Both Oxfordshire mens and ladies teams won promotion in the LTA Winter County cup last weekend. The teams both played in Division 6 at Goslings Park in Hertfordshire and the promotions follow a recent trend in performances as Oxfordshire starts to climb the winter and summer divisions.
The squads were significantly stronger than in previous years with return of Lucy Brown for the ladies and Tom Greenland for the men. There was also a good blend of experience with youth, all that indicates that the squads have the ability to continue progressing in future competitions.
Friday was a good start with the men winning 8-2 against Isle of Man, whilst the ladies won the crucial final doubles rubber to win 5-4 against Shropshire.
After a good start, Saturday was a crucial day ok the pressure off the teams with the Ladies beating Bedfordshire 6-3 and the Men cruising past Cumbria 9-0. It meant that bar a complete collapse on Sunday the teams would be promoted.
With the pressure off, Sundays games were an opportunity to use the squad and the men defeated the Channel Islands 6-2 and the Ladies beat Cumbria 8-1.
Jon Maskens, Men’s captain lead from the front winning 5 out of 5 matches played as did Harry Brown. Sister Lucy went one better with 6 out of 6 wins for the Ladies matched by teenager Patricia Valimaa.
(Back Row: Emma Tolson (ladies captain), Kathryn Schutterlin, Ariadne Katsoulis, Lucy Brown, Joe Cartledge, Jon Maskens, Nigel Matthews, Tom Greenland Front Row: Alice Atkins, Lucy Ingram, Patricia Valimaa, Sophie Marriott, Harry Brown, Ben Calnan, Tom Dyakowski, Jack Rooney)