Cornwall Ladies staying afloat in Group 6
Following last year’s spectacular promotion from Group 7 in East Molesey, the Cornwall Ladies Tennis team was hoping this year for five days in the sunshine playing the Summer County Cup in Cheltenham. These hopes were however dashed, following the flooding of large parts of Gloucestershire, which resulted in the suspension of mains water supply in Cheltenham.
The event was held during the last week of July. Six counties play the group, two are promoted, two stay and two are relegated on completion of all matches.
Water was cut off in the East Gloucester Club, where the tournament was due to be played and in the team’s hotel.
For health and safety reasons the tournament was abandoned and the team returned to Cornwall, four days early, having played only one match.
The team was Zoe Lee (Penzance), Helen Stubbs (Truro), Hannah Brownlee (Penzance), Clare Hudson (Truro), Sophie Weedon (Truro), Emma Welch (Newquay) and Sarah Statton (Launceston) and was captained by Dinah Crellin (Newquay).
The only match played was lost 4-5 to Durham & Cleveland. The result however will hopefully work favourably for the Cornwall Ladies as the other losing teams only gained 2 rubbers each.
This decision has been left with the LTA and will be finalised by the end of August, after all the other County matches have been taken into consideration in the other groups.
Dinah commented “The team members were disappointed but accepted what was inevitable, in the prevailing and very alarming conditions. With the continuing development and improving doubles partnerships, we will return next year with the same team spirit and determination.”
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Left to right: Emma Welch, Helen Stubbs, Zoe Lee, Sophie Weedon, Dinah Crellin, Hannah Brownlee, Sarah Statton (Clare Hudson not available for photo)
TRURO
