2022 – Senior Men’s Tennis Report

A newly formed Wiltshire Men’s team met up in Eastbourne for the 2022 LTA Over 35’s County Cup in mid-August. The weather conditions were clear skies and challenging heat and the team were all excited for the battles ahead with Staffordshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. First up on the hottest day was Staffordshire who proved to be the strongest team in the division going through without losing a match. Adam Gentry and Martyn Ledbury played well in the singles matches, losing to very strong and highly ranked opponents. Jason Stevens and Sam Hull put up a good fight in their two consecutive doubles matches, the highlight being a 6-7, 5-7 loss to the opposing number 1 pair.

Day 2 saw the team come up against Cumbria who had a mix of relative youth and vast experience. A very close 3 set singles loss for Martyn inspired some great doubles which got the team back into the tie but at 2 match wins each unfortunately the final doubles was lost for a very close 3-2 defeat overall.

The final day saw Kent and Surrey battling it out for the overall title whilst Wiltshire faced the Isle of Mann. In a similar story to the previous day the singles were close but both matches ended in defeat. Once again, the team rallied to win two doubles matches but the final match ended in defeat and another very close 3-2 loss. Despite finishing 4th in the group, a few points going the other way could have landed a 2nd place finish – but that is tennis!

All the team reflected positively on their experience and are very keen to push the team forward. Any new players would be welcomed to the squad for training and preparations for 2023.

For more details, please contact the Wiltshire Mens Over 35’s Captain Sam Hull.
email: [email protected] or Tel: 07879 447249.

Last year (2021) we were still in the grips of the Coronavirus pandemic but, as vaccinations enabled Government restrictions on travelling, overnight stays & hospitality to be eased gradually, the 2021 Seniors County Cup was able to proceed on a more-localised regional basis but as friendly matches in leagues without the usual annual promotion and relegation.

This year (2022) we were able to return to the previous well-tried competitive leagues system, picking up where we left off in 2019. Many of our players had moved on into a higher age group and we had high hopes for our M65 team (who won all 5 matches in 2021) and our new M75 team. 2021 had been a particularly successful year as our 4 teams had won 11 out of 15 matches. Sadly, 2022 proved to be less successful as team selections were badly affected by injuries and non-availability. 5 teams were entered in 2022 with team captains Hans Monahan (M55), Gavin Gibson (M60) & James Sinclair (M65) continuing in post and Mike Powell acting as non-playing captain of M70 & the new M75 team.

Under captain Hans Monahan played in Division 2B from which Beds & Sussex had both withdrawn. Hans was injured and unable to play against both Cambs & Lincs. Cambs were too strong for Richard Farr, Julian Mitchell, David Langton & Chris Allen, winning 5-0 rubbers, 10-1sets, 57-21 games, but we fared better against Lincs with Livio Pavone replacing Mitchell at No.2 singles. Three rubbers went to the third set Championship Tie Break, Wilts winning only one (Farr & Pavone), Pavone losing his singles & Langton/Allen their doubles. Lincs won 4-1, 9-4, 59-33. Wilts M55 finished third in the group.

Under captain Gavin Gibson played in Division 3A from which Cornwall & eventually Derby withdrew, leaving 5 teams. Wilts (Julian Mitchell, Gavin Gibson, Nick Hewens & John Page) soundly defeated Cumbria 5-0, 10-0, 62-30 and with Stephen Archer & Craig Wensley replacing Hewens & Page travelled to Newcastle to beat Northumberland 4-1. A narrow loss to Somerset by2-3, 5-7, 40-50 with wins by Gibson at singles and Hewens/Wensley at doubles was followed by defeat by the strong South Wales side 1-4, 2-8, 22-52 with Gibson/Page successful at doubles but Mitchell & Paul Williams unsuccessful . Wilts M60 finished third out of 5 teams.

Under captain James Sinclair played in Division 2A with high hopes of achieving promotion into the top division but these were dashed when both Paul Denyer (no1) & Andy Smith (no2 singles) were kept out by injury. Sinclair moved up to singles, supported by Glynn Stevens & Livio Pavone, all unsuccessfully. Several doubles pairngs were tried, Kim Stuckey/Robert Townsend, Glynn Stevens/Colin Thomas, Stevens/Glen d’Mello – GS/CT winning one rubber v Sussex. Results: Glos, Berks & Bucks lost 0-5, Sussex 1-4. Wilts M65 finished fifth out of 5 teams.

Weakened by Glynn Stevens & James Sinclair having to play for M65, this team had to call upon M75s playing down (Edward Lea, John Saunsbury, Matt Holland & Colin Gratton) to support Ian Wallace, Glen d’Mello & Robert Townsend. In spite of a promising start v Glos 1-3,4-7, 32-45 with 3×3-set matches, both Somerset & Berks 0-4 proved too strong and Wilts finished 4th of 4 in Division 3A.

Again high hopes in Division 2A and a starting win 3-1, 6-2, 43-26 v Devon with Matt Holland /Colin Gratton winning 2 & Peter Cooper/Edward Lea winning 1. However injuries to Gratton & Mike Gourlay and unavailability of others meant we had to field ineligible players v both Sussex & Dorset, removing any chance of promotion. Devon whom we beat ran Sussex very close for the top spot.

Overall a disappointing season with only 3 wins out of 16 matches.

Mike Powell Wiltshire LTA Seniors Mens Tennis Organiser
Email: [email protected]