The Sidmouth Tennis Club Ladies B team, captained by Marlene Maynard, put down their rackets and popped the Prosecco instead to celebrate their promotion to Division 1 of the Exeter and District League next Summer, where they will join their team-mates, Ladies A.

Indeed, the squad of Marilyn Garfitt, Vivienne Bess, Debbie Snelgrove, Rebecca Pritchard, Norma Dix and Vici Topping had every reason to celebrate, as this is the first time in the club’s long history, that Sidmouth can boast two Ladies’ teams in the top division of the summer league, although it was briefly achieved a couple of seasons ago in the winter league.

The achievement is testament to the ethos of the whole club, where coaching is a regular feature for both team members, and for those simply wanting to improve along with a supportive committee who encourage team participation where possible and where desired.

The fact that there are now four ladies’ teams; three men’s teams and two mixed teams also means that there are competitive opportunities for all levels of ability and the opportunity to play up through the divisions.

Two members of the Ladies B team, Marlene Maynard and Vici Topping, began to play competitively for the squad when they were in Division 6, so, within just 10 years, to find themselves in Division 1 shows what is possible and what can be done!

In other team news, Ladies’ A came a respectable third in Division 1 with Ladies’ C and D avoiding relegation in 6th and 5th place respectively in Divisions 4 and 5. Unfortunately, Men’s A and C will be relegated to Division 3 and 8 respectively next summer but hats off to Men’s B, who achieved a very sound 4th position in Division 5.

Congratulations too to Mixed A, who maintained their position in the very competitive Division 2 of the East Devon League achieving 4th place but commiserations to Mixed B, who will be playing in the lower 4th division next year.

So, all in all a really successful, and also historic, summer sizzler of a season at the tennis club. Here’s to an equally successful, somewhat chillier, winter campaign for all those involved in competitions.