What an incredible achievement! Over the last weekend, our U14 Girls team became the first Cheshire junior team EVER to become the National Champions. The team comprised Rhona Cook, Ellie Aldrich, Gabriella Komsiiski, Ella Walker, Alice Shields, Emma Standish and was captained by Lucy Fletcher with Hanna Wilson as Chaperone/Vice Captain.
Spirits were high and the team was positive prior to starting the event as a result of qualifying wins against Lancashire, West of Scotland & Middlesex.
First up was Kent. The girls were extremely determined to beat Kent after losing to them last year in the qualifying stages, but conditions were tough for tennis. The Cheshire girls did really well to secure 3 wins out of 4, and after two hard fought doubles matches managed to secure a very pleasing final score of 4-2.
The girls hardly had time to enjoy the victory, because they were required to start their match versus Hertfordshire on the same day! This was really tough as the girls had already played some long matches against Kent, and were already both physically and mentally tired going into this match. Somehow they managed to find reserves of energy, and playing with great determination and a refusal to give up, won 3 out of the 4 singles matches again, which put the Cheshire girls in a strong position for the doubles matches on the following day. A special mention must go to Ellie Aldrich who had played 8 sets in one day! Cheshire then won one of the two doubles therefore defeating Hertfordshire 4 - 2. Another very impressive result, and now Cheshire had played two and won two, and needed to beat North Wales for a place in the final.....no pressure then?
Well it's fair to say the girl's continued to show the same determination and good form that they had in their previous matches, responding really well to the pressure of knowing they were only one win away from making the National Finals! After the four singles matches including Ella Walker's victorious marathon match of over 3 hours, the girls found themselves 3 -1 up. They then backed up their singles wins with victories in both doubles matches to secure a very satisfying 5 - 1 win. Hard to believe but Cheshire where in the NATIONAL FINALS !!
It would have been totally understandable if the girls had allowed the occasion to affect them, however, against a very good Nottinghamshire team they all played with same determination and never say die attitude that they had displayed in all their previous matches. All four singles matches could not have been any closer, with "edge of the seat tennis" for the spectators as all matches went to three sets! The girls gave everything, and going into the deciding doubles matches the score stood at 2 - 2. It really could not have been any closer. As is often the case at inter county events, the final result can often hinge on the doubles and this certainly proved to be the case. The Cheshire pairs of Gabbi Komsiiski & Ellie Aldrich, and Rhona Cook & Ella Walker both needed to win. Gabbi & Ella dominated their match winning in two sets, however, Rhona and Ella were involved in a really close contest. After losing the first set they stormed back to take the second, which meant the match would be decided on a tiebreak. Rhona and Ella really stepped up and took control , and despite understandably getting nervous (given what was at stake), kept calm and mentally strong under pressure and finished the match off in style.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY THE TEAM.......NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2016
The whole team including Lucy and Hanna deserve our congratulations for what they achieved. Never before have Cheshire LTA won a National Junior Inter County event which makes this achievement even more special.