Letchworth s men s 35 plus team have advanced to the semi-final of the national inter-club competition. The semis will be played at home some time in late September/early October, with Jeremy Bates likely to figure as part of the opposing team s squad! Le

Letchworth's men's 35 plus team have advanced to the semi-final of the national inter-club competition.

The semis will be played at home some time in late September/early October, with Jeremy Bates likely to figure as part of the opposing team's squad!

Letchworth enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Purley of Surrey in the quarter-finals.

The first pair of Jerry Rose and John Garland won both of their rubbers, and crucially the second pair of John Bennet and John Davies won a tight contest against Purley's second pair to secure the win for Letchworth.

All the men's summer teams have enjoyed some recent positive form, with the first team winning their last two matches by the narrowest of margins (5-4) to keep their ambitions alive in the county's top division.

The ladies' summer teams have enjoyed a bumper season and both the first and second teams are in the county's top division for the first time in the club's history.

The first team are poised to be crowned Hertfordshire champions having been undefeated all season and with just Radlett left to play.

The seconds have every chance of staying in the top division following a decisive 7-2 victory over Harpenden.

The third team comfortably won Division 2A and the fourth team won their final match which sees them undefeated for the season and promoted to Division Three.

The ladies' National Club League second team won in the regional play-offs against East Anglia Club in Norwich over the bank holiday.

The winning team would gain promotion to National Division Two which sees a much higher standard of tennis.

The team was strengthened with the availability of the Watts sisters and they overcome East Anglia by four rubbers to two.

Joshua Sapwell capped a great week in Bournemouth by winning the boys' singles title at the 12 and under Junior National Championships (as previously reported in The Comet).

The 12 year old defeated the number one seed, Yorkshire's Peter Ashley, 6-3 4-6 7-5 in an excellent final.

As well as Sapwell, other youngsters to impress at recent tournaments were Luke Atkinson, Toby Huffer, Charlotte Cattle, Ashleigh Cattle and James Doherty.

All of the players are coached by Neil Claxton.

Letchworth club coach Jerry Rose reached the semi-final of the National Veterans Tennis Grass Court Championships held at the All England Club in Wimbledon during August.

Playing in the over-40s age group, Rose produced a string of fine victories, including a tight three-set victory over fellow club coach John Garland, before coming unstuck against top seed Jonathan Ison of Leicestershire.

Rose and Garland both reached the quarter-finals at the South of England Grass Court Championships held at Eastbourne during the last week of August.

* Excellent results were achieved by the club's mini players at the county finals which took place at Odyssey and Queenswood recently after competing all year in monthly events around the county.

In the Red Masters, Jason Haley beat Daniel Martin in the final, and Joanna Garland won the girls' title.

Both of these finals were close and could have gone either way.

The Orange Grand Prix was won by Edward Wilsher with Danielle Latter coming second in the Orange Race.

In the Green Grand Prix, Robert Lankester was victorious with Richard Poulter coming third and Alice Turner won the girls' event.

*The club's Holiday Activity Camps have been a great success.

The coaches and assistants ran an exciting and varied programme with much fun, laughter and enthusiasm.

Letchworth are also looking to run a holiday camp in the October half term.

* It is finals day for the golf croquet players this Saturday.

David Gough will play Andy Allen in the GC Handicap; Paul Guram plays Peter Ross in GC Improvers, and Colin Davies will play Nick Mounfield or Jeremy Scott in the Level GC Final.

Andy and Peter only joined the club in spring this year.

In association croquet, the finalists for level and single ball are David Tutt and Duncan Hector, and John Alabaster has won the AC Improvers.

The club excelled in the East Anglian Croquet Federation tournament, winning the Western Division with four out of five matches.

Three members - David Smith, Paul Guram and Colin Davies - have secured their place for the finals of the All England Golf Croquet tournament in Poole on September 20-21.

For more details about the Letchworth Croquet Club, visit www.letchworthcroquetclub.co.uk

* A dozen new indoor cycling (spin) bikes have been purchased for the fitness centre.

They are from the manufacturer 'Schwinn' and these bikes will all feature a patented smart release system. This is the only automatic emergency brake system, making it suitable for beginners and junior indoor cyclists.

Indoor cycling is one of the most popular forms of group training in the country and one of the best cardio workouts available.