Wildmoor Spa Tennis League – 2017-02
Last Updated: Feb 27, 2017 09:38pm
Bidford-on-Avon, Stratford-on-Avon
By Corin Bishop
Near Record Entry Confirmed at League AGM
The Wildmoor Spa Summer Tennis League enjoyed. as expected, a near record entry of 47 Men's teams at their recent Annual General Meeting of this South Warwickshire & District Summer Tennis League, held at the Bowling Club, Bidford-on-Avon. This is only one short of their best ever entry of 48 teams.
The meeting was attended by 24 members from 20 of the 22 clubs involved. There were three new sides that had applied to join for the 2017 summer season. They are a new team Henley-in-Arden C and Inkberrow D and a new club Tysoe Tennis Club. The league will consist of six divisions, with a Premier Division and Divisions One to Five of eight teams each, except Divison Three which will have seven teams.
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 with 16 teams split into four Pools. There will be a Play-Off Junior Pools Night at Littletons Tennis Club on Wednesday 5th July, 2017. The meeting also heard that the league will again be running a Presentation and Finals day when the Men’s inter-league Charity Cup Final celebrating its’ 16th anniversary will be played alongside the 14th Junior Cup Final. This will be held this year at the Wildmoor Spa & Health Club courts, Alcester Road, Stratford-Upon-Avon, on Sunday, 3rd September, 2017. This event will be immediately followed by presentations of the finals medals along with Annual Presentations for all League Divisional and other trophy winners.
The Secretary Corin Bishop read out his annual report which showed the league was in its healthiest position ever for both funds and the number of teams participating. Mr. Anthony Bird had agreed to renew another three-year sponsorship of the league through his ownership of the Wildmoor Spa & Health Club, Alcester Road, Stratford-Upon-Avon. The meeting thanked Mr. Bird for his continued backing into his fourth, fifth and sixth season. The league President and local Alcester man Tony King agreed to continue to sponsor the Charity Cup Final and the Junior Competition, while local area tennis coaching company Inspire2Coach, based at Warwick University, continues its ball sponsorship. The League also receives sponsorship contributions via the Warwickshire Lawn Tennis Association from national ball suppliers Babolat Balls.
Stratford-Upon-Avon was congratulated for retaining their League title for the fourteenth year in succession. However, for once they failed to lift the “Charity Cup” trophy when they represented the Summer League in the Inter-League Charity Cup, losing out to Leamington Spa of the Winter League following a very tight match. The “Club of the Year” award the “King Cup” had been presented to Pershore Tennis Club. Ray Foster-Morison from Evesham was awarded the top administration trophy “The Millennium Scroll”. There was a “Fair Play” Plate, voted on by all the teams in the league, which went to Ardencote Manor B from Division One by popular vote.
HDA Redditch A took the Division One title, Chipping Capden A topped Division Two, while Shipston-on-Stour A took the Division Three honours. Pershore B took the Division Four title and Bidford-on-Avon A finished in top spot in Division Five. Junior Champions were HDA Redditch who defeated Bidford juniors in the Final. The 2017 Junior competition begins on 1st March. The Men’s league season begins in late April, 2017.
Photo attached shows League Sponsor Anthony Bird with one of his Wildmoor Spa Teams
Wildmoor Spa Tennis League – 2017-02
By League Secretary Corin Bishop