Suffolk 8 and Under combined Girls + Boys Mini Tennis Red team took the 8 counties East Region title recently at Gosling Tennis Centre, Welwyn Garden City. The Girls team of Justice Hall, Chloe Dennis, Emma Williamson, Tilly McLoughlin, Tabitha Wallker and Jessica Eagle went into battle in the morning with the news that Tabitha was not well enough to travel, therefore Suffolk had to concede a rubber in each fixture before they started.
The format was each opposite number playing Singles against their opposite number, with two points for a win and one point for a 3-3 draw. In their 7 matches, the Girls won 2, drew 4 and lost just once, giving them an excellent bronze medal position.
In the afternoon, the Boys team of Joshua Stokes, Dean Hafermann, Matthew Jones, Archie Simpson, Joshua Mumford and Alexander Dunning were outstanding, winning 6 of their 7 matches, and drawing with Cambridgeshire, who also achieved 6 wins.
The overall competition was decided by the best combined morning and afternoon results, and with a 3rd and lst, Suffolk took the title.Team captains Trevor Wright and Kari Sherington were delighted with the team’s magnificent performance. Time and time again the Suffolk players came through close matches, edging out their opponents by playing mentally strong and battling so hard when it really mattered. Special mention should go to Joshua Stokes and Alexander Dunning, aho both won all even of their matches.