Every July, Cheshire sends our best players to compete as a team in the LTA County Cup. This year the Women’s team were playing at Roehampton in Group 2, whilst the Men were competing in Group 3 at Cheltenham. They play against 5 other teams over 5 days and all the matches are doubles. The top two teams in each group gaining promotion and the bottom two are relegated so it is a very cut and thrust event.
Women’s Squad: Kim Schmider (Capt), Jemma Cave, Rhona Cook, Jessica Mclean Amy McMahon, Vicky McNeight, Phoebe Mitchell, Abi Redman, Eva Senior, Susanna Thompson.
Results:
v Leicestershire Won 8 – 1
v Somerset Won 5 – 4
v Nottinghamshire Lost 6 – 3
v Derbyshire Won 6 – 3
v Avon Won 7 – 2
Final results very rarely reflect how close matches are and this was certainly the case for the women’s team. By the last day of competition Cheshire were in with a chance of taking one of the 2 promotion places to group 1 but so were 2 other teams. By the end of play all 3 teams had recorded the same number of wins i.e. 4 out of 5, and so the final positions were decided on the number of rubbers won and Cheshire were placed top of the group by just one rubber!
Many congratulations to the team. It will be the first time next year that Cheshire will play in Group 1 for over 12 years!
Men’s Squad: Jordan Young (Capt), Matt Chadwick, Mason Dace, Lewis Denton, Matt Earnshaw, Olie Hague, Ilias Hirani -Worthington, Alfie King, Sam Reeve
Results:
v Derbyshire Lost 5 – 4
v Cambridgeshire Lost 7 - 2
v Middlesex Lost 6- 3
v West of Scotland Won 5 – 4
v Hampshire Lost 5 – 3
After last year’s promotion the team were aware that they faced strong teams in this group. Each match hinged on many final set tie breaks and unfortunately too many of these were lost and ultimately decided the final result. For example, in the 7 – 2 loss to Cambridgeshire, Cheshire lost 5 final set tie breaks. If they had won these they would have won the match! By the last day of competition they were fighting to stay in Group 3 and needed to beat Hampshire but despite their best efforts lost and so it is a return to Group 4 in 2025.
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