THE Channel Island’s ladies tennis team caused a racket at the LTA Summer County Cup, culminating in a stunning promotion from their group.
Competing in a doubles-based week-long competition on the grass courts of The Northern Lawn Tennis Club in Lancashire, they topped Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Bedfordshire in the standings to ensure they will play at a higher level in next year’s event.
Team member Sonia Smith said: “It was a fantastic event, we had a really great experience and everyone contributed to the team’s efforts.”
In the county cups, the CI tennis teams are fighting an uphill battle.
Population-wise, the Channel Islands combined contain around 175,000 people, far fewer than what the opposition counties have at their disposal.
The ladies began with a stern test against Bedfordshire.
The CI squad have limited opportunity to play on a grass surface, therefore to keep the score level at three apiece after the opening two rounds of matches, was a brilliant start.
Finding their feet, CI proved their metal, winning two of the three final matches, securing a 5-4 victory over Bedfordshire.
Next, came a stout Devon outfit, who showed that strength from the outset to lead 4-2.
Sadly, the first game to conclude in the last round of matches ended in defeat for the CI ladies, to put Devon out of reach. Despite this, the Jersey and Guernsey bunch remained steadfast in their remaining rubbers to claim final two matches, to ultimately fall 4-5.
Entering day three, it was all to play for as Oxfordshire came next.
Keeping in line with prior results, the clash proved hard-fought with a lone set separating the sides.
Natasha Forrest and Eva Hurst continued their impressive form, winning all three of their matches, while Antonia Sokic and Joanna Dyer won two of their three rubbers, to reach the magic five point mark for victory.
The final day saw the CI team come up against Shropshire, with the team aware success would mean promotion.
The first round of matches saw Forrest and Hurst continue their dominant form, needing just 48 minutes for victory.
However, Shropshire struck back to lead 2-1.
The CI ladies came back strong in the second round with Forrest/Hurst and Sokic/Dyer winning their respective games, levelling the score at 3-3.
With promotion on the line, the first of the three remaining matches to finish saw Emily Frost and Imogen Wegerer fall to a strong Shropshire pair in one hour and thirteen minutes.
The ever-reliable dynamic duo of Forrest/Hurst finished up shortly after, bringing the score all level.
The final match would be the decider and it proved to be a nail-biter.
Sokic/Dyer had already secured the first set 6-4 however, their opponents bounced back winning the second set 6-3.
The pressure was immense for the pair as their team watched on thinking a final championship tie-break would make or break the promotion dream.
In a devastating turn of events, Sokic/Dyer were felled 10-8 in the breaker, the marathon match finishing in just under two hours.
However, the heartbreak was not to last long for the CI squad as they were informed that based on the results of the other team’s matches, they had secured promotion.
Speaking of the success, Smith continued: “We’ve got a really strong team at the moment.
“Last year was the most successful year ever for ladies tennis on Jersey, we won the Inter-Insular competition against Guernsey, and then we topped the medal tables in the Island Games.
“Five of our eight competing players in this county cup were part of that Island Games team, we then had some of the best Guernsey players and some new blood to bolster the team.”
“I think, the last time we got promoted was when Heather Watson, who’s now a professional tennis player, was playing for us, so that shows you the level we have right now.”
However, the local tennis player also attributed their promotion to the positive team culture: “It’s not just individual performances, they are important of course, but we’re all good friends.
“Most of us train together, and even the Guernsey girls, we see them regularly in the Inter-Insulars and other events like this.
“So we are all very bonded, and I think that helps as a team.”
The team extended their heartfelt thanks to sponsors, Hiscox, Saso Strategic Advisers and Ingram Advocates, as without their continued support attending events like this would not be possible for a CI team.
CI Ladies: Natasha Forrest (Jersey), Eva Hurst (Jersey), Antonia Sokic (Jersey), Joanna Dyer (Guernsey), Sonia Smith (Jersey), Emily Frost (Jersey), Imogen Wegerer (Guernsey), Noel Hurst (Jersey)
