The Summer started on an encouraging note last weekend when 18 young county players in the 10 and Under, 11 and Under and 12 and Under age-groups travelled to Queenswood School, Hertfordshire, to compete in the prestigious 40th Lionel Cox competition. On the Saturday, no less than 4 out of the 6 Suffolk teams made it through to the semi-finals, with Sunday seeing the knockout rounds take place to determine the final finishing positions.
The 11 and Under Girls’ team of Harriet Petley, Sofia Khalyaeva and Kylie Bilchev did extremely well to make the final against Essex, and only missed out by 2 points in the deciding tie-break. Suffolk finished in a highly creditable 3rd place out of 10 in the East region, the highest ever finish by our county team in this event. The result shows that Suffolk tennis is very much on the up, so well done to all 18 players who competed and helped the county to achieve this fantastic finishing position.
I caught up this week with our busy County Chairman Mike Watling, who found time to give me his thoughts about the busy Summer of tennis ahead :-
“With the Winter behind us, we have the summer months to look forward to, with thoughts of holidays and time for everyone to go and enjoy playing tennis.. With our Summer Club Leagues, endless competitions, and our social players all raring to go, it’s all very exciting for players of all ages and genders. At County level, our Men’s team will face some tough matches in Group 2 at Havant, with our Ladies based locally at Felixstowe, whilst our “senior” teams will be travelling throughout the UK.
With some very promising talented young players coming through the junior age-groups, the Summer will give them the opportunity to put all their Winter training and practising into good use. Already this year, Oscar Cutting and Isabella Eaton have been invited to attend national camps at the National Tennis Centre, and we are also fortunate to have a number of National Talent ID players from Suffolk clunbs such as Joshua Stokes, Adam Rudolph,Isabella Eaton, Maddie McLoughlin, Kayleigh Hale, Kylie Bilchev and Travis Ireland. Keep up the good work !!
We also have the start of the Schools’ competitions, the Road to Wimbledon, and a feast of other Summer competitions to look forward to. At club level it’s all go, with league matches and club tournaments all about to start. This year we are working with league organisers to find ways of promoting their tennis, with regular updates hopefully published on this column and the county website.
For those who enjoy watching, it will not be long before we enjoy national events such as Eastbourne, Edgbaston, Queen’s and Wimbledon, and more locally we have a host of tournaments such as the East of England and Framlingham. There is tennis available in Suffolk for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s competing, enjoying social tennis or for those just wishing to spectate. Have an enjoyable tennis-related Summer.”
Many members of the Suffolk tennis fraternity turned out on Thursday to bid farewell to Peter Andreasen, a real tennis enthusiast and hard worker for the game who sadly passed away recently. Peter gave dedicated service to both Roundwood Tennis Club and the Framlingham Tournament Committee especially, being elected Acting Chairman at Framlingham recently following the untimely demise of Richard Bull. The attendance was a great tribute to Peter, whose efforts will not be forgotten.
Peter was a regular visitor at various events staged at Felixstowe Tennis Club, and he would be proud of the charity tournament they are staging on Saturday May 18th, 2pm.
The club are running a Ladies’ fun American Tournament in aid of Women v Cancer, with an entry fee of just £6-00 giving competitors afternoon tea and a raffle, for which prizes would be gratefully received. To enter or for further information, contact either Nicki on 07899971858 or Lysette on 07889972214 (e-m: nnrrtt@hotmail.com)