County tennis titles back up for grabs (From Tewkesbury Admag)

County tennis titles back up for grabs

TENNIS players in Gloucestershire will have an opportunity to compete for County Championship titles for the first time in three years.

The event faded in popularity and was abandoned after the 2005 event when the singles titles were won by Alistair Morgan and Marie Bell of the East Glos Club in Cheltenham.

Now, tournament co-ordinator, Pete Collins, is determined to revive it.

"We must be one of the few counties in Britain not to have a county championship, which is poor," he said.

Players will be able to organise their early round matches beginning in May, with the finals indoors at the new Esporta Club at Gloucester Business Park.

There will be singles and doubles for men and women, plus singles and doubles for veterans - over-45 for men and over-40 for women.

“We’re hoping it really takes off and that players support it in big numbers,”

Pete Collins

Players will be allowed to compete in only two events to prevent congestion on finals days - September 21 and 22.

And, unlike some counties, Gloucestershire will allow juniors to compete against the adults.

"We've got a great crop of youngsters coming through and it will give them a chance to pit themselves against the best players in the county," Collins added.

Clubs and coaches will receive entry forms later this month.

"We're hoping it really takes off and that players support it in big numbers," said Collins. "We want to make the finals weekend a major event in the county's calendar."

The county is also pressing for a new innovation, that county champions thoughout the country compete for a national title.