Devon ladies over 60s - division winners!

This year the Ladies 60’s County Team became league champions of the National Seniors’ Inter-county Championships, Division 2B.  The team was represented by Anne Tait from Budleigh Salterton, Linda Knight from Torquay, Nicki Keele from Sidmouth, Anna Smith from Ebford, Sally Bassinder from Torquay and Chriss Stotesbury from Westward Ho.  Barbara Robillard from Bovey Tracey, Marguarite Butt from Plymouth and Rosemary Browne from Exeter kindly acted as reserves for the team.

Ann Louis, nonplaying team captain, reports, “Our first home match was against Cambridgeshire on 14^th April with Devon winning by three rubbers to one. Our second home match was against Berkshire with the Devon ladies winning all four rubbers.

The first away match was played at The East Gloucestershire Club on 7^th May and on this occasion we took the opportunity to take an extra pair to play a friendly match against the Gloucestershire reserves.  At the end of the County match the rubbers, sets and games were all even but as Devon were leading by three sets to two at the end of the first round we were able to claim the match.  This emphasises how important every game and set can be when playing these matches.

The second away match was against Suffolk on 6^th July. And again Devon won by three rubbers to one.

The last match of the season was played at the West Worthing Tennis Club in Sussex.  The team needed to win all four rubbers to be sure of promotion and although the scores were close the Devon team didn’t drop a rubber.

Unfortunately Ann Louis and Josa Ness were unable to play this season due to injury and illness.  Ann Louis acted as non playing captain for the team and Anne Tait as playing captain.

All our home matches are played at Exmouth Tennis and Fitness Centre on carpet courts.  The staff at the Centre are always very welcoming and provide excellent refreshments.

On Saturday 26^th October the team celebrated promotion to Division One with a game of tennis in the afternoon followed by a meal at The Redwing in Lympstone in the evening.

The Ladies 60 and 65 County teams continue to practise on a fortnightly basis at Exmouth Tennis and Fitness.”