Shropshire tennis teams off to the coast to play in LTA Summer County Cup

Shropshire's men's team will play at the highest level they have ever experienced in next week's LTA Summer County Cup - while a number of talented young players have been selected to represent the county's women's team at the prestigious event.

After impressively gaining back-to-back promotions in the last two years, Shropshire men's team head to Cromer Lawn Tennis & Racquet Club in Norfolk to take their place in Group 4.

Shropshire's women's team also face a long journey as they return to Frinton Lawn Tennis Club on the Essex coast for the second consecutive year to play in Group 7.

The County Cup provides hundreds of tennis players with the opportunity to represent their counties in a competitive team environment at the popular annual event.

First played in 1895, County Week is one of the longest-running tennis tournaments on the domestic calendar, with teams for each tie consisting of three doubles pairs, as counties attempt to earn promotion and to avoid relegation.

Matches will be played throughout a busy and enjoyable week, from Monday until Friday, with 44 counties competing in groups at 12 different grass court venues across the country.

Shropshire's men's team will begin their week by playing Herefordshire & Worcestershire on Monday, with fixtures against Yorkshire, hosts Norfolk, Derbyshire and Staffordshire following.

Captain Alex Parry leads a side also including Ed Gibbs, Matt Lee, Luke Henley, Roan Jones, Tom Loxley, Duarte Monterio and Matt Jones.

Alex said: "This is my 12th year of captaining the team and we've had more promotions than relegations, which is always a good sign, particularly with the back-to-back promotions of the last couple of years.

"It's certainly going to be a test for us heading across to Cromer, so we'll see where we stack up and where we come out.

"Yorkshire have won the Summer County Cup multiple times and Derbyshire have also won it. They are both in our division this time, so for Shropshire to be alongside those teams is a really big achievement.

"This group of players have got us to this point and have stuck together through that 12-year period. We've lost a few players but some more have come in to the team to really step up and it's a really good group of lads and let's see where we can get to.

"The initial aim would be to stay where we are. It would be very optimistic to think that we could get out of this division and go again into division three, but you never know. Tennis can be very strange at times and it just comes down to how you are getting on on the day.

"The weather could come into it. We're going through a particularly hot spell at the moment, so matches could be shortened, although I haven't checked the weather forecast yet for Cromer. I'm looking to consolidate and that would give the guys another crack at it next year in the same division."

Elena Griffiths, the captain of Shropshire's women's team, is looking forward to leading a young county side to Essex to play Group 7 fixtures against initially Bedfordshire, Channel Islands and South of Scotland.

Elena said: "As we prepare to travel to Frinton-on-Sea for the LTA Summer County Cup, I'm incredibly excited to be leading Shropshire once again.

"This year, we're taking a very young team, and while we'll undoubtedly be one of the less experienced counties in the group, I'm confident that the future of Shropshire tennis is in very good hands.

"Our squad is made up of Emilie Gradwell, Amy Dannatt, Erin Beards, Gwen Klu, Bella Burton, VV Alkureishi and Madeleine Crabb, and I'm proud to captain such a talented group of players. Several of them are making the step up to senior county tennis, and this week will provide a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience against strong opposition.

"Of course, our goal is always to compete as hard as we can in every match, but this week is about much more than results. It's about learning, supporting one another, building confidence and enjoying the unique team spirit that County Cup creates.

"These experiences will help our younger players develop and prepare them to represent Shropshire for many years to come.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the team grow throughout the week, giving everything for the county and, most importantly, enjoying the occasion. Whatever the final results, I'm sure this talented group will make Shropshire proud."

Pictured: Shropshire's men's team enjoyed a second successive LTA Summer County Cup promotion last July, while the county women's team are returning to Frinton-on-Sea for the second consecutive year.