Tennis championships are a smash hit

Tennis Shropshire's annual County Championships has been hailed as "an amazing week" after more than 180 players from clubs across Shropshire entered the prestigious event.

That was the verdict of Mark Wilson, the chair of Tennis Shropshire, after Shrewsbury Lawn Tennis Club and Town Walls Tennis Club successfully staged the Championships for the second year in a row, with Ellesmere College also making its indoor courts available for matches owing to the wet weather towards the end of the week.

Players from under-eights through to over-65s played singles and doubles matches, with trophies presented to the winners at the end of a busy and enjoyable week which showcased all that is good about Shropshire tennis.

"It was an amazing week, and the quality of tennis is improving every year," said Wilson. "We had 181 entries, a very similar number to last year, which is good.

"We do well for entry numbers, especially compared to other counties of our size, but we always want more players to enter.

"We have the facilities and capabilities now with both host clubs supporting us to enable as many people who want to enter to make it as much as a social game as well as competitive.

"Shrewsbury Lawn Tennis Club and Town Walls Tennis Club again did an excellent job as hosts, and it was a very well run and well organised event.

"The weather tried to intervene towards the end, but we were very grateful to Ellesmere College for providing indoor facilities that allowed us to finish the event.

"I know of other counties that were really struggling with the weather. All of the County Championships are played at the same time, and any county that didn't have indoor facilities really struggled to complete events.

"I think everyone involved throughout the week enjoyed it. I watched so much amazing tennis and I am so proud of everyone who took part.

"The matches were not only high quality tennis, but they were played in such a great spirit with good sportsmanship everywhere to be seen."

Wilson says the support of spectators throughout the tournament added to "a friendly atmosphere at the venues" while he also highlighted the contribution of Amy Dannatt as referee.

"Amy did an an excellent job dealing with the rain interruptions and rescheduling matches," he added. "Thanks to everybody who took part who was very supportive and understanding of the changes that we had make to the schedule.

"They made the journey up to Ellesmere for matches when they had to because of the weather, so thank you to everyone who was so accommodating in helping the Championships to be staged successfully."

Fifteen-year-old Austin Edwards, who plays at Whitchurch's Hollies Tennis Club, was crowned men's singles champion, with Cheryl Evans, from Shrewsbury Lawn Tennis Club, the women's singles champion.