Somer Valley Tennis has enjoyed a winter of competitive mixed leagues for both our ‘regular’ players plus our more experienced ‘senior’ ones. Ably led by captains/co coordinators Luis Jauregui and Darren Thompson, both teams have achieved promotion.

Our mixed team finished first in division 2B with a total of 76 points and secured promotion to Division 1 for the 2023 Winter Season. Seven men (Patrick Lodge, Samuel Perryman, Will Knight, Tom Craig, Sam Harris, Andy Jeffery and Luis Jauregui) and eight ladies (Mandy Baldwin, Jane Bullus, Rosanne Cobb, Alexandra Hull, Julia Nest, Louise Derrick, Christine Hunt and Francesca Beg) participated in this team. Many thanks to everyone that made themselves available.

An amazing season filled with lots of great tennis has come to an end with the best possible outcome, a promotion to the toughest mixed division in Avon.

Looking forward to next season when we play in Division 1 again, but not before enjoying the upcoming good weather of the Summer League season.

Somer Valley mixed seniors travelled to Henleaze early on Sunday morning for a 10:00 start knowing that a 6-4 would guarantee them top spot in winter Div 3.

Christine Hunt and Rose Cobb put in a very commanding performance in the ladies, against a very competent and capable opposition. They won this in straight sets to get us off to the best possible start. 6-4, 6-2.

Darren Thompson and Chris Cox faced a tricky pair in the men’s rubber. Both played some good tennis and Chris’ powerful shots and net play overwhelmed the Henleaze men. They won 6-2, 6-1 in a straightforward rubber.

The mixed rubbers were a more challenging affair and the format seemed to suit the Henleaze team. Both rubbers involved a tie break.

Christine and Darren paired up and laboured to a 7-6 win in the first set tiebreaker. Then Christine took control, and with some energetic runs to get lost causes and retrieve some difficult balls as well as making some brilliant cross court winners. This was the catalyst for some much better play and a simpler 6-1 win in the second set.

Rose and Chris took on the Henleaze “A” pairing who presented a significant challenge. Both Rose and Chris (pairing up for only the second time) played some great shots and on several occasions turned defensive shots in to winners brilliantly.

Possibly the best example this was Rose reaching to play a ball that had actually passed her, only to get it back and produce a straight winner. Rose and Chris took the rubber 6-1,7-6, ending on a tiebreaker.

So we managed to exceed the 6 points needed to secure first place and win the division with a 10-nil away victory (and a game in hand).

A massive thank you to the many players who have played in matches and represented the club with some great tennis and sporting attitude. Also a sincere thank you to those behind the scenes at SVT who organise everything so we can participate in the league. From fixture scheduling, booking court time to providing balls and match cards.

On Sunday 25th March, the top two teams in division 2B faced off for their final match of the 2022/23 Avon winter league. After 9 fixtures, Somer Valley Tennis were ahead of far rivals Thornbury by 6 points, 4 points required for promotion back to division 1.

On a rainy Sunday morning, under the roof of Dragonfly Leisure, Will Knight, Mandy Baldwin, Francesca Beg and Sam Perryman (order in the picture), represented SVT with the aim of getting back to division 1. 

Despite a slow start with many uncharacteristic errors, Sam and Will took the men’s doubles rubber in straight sets, clinching vital points. The formidable pair of Mandy and Ces too had a slow start, trailing 2-5 in the opening set. Once the gears started to click in, they took the next 5 games, winning the first set 7-5.

This momentum carried on in the second, with the duo winning in straight sets. Knowing now we had secured our passage back to division 1,  we wanted to finish off the tie in style. 

The mixed pairing of Mandy and Will breezed past Thornbury’s second pair. Sam and Ces were taken to a third set championship tiebreak, however key gets from Sam and excellent winners from aces secured the victory.