The 2008 Summer Season of the Swindon & District Tennis League came to an exciting climax in August, at the end of a very successful and highly competitive four month competition. With the men’s title already in the hands of Pewsey A, attention turned to the ladies and mixed sections where Ramsbury A, Pewsey A and Swindon A, the defending champions, were making the running.

In the mixed section, Ramsbury A needed just one set in their last match against closest rivals Pewsey A to clinch the title, while Swindon A needed to win three more sets than Pewsey in their last match against Aldbourne to move into second place. In fact, Ramsbury won 5-3 to take the title for the first time and Swindon also won 5-3, just failing to get the six sets they needed. The Ramsbury squad - Paul Toomer, Amelia Tester, Pete Willetts, Kath More, Adam Setter & Sue Wade - finished four points clear of Pewsey, with Swindon having to settle for third place.

In mixed Division 2, Highworth A defeated closest rivals Ashton Keynes A 6-2 to take the title, and both teams will be heading straight back to Division 1 next year. Undefeated Purton B topped Division 3.

The ladies’ title also depended on the last matches of the season, with Ramsbury A and Swindon A in contention. Ramsbury needed to beat bottom club Chiseldon A to make sure of the title, while Swindon A had to beat Purton A to keep their chances alive. But Swindon could only draw, while Ramsbury gained the 6-2 victory that gave them the ladies’ title, also for the first time. The Ramsbury squad - Amelia Tester, Catherine Graham, Gill Devey, Caryl Roberts, Kath More & Alex Scott - finished three points clear of Swindon, with Pewsey A five points further back in third place.  

Ladies Division 2 was incredibly close with just three points between first and fourth place, and the top two teams - Highworth and Marlborough A - almost inevitably - drew 4-4 in their last match to confirm how close it was. Newly-entered David Lloyd A topped Division 3, dropping just one point and fourteen sets.

In the men’s section, reigning champions Ramsbury A won their last three matches to finish as runners-up to Pewsey A, while newly-promoted Swindon A finished in a very creditable third place despite gaining only three points from their last four matches. In Division 2, Lechlade A finished strongly to claim the title ahead of long-time leaders Faringdon who won their first eight matches but could only manage three points from their last six. Pewsey C took Division 3, just one point ahead of newly-entered David Lloyd A.

Overall, the twenty league titles were healthily spread across ten different clubs, including both of the new ones: David Lloyd, who won four titles, and Next Generation, who won one.

Click here to view the final League Tables