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County week 2010- Div 1, Eastbourne

In 2007 Kent were division 1 champions for the third time in five years, but in 2008 it was a different story when the defending champions were relegated from the top flight down to the division 2 in Cromer.

Souls were searched and after a strong winter campaign the realism of playing in group 2 was here, and we were in Cromer, not Eastbourne, and we didn’t like that! With some new blood and some rejuvenated old blood we stormed group 2 in Both the Summer and Winter, putting the Kent men back in the top flight in both competitions surely answering the critics, but would they be strong enough to stay in group 1 or dare they even dream of an inspired return victory?

The 2010 Kent Men’s squad(in alphabetical order)
1. Andy ‘Captain Burgs’ Burgoyne
2. Colin ‘Beech Boy’ Beecher
3. Lewis ‘Luigi’ Burton
4. Nick ‘Cave Man’ Cavaday
5. Alastair ‘Filmstar’ Filmer
6. James ‘Chippy’Langford
7. Jim ‘Gandalph’ May
8. Robert ‘The Pearl’ Searle
9. Sean ‘Thornbird’ Thornley

Day 1 Kent vs Warwickshire
A mixture of emotions in the Kent camp would have us with Captain Burgs and Nick Cavaday carrying injuries and no Oliver Evans who was a big part of the 2009 campaign, but with a welcome return for 40 year old Colin Beecher who had last played in 2002 and the inclusion of the Wimbledon Boys Doubles runner up Lewis Burton, Kent did have a strong side. We lined up with May and Thornley, Beecher and Burton and Burgoyne and Searle. After our new routine of a dancing warm up with ‘Luigi’ demonstrating his Jo Wilfred Songa moves we were ready for action. Warwickshire, last year’s runners up, boasted Davis Cup player Dan Evans in their line up and looked like tough opposition for day 1.

Round 1 was tight with two three setters, one going each way, but a big debut win Lewis ‘Luigi’ Burton with his veteran partner, 2-1 Kent. Round 2 went Warwickshire’s way with May and Thornley winning Kent’s only rubber of the round and it was poised at 3-3 for the final round. Cometh the hour, cometh the men of Kent, Burgoyne and Searle having lost their first two matches took their first win against Warwickshire’s third pair in just over 40 minutes 4-3 Kent. ‘Luigi’ Burton and ‘Beech boy’ Beecher made it 5-3 with an impressive performance. Lastly  Jim and Sean took their third win of the day. A whisper was heard around Devonshire Park ‘Kent are back!’ Kent 6-Warwickshire 3

Day 2 Kent vs North of Scotland
728 days, 8 hours and 22 minutes previously the region of Scotland that pretends to be a County had sent us down to division 2, but who’s counting! Featuring former Wimbledon Mixed doubles champion Jamie Murray, the Scots remembered our previous encounter well and looked confident going in to the tie, but, as many have done before, they under estimated the heart and resilience of the Kent Men. Today’s line up saw Rob ‘The Pearl’ team up with ‘Luigi’ Burton, ‘Beech boy’ with ‘Caveman’ Cavaday and the unbeaten Jim ‘Gandalph’ May with Sean ‘Thornbird’ back together for another day. The Scots fought hard and Murray was impressive, but with Jim and Sean still un-beaten , Cavaday and Beecher never missing returns and Burton and Searle with more energy than small power station Kent were too strong. Kent 6-One Quarter of Scotland 3, revenge was sweet!

Day 3 Kent vs Lancashire
One more win and Kent were safe in Division 1 and maybe, just maybe, ready to mount a charge for the title. With May resting, it was time for the 2010 debut of Alastair ‘Filmstar’ with Robbie Searle, ‘Luigi’ Burton moved to Partner number 3 Sean, and Beecher staying with Cavaday. On the surface it looked tight, but although Sean had his first loss of the week, Kent finally wrapped up the win at 8.25pm after two rain delays. Pair of the day clearly Filmer and Searle who destroyed all who were put in front of them!
Kent 7-Lancashire 2

Day 4 Kent vs Hertfordshire
With Kent’s division 1 status secured it was on to the business of the title, pretty much a straight shoot out between the men of Kent and Herts. With no Beecher we lined up with the well rested May with Thornley, Burton with Cavaday and Filmer with Searle, a strong Kent side who looked poised for action. Herts, like Kent had won relatively easily all week and both sides were expecting a battle royale. With the crowds at their largest of the week round 1 saw May and Thornley get off to a horrible start and were beaten before they awoke, 1-0 Herts. Meanwhile both other matches reached a deciding set, with really nothing between them. Within what seemed like a matter of moments the huge Kent support section saw the Garden of England go 3-0 from nowhere.

Kent look shell shocked and Captain Burgs called a team meeting before round 2. Words of wisdom despatched it was back to battle and the matches were fantastic, with great tennis being played all round, but, when push came to shove, it was Herts who were winning the majority of the big points and by 4pm it was 6-0 Herts! Although the score maybe didn’t reflect the play, the day was over all but for the last round which was only for pride. Alastair FIlmer shouted across the courts ‘nobody beats Kent 9-0’, but by 6pm he was proved wrong and it was 9-0, pride gone! Kent had fought well, but had been beaten by the better team on the day. Herts were now champions whatever and it was just a matter of who would be second to be sorted on Friday. Kent 0-Hertfordshire 9

Day 5 Kent vs Surrey
With more injuries and absences than I would like to mention Kent fielded 3 out of 6 players injured in a match that required us to get 4 rubbers to be runners up. We lined up Burgoyne with Burton, Filmer with James ‘Chippy’ Langford and Thornley with Cavaday. By 10.30am the rains came and we could not the match, but with other results having already gone our way we were crowned runners up on rubbers! Woo Hoo!!

A fabulous achievement for the team who proved that they are more than worthy of their division one status. Maybe in 2011 it will be Kent’s turn again to take the division 1 title and although it is a year away, you can be sure that the Kent men will be ready. As usual everyone played their part in what was a tough campaign, with some playing more than others, but the team is bigger than the individual and those who weren’t selected didn’t complain and just practiced and supported those who were on the courts. Lastly a huge thanks to the many, many supporters that travelled down to Eastbourne to watch us compete, it’s always great to have you there and we hope to see you next year.

Captain Andy Burgoyne