On Saturday 20th July Under 9 county cup group included Hampshire & IOW, Avon, Wiltshire, South Wales and Gloucestershire.
The venue this year was at the Virgin Active Racquets club in Cardiff. The Hampshire & IOW team included George Russell, Dean Cooper Kirby, Oscar Boyle, Hannah Smith, Rina Hayamizu and Anna Vinnell and myself, Sam Cummings as the captain. It was one of our strongest teams taken to 9U county cup and very experienced with George and Hannah who took part last year.
Wiltshire were our first opponents, who last year brought a strong team so we knew we had to start strong. The first 3 boys singles matches were all tough 3 setters and came out 2-1 down but came through winners after a strong performance from the girls and some great doubles play.
Gloucestershire were next and joined the county cup group this year so we were unsure how strong their team would be. After all the singles matches it was all poised at 3-3 however the doubles drills done in the county cup training paid off with victories in all the doubles to claim a 6-3 win.
After lunch we faced South Wales who brought a very strong team and once again we relied on our doubles tennis to come through winners and went through to a play off final against Avon. Avon had also won every fixture and were looking strong as ever. After some fantastic individual performances in the singles put us 4-2 and unfortunately we had a walkover in the girls doubles which gave us the overall victory of 5-4.
It was a well run event and the children did themselves proud with some great individual performances as well as team work in the doubles. It was a great day and it was an honour to captain the team again! It was a great experience and so proud of everyone. County cup is so unique to any other event and hope the children can value the experience.
Special thank you to the parents for supporting me and making the event very enjoyable.
The win is a credit to the children and coaches in the county hard work throughout the year and hope to see them all representing the county in years to come.
Thank you also to David Kirby (Hampshire and IOW - TPC) and the county office team who supported me and gave me this opportunity.
Report by Sam Cummings, Team Captain