British Tennis - Lawn Tennis Association

The AEGON Winter County Cup event took place this weekend at 18 different indoor venues across the country with Hertfordshire Men & Ladies taking home the silverware on Sunday evening. 

The men, led by Jeff Wayne, have now won the men’s event for a record five years running and this, coupled with their dominance of the Summer County Cup event, means that Hertfordshire Men have won seven senior County Cup events running.   

Jeff Wayne said; ‘It has been an extreme privilege to captain the Herts Men’s team for the last 21 years and that it was an immensely proud moment to have now won seven (CC Event) titles in five years.  The support has been tremendous and everyone has contributed to the success of the team. I'm now looking forward to the Summer CC Event and defending the title!’

The ladies' event was a much closer affair with the Championships title resting on a match tie-break in the last doubles match. With Yorkshire leading 4-3, the Hertfordshire doubles pairing of Alissa Ayling & Katharine Baker held their nerve to level the match 4-4. Meanwhile, on the adjacent court, Amanda Elliott & Claire Ricketts were set all against Sarah Gregg & Jessica Ren and won the deciding match tie-break 10-7 to win the match 5-4 and take the title. 

The winning Hertfordshire women's team and LTA Deputy President Cathie Sabin (right)

Sarah Donovan, Team Captain said; ‘It is quite a challenge to keep up with the success of the men’s team! I'm very proud of the girls and it was an amazing win. Credit must go to Yorkshire who put up a tough fight with both teams putting in a lot of heart & soul into the match. We're now hoping to do the double in the Summer County Cup next July.’

Tournament Director, Julie Piper, said; ‘Overall the weekend was very successful and, unlike last year when the bad weather paid havoc with travel arrangements, the teams appear to have got to and from the various venues without too many disruptions.’

Surrey Men and Yorkshire Ladies, the latter having won the event two years running, were runners-up and unfortunately Kent & Essex Men and Middlesex & Lancashire Ladies were relegated to groups 2a and 2b respectively.

Congratulations go to Norfolk & Yorkshire Men and Kent & Warwickshire Ladies who are promoted to next year’s Group One AEGON Winter County Cup Event which will be held Friday 23 to Sunday 25 November 2012.