Monday, December 03, 2001

The winter indoor championships, Gloucestershire

The winter indoor championships, Gloucestershire.

LADIES:
Group 5B. Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, Bristol.
30th November to 2nd December 2001.

The Team:
Singles everyday. No. 1 Esther Curtis, 2 Lucy Howitt, 3 Sophie Wilkinson, 4 Charlotte Eley, 5 Ellie Vicary, 6 Niki Rivers.
Doubles, some of the above plus Sarah Carter and Heather Sheridan.

1st Day Derbyshire. We won 5-4, we were 4-2 up after the singles then it all rested on Esther and my doubles to win the match. Good result as they had been relegated the previous year.
2nd Day West Scotland. We lost 5-4 we were 4-0 up, then I went on to play my singles, which I lost after two and half hours and 4 match points. 7-5 in the third. I am 32 and my body ached!!! We were then 4-4, deciding doubles again, 2 hours later we came off after an excellent doubles but losing 6-4 in the third. My body really ached!!
3rd Day Bedfordshire. We won 9-0. All singles were comfortable wins I had altered the pairings in the doubles, Sophie and Heather had a good result, as did Niki and Sarah. We needed to win 9-0 and West Scotland to lose 5-4 to Derbyshire, they did, then we won all the doubles which meant we got promoted!!!
If I had won one of those match points the previous day it all would have been over much earlier, instead it came down to the very last match! Made it exciting for the spectators! My team were great, especially the young ones, helping out whatever they were asked to do, and thanks to Niki and Esther for taking over the match card when I was on court.
Everyone tried their hardest. Group 4 here we come!
Mrs. Lucy Howitt Ladies County Team Captain.

MENS:
A weakened Men's Team, playing at home at Oxstalls in Group 6B, was challenging for promotion right up until lunch-time on the Sunday. They were unfortunate not to gain promotion and will be playing in the same group in 2002.

Posted at 10:40 PM [link]