Shropshire stars net national tennis title
Shropshire has new national tennis champions after the county's wheelchair side were crowned inaugural winners of the Dan Maskell Team Tennis Championship.
The Tennis Shropshire side, who called themselves the Shrews, edged out Team Wales.
It came after the tightest of finishes to an exciting weekend of tennis at Gloucester's Oxstalls Tennis Centre.
Shropshire were tied with Wales on 12 wins apiece at the end of the tournament, but claimed the silverware and the national title.
It went on the percentage of games won overall by just two per cent, with Loughborough Legends taking third place.
Val Fisher, a member of the successful Shropshire side, said: "It was a fantastic weekend and we're so pleased to be the first team to get their name on the trophy.
"Lots of different counties entered teams in the qualifying rounds and then it all came down to close finish in the final between ourselves and Wales, who hadn't lost a single match in the qualifiers.
"We were just a single point ahead after the singles matches on Saturday and then it was so close throughout the doubles matches on Sunday, before we finally did just enough to win."
The delighted Shropshire team were presented with an impressive trophy.
The players also received individual medals and certificates plus Dan Maksell Tennis Trust t-shirts and hoodies, supplied by TBS Sports.
Val added: "It was such a great tournament to be involved with and we'll look forward to defending our trophy next year."
She was joined in the victorious Shropshire side at Gloucester by Deena Webster, Craig Nicholson – who won all three of his singles matches – Scott Smith, Kevin Drake and Sam Eardley.
The injured Josh Cooper, who played a big part in helping Shropshire qualify for finals day along with Kevin Ward, was also there in a coaching capacity after being ruled out.
Nigel Hunter, the triumphant Shropshire team captain, said: "It was exciting to be part of a team event when all the players were really rooting for each other.
"To find out we had done enough to be champions was fantastic and it's a tremendous achievement from the players to be the first national team winners."
The event was funded and organised by the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust and supported by the Tennis Foundation.
It was the first of its kind in the UK to encourage recreational wheelchair tennis players to take part in a national competition.
