Strong performances from Derbyshire's boys and girls in the AEGON 12U County Cup underlined the promise of the county's up-and-coming players, according to their captain.
Although neither side managed to qualify for the finals, Mike James said they produced "amazing" wins to finish third in their respective competitions.
Both sides competed against opponents from Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire, with the girls also taking on Durham and Cleveland and the boys the Isle of Man.
Each fixture during the two-day tournament, which took place at the Graves Tennis Centre, in Sheffield, featured three singles and one doubles rubber.
The boys' team – comprising Bradley Buckland, Ellis Corbett, Harry Finney and Reuben Shahidullah – opened their accounts with a 3-0 win over Isle of Man in the round-robin section.
Buckland and Corbett did not drop a set, while Finney emerged triumphant following a match tie-break and the doubles were not required.
They followed this up with a 3-1 win over Cheshire – who also beat Isle of Man 3-0 – to top their group going into the knock-out stages.
James said: "We were 2-1 up going into the doubles match, following wins from Bradley and Reuben, and Bradley and Harry won the first set 4-0.
"They then lost the second set 4-1 and found themselves down 9-3 in the match tie break but they went on to win it 11-9. It was amazing."
Derbyshire and second-placed Cheshire were joined in the knockout stages by Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The county then played Lancashire but, despite a 1-4, 4-0, 1-0(6) win by Buckland over opponent Joshua Taylor, they lost 3-1.
They followed this with another 3-1 win against Cheshire to take third.
James said: "Yorkshire and Lancashire were always going to be strong and it was then very much neck and neck between us and Cheshire.
"So, to beat them twice – and, the second time, to take third place – was really good.
"One of the boys, Christian Mills, was unavailable for play, which was a blow because we might have made the final with him as well.
"But all four who played are among those who are coming through at the moment and will be able to play at the tournament again next year."
He added: "One thing which made it difficult for all the teams was the fact the wind and rain were terrible.
"The boys were constantly coming on and off the courts."
Meanwhile, the girls – captained by Jane Rushby – played five round-robin matches and did not use the knock-out stages after one of the counties pulled out.
Victoria Allen, Hannah Davey, Millie Devey-Smith and Kelsey Hodgson started the tournament with an 8-0 triumph against Durham and Cleveland and a 2-2 draw against Yorkshire, before winning the decider.
The victory came courtesy of singles wins from Devey-Smith and Allen, who teamed with Hodgson to succeed in the doubles, while Allen won another singles match and Davey and Devey-Smith the doubles during the match against Yorkshire.
This was followed by 2-2 draws against Lancashire and Cheshire, in which they lost the deciders, to secure third place.
James said: "It was difficult to know how well the girls would do given the tough competition but to take three of the fixtures to deciders and win the other shows how promising they are."
Courtesy of Derbyshire Telegraph