MEN’S SENIOR TEAM REPORTS 2018
MENS AND LADIES WINTER COUNTY CUP REPORT
Over the weekend of 24/25th November both the County Mens and Ladies teams were competing in the Winter County Cup.
The Men were playing away in Gratham in Group 2 whilst the Ladies were at Easton & Otley College Tennis Centre also competing in Group 2.
Both teams seem to be in a transitional phase and it is encouraging to see so many of the county juniors now making the progression into the senior teams. With this is mind, it was going to be a big ask to maintain there status in these divisions, playing against some of the best players across the country.
The Men got off to a great start against South Wales. Having drawn the singles rubbers 3-3, the doubles took on added significance. The rubber was eventually decided in the final match, with skipper Nicky Crawley and partner Alex Mcnaughton winning 6-4/6-4. On Saturday the Men were always a rubber behind and could not turn things around in the doubles, therefore suffering a 3-6 defeat to Berkshire. On the final day, Norfolk were in the comfortable position of only needing a couple of wins to avoid relegation. This they managed with ease despite losing 4-5 to Lincolnshire.
Captain Nicky Crawley was pleased with the teams efforts: “I am proud of the boys. This team always surprises me. We seem to play our best tennis in these competitions and to be in such a comfortable position on the last day is testament to a great togetherness amongst the team”.
The Ladies were up against some county tennis heavyweights including Lancashire, Surrey. On day 1 singles wins for Sam Noble, Rosie Pooley and Maria Andrews (playing her first singles match for 3 years) gave Norfolk a great platform. A win for Emily Barrett and Rosie meant the team were one win away from an unlikely victory. Unfortunately the pairings of Vianne Palffy and Frances Evans and Sam and Marie both ended up losing 7-10 in a championship tie-break. So close!
On day 2 it was always going to be difficult playing against a very strong Surrey team who had already won 9-0 on day 1. Norfolk gave there all but again were defeated 0-9.
Going into the final day, the girls needed to win against Sussex to avoid relegation. Player of the weekend Rosie Pooley was the only singles winner, meaning the tie was decided before playing the doubles.
All in all some valuable experience gained. Moving forward Caroline Blincoe will now be supporting Sam Nobile with the Ladies team and will add a great wealth of experience and knowledge to the set up.
2018 WINTER HOLIDAY GRADE 3 TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
Please see link below highlighting all local junior grade 3 tournaments.
DATES – COUNTY TEAM REPRESENTATIVE EVENTS
Please see a list of all the junior events and fixtures our county teams will be involved in this year:
County Cup
U18 County Cup – Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd March 2019
U14 County Cup – Saturday 4th – Monday 6th May 2019
U12 County Cup – Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June 2019
U10 County Cup – Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th May 2019
U9 County Cup – Saturday 17th August 2019
U8 Regional Event – Sunday 17th March 2019
12 Counties Event
U18s – Saturday 9th February 2019
U16s – Saturday 3rd November 2018
U14s – Saturday 12th January 2019
U12s – Saturday 24th November 2018
U10s – Sunday 9th December 2018
Inter County Matches
U8 , U9 vs Cambridgeshire – Sunday 28th October 2018
U10 Vs Cambridgeshire – Sunday 28th October 2018
U12s Vs Suffolk – Saturday 5th January 2019
U8, U9 Vs Suffolk – Saturday 23rd February 2019
U10s Vs Suffolk – Saturday 23rd February 2019
U14s Vs Bedfordshire – Sunday 24th February 2019
THE NORFOLK CLOSED TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018
THE NORFOLK CLOSED TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018
- Some incredible finals and a 6 time winner
The summer tournament season concluded last week with the inaugural county closed championships held at the East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club at Lime Tree Road.
Despite weeks of warm weather and sunshine, Tournament Referee Derek Perry had some cooler conditions to deal with when scheduling matches for players aged between 7-70!
The draws were full of players who train on the county coaching programme but it was great to see some other competitors who performed with great skill and some success.
The age group events were staggered throughout the week allowing for some competitors to take part in multiple events if they choose to. Emily Barrett, who early in the summer had represented the Ladies County Cup team in Division 1, had entered 6 events. If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, she remained undefeated throughout the week to claim 3 singles and 3 doubles titles. She was pushed to the limit in the Ladies Final, recovering from a set down against fellow Ladies County player Rosie Pooley before winning 2-6, 7-6, 10-8.
Another multiple winner in the week was Matilda Cabrera Burns who won both the U/9 and U/10 Girls events.
Hannah Wilson Kemsley competed in 3 singles finals, twice losing to Emily in u/16. u/18 age group, however she became u/14 champion after beating Mia Bartram 7-6, 6-3 in the u/14 category.
There were 3 fantastically close finals in the male categories. In the U/18 event Alex Watkinson edged out Fred Withers 6-3, 4-6, 10-6. Kris Jenkins, coach to some of the competing junior players outlasted fellow Men’s county player Alex Mcnaughton 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 in a tense finish.
It was great to see so many senior players competing. The Over 35 final between Robert Hall and Mark Eglington also went the distance with Robert eventually winning 6-3, 1-6, 10-5.
RESULTS
U/8
Rufus Snelling beat George Head 10-3
Esme Artherton-Howlett
U/9
Jack Bradshaw beat Nathan Collins 7-5, 7-2
Matilda Cabrera Burns beat Ellis Greenlees 7-0, 7-3
U/10
Blyth Hammonds beat James Henery 4-2, 4-1
Matilda Cabrera Burns beat Anghela Sianosa 5-3
U/12
Isabella Taylor beat Ruby Syer 6-3, 6-1
Oli Buckingham Green beat Jayden Durham 6-1, 6-2
U/14
Hannah Wilson Kemsley beat Mia Bartram 7-6, 6-3
Joe Henden beat Will Stoppani 7-5, 6-3
U/16
Emily Barrett beat Hannah Wilson Kemsley 6-0, 6-2
Scott Whiting beat Will Stoppani 6-2, 6-1
U/18
Emily Barrett beat Hannah Wilson Kemsley 6-2, 6-2
Alex Watkinson beat Fred Withers 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
LADIES
Emily Barrett beat Rosie Pooley 2-6, 7-6, 10-8
MENS
Kris Jenkins beat Alex Mcnaughton 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
Over 55s
Neil Henery beat Robert Ollman 6-0, 6-1
Over 45s
David Youngs beat Robert Hall 6-1, 6-1
Over 35s
Robert Hall beat Mark Eglington 6-3, 1-6, 10-5