Notts Ladies O55 Team Report
This year it was good to see some new counties in our division & our campaign began very well in June with an excellent 5-0 win against Shropshire at home.
Very well done to Karen Monk & Sue Alexander who battled it out well to win their respective singles matches 6-2, 6-2 & 6-0, 6-2. They then joined forces to win their doubles in a very tightly contested three setter 4-6, 6-4, 10-5. Penny Hiron & Paula Parkinson played the other two doubles matches winning both convincingly 6-3, 6-0 & 6-3, 6-1. All matches were played in good spirit & it was lovely to sit out on the balcony at West Bridgford to enjoy the post-match refreshments. Well done to all who played & an excellent start to the season.
Our winning streak was short lived though as our next opponents were a strong side from Yorkshire. Although we battled hard & had them worried after the first round, they eventually defeated us 4-1 but the match was a lot closer than the final score suggests. This time Penny Hiron & Sue Alexander played the singles matches. Penny won 6-0, 6-2 & Sue lost 4-6, 1-6. Unfortunately, they then lost their doubles 2-6, 2-6. The doubles pairing for this match saw a new recruit representing Nottinghamshire for the first time in Carolyn Park, alongside Paula Parkinson. Some great tennis was played but they eventually lost their doubles 3-6, 2-6 & 1-6. 0-6. To date we are the only team to have taken a rubber off Yorkshire so we will cling on to that success!
Third up, away at Streetly Tennis Club, was Warwickshire, against whom we have traditionally done well, but this year they fielded a very strong side & we lost 1-4 despite our much-expended effort & literally pints of sweat lost. Penny Hiron & Sue Alexander again gave a valiant effort in the singles but unfortunately lost 4-6, 4-6 & 4-6, 3-6. They then regrouped & had a great victory in a marathon doubles’ match 7-5, 4-6, 10-1 to give us our only rubber. Carolyn Park & Paula Parkinson battled hard but eventually lost both their doubles 3-6, 1-6 & 4-6, 1-6.
The final match of the season was away to Oxfordshire in Abingdon & our last chance to secure a second win. The team for this match was was supposed to be Penny Hiron & Sue Alexander yet again in the singles for us & Fiona Sanger with Paula Parkinson as the doubles pairing. Expectations were high as this was a new opponent. However, we were almost derailed before we started with Penny coming down with Covid. We were extremely grateful to Helen Adcott for stepping in at the last minute to play doubles & for Fiona Sanger agreeing to take on the second singles role. Sue moved to singles one & battled really hard but lost 3-6, 3-6. Fiona did really well & got a great win 6-2, 6-4. Maybe she should play singles more often! Paula & Helen had a very close doubles lasting over two hours but held their nerve & eventually won 7-5, 2-6, 10-6. This meant we were 2-1 up after the first rubber & our campaign was still alive. Sue & Fiona managed to win their doubles 7-5, 6-1 & Paula & Helen also won their second doubles 6-3, 6-4. Victory was ours & what a great way to end the season.
The final count for the season was two wins & two losses, our best outcome yet, putting us in a very secure third position in the table, The season overall was immensely enjoyable with a good team spirit & fair play all round. A great many thanks to all the players who gave up their time this season to represent the county & gave of their best. The standard of tennis was high &, although it is always disappointing to lose a couple of matches, it is never as bad if you feel you have played well & lost to a better team. Special thanks must go to the players who played in all of the matches, Sue & Paula, (Penny too if not struck down by illness), thank you very much, a great effort. I am also very grateful to everyone who has supported us this year, either playing or supporting, & thank you too to West Bridgford Tennis Club for hosting our home matches & providing some very good refreshments afterwards. Julia & her team are always very helpful & friendly which makes the job of captain so much easier.
Next season will see many of the squad moving on an age group but I would like to take this opportunity to wish the O55 team of next season the very best of luck.
Paula Parkinson (c)
