An update on the Gloucestershire Vet's Teams during the 2009 Season from Jim Cressey.
I am pleased to report on the 12 teams (5 Ladies and 7 Men’s) which drew players from 10 GLTA affiliated clubs.
During the March/April trials and match practice sessions we managed to attract some new players to our ranks. Unfortunately, as we progressed through the match play we were hit fairly hard by illness, injuries and hospital operations which affected several of our teams!
The season was also the first played under the nationally rather than regionally structured based leagues. Gloucestershire fixtures stretched further into Scotland, the North East, Norfolk and Cornwall – all requiring additional time and extended travel on the part of most teams.
Ladies 40 Div 3B Captain: Marie Bell. Finished 1st (promoted for 2010)
Clubs represented: East Glos, Painswick and Tewkesbury Park.
Ladies 50 Div 2A Captain: Renata Calvert. Finished 6th.
Clubs represented: Cirencester and East Glos
Ladies 60 Div 1B Captain: Felicity Thomas. Finished 6th
Clubs represented: East Glos and Painswick
Ladies 65 Div 2B Captain: Anne Dimmer. Finished 6th
Clubs represented: East Glos
Mens 45 Div 4 Captain: Roger Bell Finished 2nd (promoted for 2010)
Clubs represented: East Glos
Mens 55 Div 3B Captain: Peter Collins Finished 4th
Clubs represented: Bredon, East Glos and Oxstalls
Mens 60 Div 3B Captain: Jim Cressey Finished 6th
Clubs represented: Bredon, East Glos, Glos Civil Service and Gotherington
Mens 65 Div 2B Captain: Jim Cressey Finished 5th
Clubs represented: Bredon, East Glos and Oxstalls
Mens 70 Div 2B Captain: Ian Flowers Finished 4th
Clubs represented: Down Ampney, East Glos and Painswick.
Mens 75 Wessex Captain Ian Flowers Finished 6th
Clubs represented: East Glos
“Baby Vets”
These Eastbourne events were held over separate weekends – one each for the Ladies and Men’s with matches against three other Counties.
Ladies 35 Div 2A Captain: Marie Bell Finished 2nd
Clubs represented: East Glos, Painswick and Tewkesbury Park
Mens 35 Div 4A Captain: Neil Howitt. Finished 4th
Clubs represented: Cam & Dursley and East Glos.
All in all a difficult season for the reasons stated but with some positive successes. “Double” congratulations to Marie and Roger Bell who steered their respective L40 and M45 teams to promotion for 2010. Marie also kept the flag flying for the L35 who finished 2nd in their group. Appreciation also of Ian Flowers hard work in being Organiser of both the M70 and M75 teams – Ian is standing down after this year.
My thanks go to all Captains/Organisers and Players for their support, commitment and enthusiasm throughout the season. In some teams we could not match the “strength in depth” of our opponents and in some others we struggled in closing out “tie breakers” to our advantage.
For 2010 we already have some more new players to supplement our ranks – some planned initiatives are also being progressed pre-season to “sharpen” the balance of “social” v “competitive” match play to improve the teams’ performance generally. Singles play is also being introduced to more age groups.
Last but not least our grateful thanks to:
East Glos – Administration, Reception, Bar, Catering and Ground staff for really looking after us as our home base for matches.
GLTA – Adrian (our Treasurer) and Claire Hatherall (at Oxstalls) for general financial and administrative support respectively.
ESPORTA – who have provided us with indoor courts very often at short notice on the few occasions EG has been beaten by the weather! – or we have had long distance opponents who have linked weekend match programmes.
Looking forward to the 2010 season!
Jim Cressey
County Veteran’s Organiser.