News
Salcombe Win Geoff Date Tennis Cup 2011
For the third year running Salcombe Tennis Club A team have won the South Devon Summer Tennis League knock out cup. This year they beat Ivybridge A 5-3 in a closely fought match that went down to the wire before Salcombe eventually triumphed. Last year Salcombe drew the same event with Avonvale with 4 sets each and a count back revealed an even share of games won, both sides agreeing not to try for a decider. In 2009 Salcombe beat Ivybridge B, again in a tight final. Salcombe’s team in the finals this year was Charlie Clarke, Jonathon Squire, Diddie Sims and captain, Jennie Sprague.
The Salcombe first team finished 3rd in Divison One with Janice Croke, Christopher Rainford, Sarah Allen and Roger Brownill completing the team with those named above. A splendid result in a very tough league.
Ladies Team 2011
For the first time ever Salcombe has entered a Ladies Team into the League. The team was Captained by Caroline Evans and the team won all their matches in Division Two, dropping only 10 sets out of 64, to win the Cup. Caroline played most matches along with Suzie Clarke. other team players were Sarah Allen, Sue Squire, Val Lovatt, Sarah Freedman, Sally Murray, Sophie Lovatt, Jennie Sprague and Ruth Derry. What a splendid result.
2010 Tennis Season Review
Salcombe enjoyed their most successful season of recent years with the first team
finishing as runners up in Division 1 of the South Hams Summer Tennis League and joint winners
of the Geoff Date knock out Cup. The second team also did well ending up third in Division 2 of
the League. To cap a fine season Salcombe then held the finals of its own tournament on Sunday 12
September in perfect weather.
The first team captained by Jennie Sprague won 10 of their 12 matches losing only to
Ilsington and ended with a total of 66 sets. Ivybridge A who won the League with 69 sets only won
7 of their 12 matches, and lost twice to Salcombe, but in this League it is total number of sets won
that determines League position rather than the more normal system of awarding points for a win
or a draw and only counting sets in event of a tie. Not surprising then that the Salcombe Committee
intend proposing that the League amends its procedures to the more usual system. In addition to
Jennie Sprague and Alan Treverton who played every match, Sally Jenks played 8 matches after
Sarah Allen was injured in the first half of the season. Chris Stidston-Nott, who played some
matches, was also injured early on and the other players making an appearance at various times
were Joe Clarke, Charlie Clarke, Chris Rainford and Peter Henessey-Smith.
In the Geoff Date Cup Salcombe, last year's winners, put out the Division Two winners
Dartmouth in the early rounds to set up a semi final against, you've guessed it, Ivybridge A. In a
tense match Salcombe again prevailed winning 5-3 making it 3 times that they had beaten Ivybridge
A this season. In the final against Avonvale A both sides won 4 sets and on countback of games it
emerged that they had both won 37 games! The 2 clubs, who are good friends, share the Cup this
year as no rule exists in this competition for battling out a Championship point.
The second team captained by Roger Brownill won 8 of their 14 matches and team
members in addition to Roger were drawn from Val and Sophie Lovatt, Caroline Evans, Joan Hunt,
Susie Clarke, Julia Cater, David Alcock, Stuart Mattin, Simon Evans, Chris Rainford and Charlie
Clarke.
In the Club Tournament the Ladies Doubles was won by Janice Croke and Sophie Lovatt
who beat Sally Jenks and Sarah Allen. In the Mens Doubles the old firm of Peter Henessey-Smith
and Sandy Matthews lost to a new pairing, the up and coming youngsters, Christopher Rainford
and Charlie Clarke. In the Mixed Sophie Lovatt and Roger Brownill beat Sally Jenks and Alan
Treverton. The Ladies Singles winner was Jennie Sprague who beat Sally Jenks and in the Mens
Singles Peter Henessey-Smith retained the cup beating Charlie Clarke.
Tennis will continue all winter helped by the very fast draining astroturf courts which
enable games to be played after the heaviest rain or even during it if you are hardy enough!
Following last years highly successful refurbishment of the main courts, this year the Club has
resurfaced the mini court and practice wall area in astroturf. In a significant move for the future the
Club is also organising coaching and tournaments for its thriving Junior Membership. So if you
are thinking of playing some tennis this winter or if your children want to then first contact John
Sprague, Membership Secretary, on 01548 843044 or 07879 636643 and he can put you in touch
with the right people.
