Please find details below of the Club tennis matches played and recorded since last Thursday: –

Portsmouth & District Winter League

Ladies Division 1 – Avenue 1 winning draw v Lee 1 (2-2) – Viola Masona, Debbie Berry, Jenny Smith, Gill Clarke

Mixed Division 2 – Avenue 2 beat Warsash 2 (4-0) – Vicki White, Lloyd Sampson, Helen Watson, Joe Hopkins (see team photo)

Match report – Avenue Mixed 2 Clinch Back-to-Back Winter League Titles

Avenue Mixed 2 made the short trip to Warsash knowing that a win would secure the league title and, for good measure, confirm them as back to back Winter League champions. No pressure, then.

The match was played on Warsash’s painted tarmac, a surface that always keeps you honest and occasionally questions your footwear choices. The weather started out politely enough, but as is tradition on important match days, the clouds gathered just as things were getting interesting. First up, Lloyd Sampson and Vicki White set about their task with impressive efficiency. Facing the Warsash second pair, they established control early and never really let go, moving through their match with minimal fuss. It was calm, clinical, and exactly what was required. On the other court, however, Joey Hopkins and Helen Watson were in for a sterner examination against a strong Warsash first pair. This was a proper contest: long rallies, tight games, and plenty of moments where everyone suddenly found the lines at once. Joey and Helen kept their composure when it mattered most, edging it 6-4, 7-5 in a match that required both concentration and stamina. With Avenue leading 2–0 at the halfway stage, the title was within touching distance, though the rain, arriving fashionably late, tried to add a little drama. The second rubbers proved more straightforward. Lloyd and Vicki continued their assured form, while Joey and Helen carried their momentum forward. Between them, the two pairs dropped only a handful of games, wrapping up a comprehensive 4–0 victory. And with that, Avenue Mixed 2 were confirmed as Winter League Champions, again. Back to back titles are never accidental; they’re built on consistency, teamwork, and a squad that turns up every week ready to do the job. Huge congratulations to the entire Mixed 2 squad for a fantastic winter season. Celebrations will continue at the end of season party on the weekend of the 14th March, and after a campaign like this, it promises to be a lively one. Andy Gilliatt (Team Captain)

Mixed Division 3 – Avenue 3 beat Wickham (4-0) – Becky Howarth, David Parvinmehr, Ruth Percival, Adam Tolmie

Match report

The weather didn’t look very promising for Sunday’s away match to Wickham but new pairings of Ruth Berry & Adam Tolmie, and, David Parvinmehr & Becky Howarth set off anyway not holding out much hope that they’d actually get playing.  However tennis players are made of stern stuff and despite the wind and driving rain, not to mention the hundreds, literally hundreds of live and dead worms all over the courts, both pairs won their first rubbers in straight sets.  The rain finally abated during the second rubbers which were again won in straights by our team.  A warming match tea of homemade vegetable soup, cheeses and fairy cakes followed and where all our clothes were damp from the earlier precipitation, enough steam and condensation was created in Wickham’s team hut to set off their smoke alarm 🔔 🤣😂🤣. All in all a winning, fun and successful day was had by our team. Becky Howarth

In addition to Becky’s excellent match report, a massive thank you to my team for travelling to Wickham in adverse weather conditions and bringing home 3 points to maintain out title challenge. I would also like to individually thank Becky for captaining the team, David for providing the transport, Ruth for stepping in at short notice to make her debut and to Adam for offering to play a couple of hours before the match started to allow Ian Marks to stand down in preparation for a Mens Masters match the following day who himself made the commitment to standby and play if we were unable to field a complete team on the day. Commitment of the highest order by a fantastic group of people which is very much appreciated by me as team captain. Paul Whittenham

Mixed Division 4 – Avenue 4 lost to Rowlands Castle (1-3) – Megan Gibbs, Stuart Newman, Delyth Jones, Jamie Newman

Match report

Avenue 4 took on pacesetters Rowlands Castle in their penultimate match and came unstuck against a first pair capable of playing a couple of levels higher. Nevertheless there were positives to take away. Megan and Stu took their rubber against Rowlands second pair comfortably and Jamie got a taste of competitive action in his first match for the club. He and Delyth put up a brave fight in the battle of the seconds, eventually going down 6-4, 6-4. One match remains for us to bump up our points tally to a level more in keeping with the quality of some of our performances. Adrian Drummond

Mens Masters Division 1 – Avenue 1 beat Ryde Mead (3-1) – Ian Marks, Colin Airton, Phil Broad, Peter Campbell

Mens Masters Division 2 – Avenue 2 winning draw v Rowlands Castle (1-1) – Rob Mort, Nick Castle, Adrian Drummond, Graham Cotterill

Mens Masters Division 2 – Avenue 2 beat Ryde Lawn (3-1) – Rob Mort, Mark Fullstone, Adrian Drummond, Graham Cotterill

Mixed Masters Division 1 – Avenue 1 lost to David Lloyd West End (0-4) – Helen Weekes, Ian Marks, Gill Clarke, Martin Mallick

East Hants Winter League

Mens Division 4 – Avenue B beat Newman Collard B (5-3) – Stuart Newman, Steven Jones, Ant Spencer, Ian Hedges

Match report

Another win for Avenue B at Newman Collard last night winning 5-3 in sets. We arrived back from a Ropley style d?j? vu experience having not left Newman Collard until ten past ten. Long night of hard court tennis with rallies going on forever and a strange environment with the odd passer by chatting away to us and the local brownies saying bye to each other in the dark about a hundred times. Slightly easier to find the venue which was a bonus and after grafting for 3 and a 1/2 hours we managed to win 5-3. Great effort from everybody, well played lads. I now need to go for a long lie down. Up the Avenue. Stu Newman

Ladies Division 2 – Avenue drew with Denmead (4-4) – Denise Simper, Katherine Arnold, Caron Howe, Dawn Wears

Match report

Match yesterday v Denmead yet again a tough match especially as one their players is a semi-professional!! Unfortunately during Caron and Dawn`s first match Caron sustained damage to her back but soldered on getting a 2 set win but then had to retire.  Denise and Katherine faced the professional in their 1st match, did their best but lost 2 sets but then won their next 2 sets.   Score ended in a draw 4 sets all.  Thank you all especially Caron for your brave effort and I do hope your back is OK. All your efforts are greatly appreciated. Jenny Ward

Ladies Masters Division 2 – Avenue lost to Fishbourne (1-3) – Denise Simper, Alison Clarke, Linda Wainwright, Heulwen Newman

Match report

Our match on Tuesday in the masters league was against Fishbourne, a tough match lasting nearly 4 hours. Alison and Denise fought very hard eventually conceding the championship tie break 13-11. Linda W and Heulwen played extremely well having many dodgy line calls against them difficult for me watching and not being able to say anything.  Final score 3 rubbers to 1. Jenny Ward

Portsmouth News Article

Last Saturday’s report can be found at the following link: Portsmouth & District LTA

Paul Whittenham

L-R Joe Hopkins, Vicki White, Lloyd Sampson & Helen Watson