THE captain of Hartford Tennis Club’s most successful team this summer has promised their philosophy won’t change when they step up to a higher level.

Mandy Hemming, along with Julie Jones, Katie Glenn and Alice Hillis, is celebrating promotion to the South and Mid Cheshire League’s ladies’ first division with an unblemished record.

They concluded a remarkable campaign with by whitewashing Nantwich D last week – a 14th successive win.

“We’ve had fun from the start,” she told the Guardian.

“Our approach has been relaxed – four girls that get on together and aren’t afraid to have a giggle on court – and that’s not changed from the very first game.

“None of us sat there in April and predicted we’d win all these matches; we’ve not let that distract us.”

The quartet finished four points clear of Hartford D, who will join them in the top-flight next summer.

That increases to four the number of ladies’ teams from the Chester Road club playing in the league's top tier – something that hasn’t happened previously.

Hemming said: “It reflects the depth there is now at Hartford in the ladies’ section.

“We expect it to be a much more challenging season, of course, but most of us have played before in the top division and so have an idea of what we’re letting ourselves in for.

“I’m sure there will be a bit more tension between the teams because we’ll be competing against each other, but there still won’t be any pressure on us.

“After all, there wasn’t expectation weighing us down this time around.”

She said that an encouraging start to the season, which brought with it emphatic victories against Hartford E, Nantwich C and Holmes Chapel B, was an indication of their relative strength.

When pushed, they ran out 5-3 victors against their clubmates and Congleton B – another contender for a promotion place.

Hemming said: “There was a sense of camaraderie with the other Hartford sides, and we encouraged each other.

“It was nice that we’d both secured promotion by the time we played the D team a second time, and there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us after the match.”

Hartford B finished as runners-up to champions Nantwich A in Division One, while Hartford A were fourth.

Meanwhile Hartford A were already assured of first prize in Mixed Division One before they played their final fixture against Nantwich B on Wednesday.

They recorded a 7-1 victory to finish three points better off than Nantwich A.

Northwich Guardian:

Hartford Tennis Club's mixed A team of Andrew Moores, Di Fielding, Lin Wood and James Barlow concluded a successful campaign with a 7-1 win against Nantwich A

To find out more about playing tennis at Hartford, visit hartfordtennisclub.co.uk