It can be a tough time of year to play singles matches – with dark evenings and cold, rainy days.

So well done to all those people who have braved the courts in the Avenue singles box league over the last couple of months.

Leading the league still is summer singles champions James Rosenthal, who has beaten off two challenges to date.

But well done to Adam Tolmie, Natalie Denby, James Leonard, Lee Keeping, Paul Whittenham and George Knight who have all played five matches or more so far. Welcome aboard too to newcomer Andrew Sabin.

In recognition of how difficult it has been to play matches in December and January, we will extend the latest window until the end of February before rejigging the league.

Players will also now be able to challenge people up to ten places above them (rather than six) to enable extra flexibility for everyone.

As before, players who challenge higher ranked players and win will move immediately above them in the rankings. If they lose, then both players simply stay where they are.

Players may play as often or as little as possible depending on their circumstances, hopefully offering more flexibility to everyone.

Players who are challenged should make every effort to accept the challenge as early as they can, unless hampered by injury, work or other commitments (two weeks would be a reasonable time).

Players who don’t play at least once during a two or three-month window will be demoted down the ladder below those that have played to encourage and reward participation.

New players can join the ladder at any time. They will be slotted in at an appropriate step of the ladder.

Below is a list of the latest matches played plus an updated ladder (those in bold have played matches in the latest window so far).

League Ladder (9.2.23)

1. James Rosenthal – Played 2 Won 2 Lost 0
2. James Leonard – Played 5 Won 3 Lost 2
3. James Hotson – Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
4. Rowan Smithson – Played 1 Won 0 Lost 1
5. Tom Dow – Played 1 Won 0 Lost 1
6. Kris Dymond – Played 1 Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 0
7. Martyn Lawrenson – Played 3 Won 1 Drew 1 Lost 1
8. Andrew Palmer – Played 2 Won 2 Lost 0
9. Lee Keeping – Played 5 Won 5 Lost 0
10. Paul Whittenham – Played 5 Won 2 Lost 3
11. Adam Tolmie – Played 8 Won 4 Lost 4
12. Natalie Denby – Played 6 Won 3 Lost 3
13. Bailey Rowsell – Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
14. Katie Rowley – Played 2 Won 2 Lost 0
15. Phil Tusler – Played 4 Won 1 Lost 3
16. David Spink – Played 2 Won 0 Lost 2
17. Graham Cotterill – Played 3 Won 2 Lost 1
18. Anna Newman – Played 1 Won 0 Lost 1
19. George Knight – Played 5 Won 3 Lost 2
20. Matt Hotchkiss – Played 2 Won 0 Lost 2
21. Ant Spencer – Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
22. Robert Haines – Played 2 Won 0 Lost 2
23. Harry Harrison – Played 1 Won 1 Lost 0
24. Viola Masona – Played 1 Won 0 Lost 1
25. Will Denby – Played 3 Won 2 Lost 1
26. Russ Howarth – Played 2 Won 2 Lost 0
27. Stuart Davis – Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
28. Nicolette Lock – Played 1 Won 0 Lost 1
29. Netty Hart – Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
30. Kevin Matchan – Played 2 Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 1
31. Steve Joy – Played 2 Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 1
32. Andrew Sabin – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
33. Jordan Goff – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
34. Matt Boucher – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
35. Mike Robinson – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
36. Louis Smith – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
37. Olaf Gueldner (inj) – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
38. Dominic Creasy – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
39. Sam Coles – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
40. Andy Rowley – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
41. Dennis Greenwood – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
42. Joe Simpson – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
43. Jack Tunnicliffe – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
44. Nick Tunnicliffe – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
45. James Burgess – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
46. Tony Bream – Played 1 Won 0 Lost 1
47. Chris Miles – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
48. Neil Joughin – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0
49. Zoe Larkin – Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0

Latest results

9.2.23 Lee Keeping bt Adam Tolmie 6-2 6-0
4.2.23 Lee Keeping bt George Knight 6-1 6-3
3.2.23 Russ Howarth bt Netty Hart 6-0 6-0
2.2.23 Lee Keeping bt Paul Whittenham 7-5 6-2
1.2.23 Adam Tolmie bt Matt Hotchkiss 6-4 6-4
30.1.23 Paul Whittenham bt Natalie Denby 6-4 6-4
29.1.23 Paul Whittenham bt Adam Tolmie 6-1 2-6 6-4
27.1.23 James Leonard bt James 6-4 7-6
26.1.23 Will Denby bt Netty Hart 6-4 6-2
21.1.23 Ant Spencer bt Robert Haines 6-3 6-4
20.1.23 James Rosenthal bt James Leonard 6-2 6-2
19.1.23 Will Denby bt Tony Bream 6-2 6-2
18.1.23 Andrew Palmer bt Natalie Denby 6-2 6-4
18.1.23 Russ Howarth bt Steve Joy 6-3 5-0
17.1.23 Katie Rowley bt Graham Cotterill 6-4 6-1
18.12.12 Martyn Lawrenson bt Adam Tolmie 6-1 6-1
12.12.22 Adam Tolmie bt Natalie Denby 5-7 6-3 10-7
2.12.22 Katie Rowley bt Phil Tusler 6-3 6-1