The O35's Ladies team played at Eastbourne from 1st to 3rd August. We were competing in Division 4b which also consisted of Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire.
The Members of the Hampshire & IOW team were: Sue Espley, Fiona Nicholson, Claire Coomer, Lynne Jackson, Natasha Li
Each day we played 2 singles and 3 doubles against a different county. Fiona and Sue played all the singles, whilst Lynne and Claire played most of the doubles.
It was a frustrating weekend as the team managed to lose 3-2 against each county. It was not through lack of trying, as 5 of the 9 matches we lost went to a 3rd set tie-break. It was a very closely contested group as every match finished with a 3-2 result. Suffolk were the eventual winners of the group, whilst Hampshire & IOW disappointingly got relegated.
Lynne and Claire and Sue and Fiona won one doubles each on the first day against Suffolk.
On the second day against Lincolnshire Claire won both her doubles playing with Lynne and then Tash. On day three it was a straight play-off between Derbyshire and Hampshire & IOW to avoid relegation. Both Lynne and Claire and Fiona and Tash won one doubles.
It was a brilliant event as normal, and despite the result we enjoyed some great tennis and weather!
Sue Espley, Team Captain