Hertfordshire and Surrey crowned 2024 LTA Summer County Cup champions

The LTA Summer County Cup dates back to 1895 and is one of the oldest tournaments on the domestic calendar. This year’s nationwide competition ran from Monday 22 to Friday 26 July when 44 counties competed at 12 grass court venues all over the UK. 

The pristine grass courts of the International Tennis Centre at Devonshire Park – the County Cup Group 1 event’s traditional home – saw six men’s and six women’s teams represent their counties in the competition’s elite division.

Hertfordshire continued their dominance of the Women’s event, losing only seven rubbers all week, to win The Championships for the fifth year running.

Amanda Elliott, of Hertfordshire Women’s said: “I’m incredibly proud to be captain of this Herts Ladies team. Winning it once is fantastic but winning it five years in a row is something really special and the entire team and Herts LTA should be so proud of their achievements both this week and the last few years.

“The girls and I absolutely love competing at County Week and we already look forward to coming back next year.’’

Hertfordshire's victorious County Cup winning squad, after being presented with their trophy by LTA President Sandi Procter and the Mayor of Eastbourne Cllr Candy Vaughan (Credit: Evelyn Hargraves Photography)

The overall group results meant that, on the last day, Northumberland and Hampshire & IOW women and Kent & Hertfordshire men were relegated from Group 1, the latter being relegated to Group 2 for the first time in 20 years.  

Meanwhile promoted from Group 2 to Group 1 for the 2025 event were Cheshire and Somerset women and Warwickshire and South Wales men. Somerset, who won the second-place promotion at the finishing post, will be making their debut for the very first time in Group 1 next year. 

Julie Piper, Tournament Director for the LTA, said: “I’d like to thank all the officials, venues and of course, team captains and the players around the country for their continued support of this much-loved event. The commitment of the team captains and players to give up their time to represent their counties at this longstanding event, now in its 129^th year, is truly remarkable.

“Several of the groups had a lot to play for and there was fierce competition, as well as fun and camaraderie, up and down the country. It’s been a fantastic week.’’

Six players achieved the remarkable feat of winning 15 out of 15 rubbers. For the 2^nd year running, Halle Pringle and Francesca Simpson (Durham and Cleveland) playing in women’s Group 5 in Ilkley; Amelia Rajecki (Nottinghamshire) at Women’s Group 2 (Roehampton); Lily Hutchings (Lancashire) at Women’s Group 3 (Raynes Park) and Jowan Rawson and Matthew Upton (Cornwall) at Men’s Group 7 in Frinton.

Natalie Ackland (Somerset) completed the amazing achievement of playing County Week for 30 consecutive years, helping Somerset gain promotion to Group 1 for the first time in the county’s history.  Even more remarkable is that they have come up from Group 5 to Group 1 in six years.

Also showing commitment to their counties were: East of Scotland Captain, Alan McDonald (30 years); Debbie Hale (Hampshire & IOW) 24 years; Harriet Piercy (Jones) and Lisa Radford (Hanley) 20 years as a pair and James Rushby (Derbyshire) - who achieved 100 consecutive days.  These are truly remarkable records, demonstrating how much the event means to the players.