With the end of the Avon Summer League season, Writhlington's adult teams have ended the season on a high, with both ladies teams being promoted and the men's first team being promoted for the fifth year in a row and will play in Division Four next summer, out of ten men's divisions.

The remaining four men's teams have all played very well and will remain in their current leagues, a testament to the players who have fought hard over the last ten weeks against the elements, the opposition and injury!

The fifth team, new for this season and led by Dean Taylor from Timsbury, not only played their league matches, but set up friendlies as well to keep the momentum going.

Highlights of the season are Fastest Shot – Adam Toulson at Rodway Hill, said the opposition, "I'm glad I ducked!" Longest Match – the thirds (six hours at Cleeve Hill), finishing at 12.30 a.m. Comeback of the Year – Jon Doel and Chris Cox, for winning an essential set from 5–2 down to secure a win for the fourths at Lansdown. Win of the Season – the firsts at Bishop Sutton (all three setters!), being played over two weeks, due to inclement conditions. Player of the Year – Matt Hobbs, from Farrington Gurney, who even though he suffered a back injury halfway through the season, managed to have an 89% record, winning sixteen out of his eighteen matches, with nearly all his matches played for the first team.

Special thanks must go to Steve Bosworth from Frome, who has been an outstanding player, supporter and advisor to all our teams since joining the club in November 2009. A tennis coach himself, Steve has given advice both on and off the court, even with a knee injury that saw him unable to play for nearly ten months, his encouragement and support of the other players has been second to none. With retirement looming, Steve and his wife, Judith, are moving to Spain – we hope a new Writhlington/Spanish link can be forged.

The first ladies team finished their season with an outstanding number of points and winning their league with 84 points out of a possible 100.

In an exciting local derby match between Writhlington Ladies Seconds and Camvale, this was going to be a division decider. As usual, it was played in an excellent spirit at Camvale Tennis Club in Paulton. With some tight three setters, the Camvale Ladies sneaked a win 6–4, but this was not enough to prevent Writhlington Ladies from winning the division and thus achieve promotion.

On Sunday afternoon, 22nd July, whilst the sun eventually shone outside, forty young players came to Writhlington Tennis Centre to compete in a Mini Red and a Mini-Orange tournament.

Players from Bristol, Shepton Mallet, Frome and Bath all took part in the Mini Orange tournament alongside regular players from the Writhlington programme. All matches were played in an excellent manner, no tears, no tantrums and lots of confident and competitive tennis. The semi-finals were between Samuel Smith and Hugh Hudson and Joel Blissett against William Padfield. After some excellent matches, the final was then contested by Hugh Hudson and Joel Blissett.

A three-set tiebreak match ensued with some magnificent shot making, cross court lobs, slices, drop shots, an unbelievable standard achieved by two very complete and composed young boys, both aged nine years. In the third set tiebreak, Hugh was 6–2 up and only had to win one more point to win the match, but Joel kept coming back and the final score was 7–4, with Hugh finally winning.

Then came the turn of the Mini-Reds, all these children were aged 5–8 years, some in their first tournament, some not, with magnificent support from the parents and grandparents, these children played for two hours and there were some excellent matches from five and six-year-olds, Freddy Hiscock, Alex Tagent, Ethan Carey, William Mayne, Lucia McNally and Alex Blissett.

The final was contested between eight-year-old Thea Sprawson and six-year-old Alex Blissett, brother of Joel, another excellent final was contested with Alex edging out Thea 10–5.

Amanda Stonier