Disappointment for Summer County Cup team but joy for Over 35s
THE 125th holding of the LTA’s Summer County Cup ended in relegation for the ladies at Eastbourne and for the men at Southsea.
Hopes were high for the county ladies as they returned to the international grass courts at Eastbourne, having achieved three consecutive promotions back to Division One.
Six of the players were from the Loughborough Town Tennis Club and two from Melton Mowbray.
It was a welcome return to the top division after a 12-year absence but it was always going to be a tough challenge against the larger counties, such as Surrey, Middlesex and Yorkshire who can call on the services of touring professionals.
Captain Becky Scrivens said: “The standard was extremely high. Although overall results went against us, we did manage to make things tough for the opposition, taking 13 of our rubbers to match tie-breaks.
“We can build on this experience and despite relegation aim to bounce straight back from Division Two next summer.”
Meanwhile, the men playing in Division Five at Southsea faced an uphill battle from the start following the withdrawal or unavailability of several experienced players.
Leicestershire fielded one of the youngest squads in living memory and felt a little hard done by to be relegated, having finished fourth out of five.
Contrasting that, the weekend of the July 30/August 1 saw the Over 35s play in the County Championships again at Eastbourne and this time the team were going for promotion from the second division.
The strength of the wind on the Friday caused problems for all the teams but the three matches were won handsomely and the five ladies of the team captained by Anne Meredith were promoted to the first division for 2022. Loughborough was again represented by Claire Wynne and Lucy Croucher from the Town Club and Charlie Salisbury from Charnwood with Kerry Pollard coming from the Roundhill Club in Leicester.