrett and Kay Mileham/sarah Pout to claim third spot.

Also finishing in third place were Ladies 3, who played out their final match of the season at Trottiscliffe 2 in Division 6A.

Denise Parrett/anja Stileman won both their rubbers in straight sets and Sarah Pout/christine Hanson ensured a 3-1 win.

In the Dover & District League, the Mixed A team played out a draw against neighbours Canterbury B thanks to Ian Cooke/dani Miles and Peter Elsden/sue Toye before moving within a win of the title with an 8-0 success against Canterbury A thanks to Peter Elsden/louise Tucker and Ian Cooke/anne Gibbs.

The Men’s A team won 7-1 at home and away against Hythe B through Alex Kazekeos/ben Keighley and Graham Miles/matt Newman and then Peter Elsden/ian Cooke and Matt Newman/ Richard Marshall.

A welcome win 7-1 came for the Men’s B team at home to Chilham.

Steve Howard/jason Hollingsworth and Gary Smith/dave Lawrence did the damage, while another 7-1 win was recorded by the Mixed B team at home to Canterbury C, thanks to Rob Catterick/ Lesley Taylor and James Curtis/diana High.