This month we should all be celebrating the fact that we won 5 County titles at the recent Warwickshire Championships including our first Senior title for many years. I have constantly said to Chris Mulligan that being a coach improves your game and since he is now Warwickshire Men’s Doubles Champion, along with team-mate Deepak Chandrababu, he might start to believe me! I would also like to put on record what a difference Deepak has made to our club. Since signing for us last season he has brought a belief to our first team squad which is currently riding high in the First division.
In Olivia Fletcher, County Girls under 15 and 13 Champion, Timmy Cooper, County Boys under 13 Champion, Andrew McIlvaney, County Boys under 11 Champion and under 13 runner-up and Tom Fletcher County Boys under 11 runner-up we have the stars of the future. The challenge to the club is that we enable them to progress to remain Champions at the higher age-groups.
I believe the club will meet that challenge. We have a team of coaches who constantly impress me with their dedication, enthusiasm and skill and they are very capable of raising the standards in club to even greater heights.
When I learnt of our success at County level I e-mailed every club member to share the news. It is you, the members, who are providing the ideal environment for our players to succeed. Each of you contribute to the friendly, competitive atmosphere that we all enjoy and which fosters the development of “superstars”. I have named, quite rightly, our County Champions but there are MANY others whom the coaches believe will be future champions and First division players.
We should also celebrate the fact that as a club we have entered 3 teams in the National Cadet League at Wellingborough and a team in the National Junior League at Wood Green. It is a constant spur to both myself and the other coaches that our players equip themselves so well at this high level. Our Cadet A team finished 3rd in the second division of 3 last time, despite losing their number 1 to the County Championships. Congratulations to Theo Rutter, Tom Meldrum and Ben King. Our B and C teams, who are there for experience, also distinguished themselves and we were so proud of Callum Guest, Matthew Scott, Tom Sharpe, Ben Simpson, Charlie Snelson, Jay Virdi and Luke Watkins.
Our Junior side of Solomon Hayes, Roald Myers and Ben Haigh also adapted well to this high level and won two, drew two and lost only one of their matches. Roald enjoyed a 100% record.
The 2-a-side League competition finishes later this month and we are on course for further trophies. Our I team of Keith Knott and Tony Williams hope to take second spot in the A division. The J side of Timmy Cooper, Jack Leggatt and David Marguerie seem to have Division B sewn up but it is anyone’s guess who will finish second with the L team of Simon Cooper, James Payne and Kris Reiman neck and neck with the K side of Matthew Flood, Anita Whitehouse and Estyn Williams.
Similarly, in Division D the N team ( Andrew McIlvaney, Harry Purewal and Tom Sharpe) are level with the O team ( Callum Guest and Sam Wiggins) in second spot.
Our Q side of James Foster, Matthew Scott and Jay Virdi look as if the E division title is theirs with our R side of Lee Dorning, Joe Hunt and Jeremy Knott their closest challengers.
I must also mention our young League debutants in this division. Ben Farmer, James Robertson, Daniel Shaw, Kit Turner and Sundeep Virdi have made us very proud as they have demonstrated what great potential they have.
What a great few months. I can’t wait for the New Year!
Happy Christmas,
Phil
