Somerset LTA’s (Lawn Tennis Association) County Cup teams have both secured promotion for the 2020 season.
The women’s team finished top of their group, boosted by perfect records for Grace Piper (from Taunton) and Nirva Patel (Bridgwater), who won 15 out of 15 matches this year.
Two other Taunton players helped the team to victory – Natalie Ackland (who won 12 out of 12 matches) and Amelia Davies.
As for the men’s team, they finished as runners-up to make it a double promotion for the county team.
Among their ranks was Andrew Castle, the former British number one who is now a tennis commentator and TV presenter.
His father owned a fish and chip shop in Taunton, and he attended the then-Huish Grammar School and Millfield School.
Somerset women’s team: Natalie Ackland, Amelia Davies, Annabelle Davis, Beth Lacey, Zoe Leach, Nirva Patel, Grace Piper
Somerset men’s team: Andrew Castle, Matthew Crofts, James Edwards, Sam Edwards, Alistair Felton, Richard Gabb, Dan Manlow, James Marsalek.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here