As expected there was a near record entry of 44 teams at last Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting of the South Warwickshire & District Summer Tennis League. Held at the Royal British Legion Club, Bidford-on-Avon the meeting was attended by 32 members from 21 of the clubs involved. With one new entry from Studley C into Division 5, the league remains at six divisions, with the Premier Division and Divisions 1 to 5. Divisions Two and Five consist of 8 teams, while the remaining divisions have seven teams each.
This Men’s Doubles Summer Tennis League covers the South Warwickshire and district areas of the midlands including parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
It includes a Junior Competition which this year boasts a record 24 teams, up 8 on last year, split into six Pools. For 2011 the new Junior teams were confirmed as new clubs Harbury, Pershore and Inkberrow, and extra teams Henley B, HDA B of Redditch, Studley C, Alcester C and Alcester D.
The meeting heard that the league will again be running an inter-league Charity Cup Final celebrating it’s 10th anniversary at Stratford-on-Avon Tennis Club on Saturday, 18th June, 2011. There will be a new Play-Off Junior Pools Night at Bidford Tennis Club on Monday 11th July this year with the Junior Final being played at the Men’s Pairs Tournament. This men’s end of season tournament along with the Annual Presentations will be held on Sunday 28th August, 2011, at Stratford Tennis Club.
The League announced it had lost it’s sponsor of 14 years but would shortly be announcing a new sponsor for the 2011 summer season. A presentation was made to the previous sponsor, Lee Prudden of Redditch, as a thankyou for all his past support. The League Secretary Corin Bishop reported that since the last AGM he had acquired new ball sponsors for the “Pairs”, “Junior” and “Charity” cup finals from “Inspire2Coach” a local area tennis coaching company. More good news was announced as the League’s President, Tony King of Alcester, has again promised increased financial backing for the annual Pairs Tournament for the 21st consecutive year.
In his report the League Chairman and WLTA Secretary, Tony Eskew reflected how far the league had come in the last twenty years. From the days when the majority of clubs had no all year round competitive tennis and no competitive junior sides. He said thanks were due to the dedication of volunteers in every club and of course the secretary who founded the league 21 years ago Corin Bishop and he had been presented with a special gift to mark the occasion.
Stratford-on-Avon was congratulated for retaining their League title for the eighth year in succession. They added to that the “Pairs Tournament” Shield Trophy along with representing the Summer League and lifting the Inter-League Charity Cup. The “Club of the Year” award the “King Cup” had been presented to Moreton-in-Marsh who enjoyed an immaculate record and entered two junior teams into the Junior Competition.
Pershore took the Division One title, FISSC Stratford topped Division Two, while Snitterfield took the Division Three honours. Wildmoor Spa took the Division Four title and the Henley B finished in top spot in Division Five. In the Men’s Annual Pairs tournament apart from Stratford, Shipston-on-Stour took the “Plate” trophy while Henley B lifted the Pairs Cup” competition. Malcolm Dewsbury of Bidford-on-Avon was chosen as the winner of the “Millennium Scroll” as the best administrator of 2010. Junior Champions were again Shipston-on-Stour who defeated Studley in the Final. The 2010 Junior competition begins on 1st March. The Men’s league season begins week commencing Sunday, 17th April, 2011.
Any Club or potential sponsor requiring further details please visit the web site www.swastennis.net or contact the League Secretary on the following telephone number:- 01789-778357 or email swastennis@aol.com.