Next week both the Suffolk men’s and ladies’ teams travel to compete in this year’s Summer Aegon County Cup Competition.

The men’s team return to Eastbourne to play in Group 1 again, having been there two years ago, when injuries during the week hampered their progress and were unfortunately relegated.

Last year at Cromer they fought their way back to get promotion to the top flight again.

In what will be a very competitive week of doubles tennis Jez Cowley, the team captain, will have to use all of his experience to juggle his daily selection of players.

With a good blend of youth and experienced players to see them through the week, they start their campaign against Essex on Monday, Hertfordshire on Tuesday, Kent on Wednesday, Surrey on Thursday with a concluding match against Middlesex on Friday. The ladies’ team travel further along the coast at Southsea to play in Group 7. With the Channel Islands withdrawing, the opening match is against Isle of Man on Monday, Cumbria on Tuesday with Cornwall on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday’s opponents will be dependent on the results of the matches played earlier in the week.

Although in a low group the standard of other county team remains at a good level. Our ladies have battled for a number of years trying to progress to a high group level but have not quite been able to secure the top spot in their group.

Hopefully this year with the blend of youth and experience to call upon will see them have a successful conclusion to the week.

The conclusion of the Aegon British Tour event held at the Felixstowe Lawn Tennis Club last weekend saw James Ling, who started off as qualifier, secure the men’s title with an impressive win in defeating the top seed Nicholas Nugent 6-1, 6-2. In the ladies competition, number 3 seed Olivia Peet (Lancashire) defeated the number 5 seed Mel Miller (Kent) 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in an exciting final.