Cornwall Ladies 35 Eastbourne 2007
Another sunny weekend at Eastbourne, was enjoyed by the 43 teams competing in the 2007 Women's 35 Inter-County Championships!
The Group 1 Essex team successfully defended their title, with newly promoted Devon finishing in second spot. Yorkshire and Sussex were relegated, to be replaced next year by Leicestershire and Gloucestershire. Cornwall played in Group 6 having only competing in the event for one year and narrowly missing promotion last year.
Team Captain Dinah Crellin said “We had to enter the tournament last year in the bottom group, it was all new ground for the team. We narrowly missed promotion so played in Group 6 again this year with high hopes”. The team was Maggie Hayward (Penzance), Dory Crellin (Truro), Cara Rowe (Truro) and Dinah Crellin (Captain - Newquay)
With 4 counties in each group, over 3 days each county plays the others in the group. The first round of matches consists of 2 singles and 1 doubles, the second round 2 doubles. The top county in the each group gains promotion.
On Day 2 they faced Cumbria. Dory and Cara won both singles matches comfortably. Dinah and Maggie then had an easy doubles win. They had won the match overall, but each rubber was crucial if they were to win the group. Dinah and Maggie lost their doubles match against the top Cumbrian pair, but Dory and Cara won the final rubber, the final score being 4 -1 in Cornwall’s favour.
The ladies faced South of Scotland on the Sunday. Amid much excitement and hard fought matches the Cornish ladies did enough to secure promotion from group 6 into group 5 for the 2008 event.
Dinah said “Our second Over 35s tournament was a thrill. Our team has found new confidence through lots of practice and I hope, next year, we will perform as well in Group 5 though we realise it will be tougher”.
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TRURO
