CI veterans perform well on famous stage

THE Channel Islands earned a respectable second place in their group at the Women's Over-35s Inter-County Championships. Organised by Vets Tennis GB, the competition is held on the beautifully manicured grass courts at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, home to the pre-Wimbledon tournament that attracts the world's best women players every June.

The Channel Islands teams have been privileged to compete there each year since the championship's inauguration in 1993 along with the other counties from all over Great Britain.

This year, Guernsey's Claire Randell captained the team and was joined by Sarnian newcomer Denny Griffiths and Jersey's Anne Ledwidge and Shelagh Herbert.

On the opening day, they played the Isle of Man team, who surprisingly had slightly higher singles ratings.

First on court was Griffiths against their number two singles player.

Griffiths got off to a great start and won the first set 6-0.

However, her very experienced opponent adjusted to the grass court bounce and got better the longer the match continued, winning the second set 7-5.

Griffiths battled determinedly in the championship tie-break and was unlucky to lose 10-8.

Next on court, Randell had to play the Mancunian number one and was able to enjoy winning in straight sets with attacking serve-and-volley play.

Ledwidge and Herbert lost their first doubles 2-6, 2-6. The IOM's left-handed pair were a tricky test for the Jersey girls' first match, but there were signs of promise which were realised in their second match.

They won with fine serve-and-volley tactics to take the sets 6-4, 6-4, so the day was level two rubbers all at that stage.

The Guernsey pair battled hard in the final match, winning the first set 6-3, then narrowly losing the second 6-4.

Randell and Griffiths continued to attack the net and, in an exciting championship tie-break, overcame the left-handers 10-8 to take the day for the Channel Islands.

On the Sunday, the CI played a strong team from Cambridgeshire, who again had higher singles ratings.

Their young captain used very strong ground strokes to overcome Griffiths.

Despite trying various tactics including effective backhand slice-and-net play, she lost 6-4, 6-1.

Randell played a good match against the Cambridgeshire number one with some attacking serve-and-volley tactics to emerge as the winner after an exciting second-set tie-break, 6-2, 7-6.

In the doubles, Ledwidge and Herbert played an experienced pair with a very unorthodox style .

They tried hard but were unlucky against the powerfully deceptive ground strokes and lost 6-1, 6-3.

The two remaining rubbers went on court at the same moment and again the experience, power and cross-court angled winners of the opponents saw the Channel Islanders get close but not be able to overcome the opposition.

Cambridge won the match by four rubbers to one.

The result meant that the CI came second in group six this year.