Chairman’s Remarks for our 66th Season
Our League started in 1961 so it was our 66th Annual General Meeting that was held on Monday 12th January online on Zoom. Both Caroline Attridge (Secretary from 2011) and I (Chairman from 2005) stood down and replacements were found in Jane Newell (Devizes) and Mike Harrison (Iconoclasts), who join Eddy Watts, re-elected as Match Secretary & Treasurer. The AGM decided unanimously to reintroduce the Summer League entry fee of £5 per team to generate some income but leaving entries for Cups and Winter League to remain free. The AGM also decided against sudden death tiebreaks at deuce & a lower age limit for Juniors. The usual Pre-Season & End of Season Meetings had been held, also online on Zoom, on Mondays 17th March & 8th September 2025 and had been well-attended.
The 2024/5 Winter League had an enlarged entry of 22 teams requiring 4 divisions won by Chippenham A(1), Frome A (2), Freshford (3) & Melksham (4). Currently 24 teams are still competing in 4 divisions of the 2025/6 Winter League, which is nearing completion.
The 2025 Knockout competitions had entries from only 4 clubs with 7 teams in the Handicap Mixed
and 6 in the Over 50s. Pre-arranged draws ensured keeping A & B teams apart before the Finals were played on Sunday 8th June again at Chippenham TC. Trowbridge A (2) beat Chippenham A (6) in the Handicap Cup while Trowbridge B (10) defeated Chippenham B (14) in the Plate. Devizes beat Trowbridge B 5-3 in the Over 50s, preventing a Trowbridge “clean sweep”.
The 2025 Summer League started on Easter Monday 21st April with 108 teams entered, two more than last year, from 22 clubs Mixed had 34 teams in 4 divisions of 7 and one of 6. Women had 31 teams with one of 7 and 3 of 8. Men with 43 teams had 5of 7 and one of 8. All divisions ran smoothly with excellent weather and only 9 matches had to be rescheduled in August (6 because of extreme heat).
Mixed – Trowbridge A (1), Civil Service (2), Iconoclasts (3), Freshford A (4), Grittleton (5).
Women- Civil Service (1), Chippenham A (2), Trowbridge B (3), Bath (4).
Men – Trowbridge A (1), Devizes A (2), Frome C (3), Freshford A (4), Lansdown A (5) , Lansdown
B (6).
CHIPPENHAM & DISTRICT TENNIS LEAGUE