Davis Cup players Auckland and Parmar commit to Kia National
Club League
James Auckland and Arvind Parmar, selected last week for
the Davis Cup team due to face Serbia & Montenegro (7/8/9
April), have committed to help their respective club teams
in the Kia National Club League (NCL) which begins at over
250 tennis clubs across the country this weekend.
Arvind Parmar is representing Sutton Tennis Club (Surrey)
and James Auckland is playing for St Georges Hill (Weybridge,
Surrey)
“There’s definitely a place for the Kia NCL
and it is something I have always tried to fit into my schedule,”
said Auckland, who helped St George’s Hill reach the
Grand Finals last year. “The finals in Bournemouth are
a good weekend with a lot of competitive matches and I am
looking forward to playing there again.”
Sponsored for the third year by car manufacturer Kia Motors,
the Kia National Club League is the UK's largest singles-based
tennis competition for UK clubs and the pinnacle of club competition
for around 800 teams which will compete in more than 11,000
matches between April and September at County, Regional and
National level.
The National Division 1 rounds, split into seven divisions
of eight teams, will be staged at clubs across England and
Wales on 1, 9 & 23 April, 14 & 21 May and 11 &
18 June.
The top two teams emerging from each division will contest
the National Division 1 Play Offs on Saturday 15 July. The
Play Offs will include teams from the Scottish Kia NCL; Stirling
University men first and second teams and, in the ladies,
Newlands (Glasgow) and David Lloyd Edinburgh.
The Play Off winners, eight men’s and eight women’s
teams, qualify for the three-day Kia National Club League
Grand Finals at Bournemouth’s West Hants Club from 8-10
September. Each winning team collects £3,000.
Defending champions are Kent’s Bromley men, winners
for the first time at Bournemouth last year, and Edgbaston
Priory ladies. The most successful team since the event began
12 years ago, Edgbaston sealed its sixth title at the West
Hants Club last September.
Although the majority of Kia National Club League competitors
are of club and county standard, this year’s teams include
many full time world ranked players.
International British players nominated for teams
in this year’s National Division 1 draw include:
James Auckland (St Georges Hill, Weybridge, Surrey), Neil
Bamford (David Lloyd Nottingham), Richard Bloomfield (East
Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Glos), Jamie Delgado (Bromley,
Kent), Chris Eaton (St Georges Hill, Weybridge, Surrey), Ian
Flanagan (David Lloyd Nottingham), Joshua Goodall (Royal Berkshire,
Bracknell, Berkshire), Ross Hutchins (Royal Berkshire, Brackness,
Berkshire), Andrew Kennaugh (St Georges Hill, Weybridge, Surrey),
Dan Kiernan (East Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Glos), Chris
Lewis (East Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Glos), Jim May (Bromley,
Kent), Arvind Parmar (Sutton Tennis & Squash Club), Nathan
Rooney (East Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Glos), Danny Sapsford
(Royal Berkshire, Bracknell, Berkshire), Matthew Smith (Northern
Club, West Didsbury, Manchester)
Some of the ladies participating include Lorna Woodroffe
and Jo Ward (Connaught, Essex), Naomi Cavaday and Russian
Elena Tarterkova (Gosling, Herts), Karen Cross (Roehampton,
Surrey). Claire Peterzan (Esporta Croydon, Surrey) Hannah
Collin (David Lloyd Raynes Park, Surrey) Melanie South (Wimbledon
Club, Surrey) Rebecca Fong (Rawdon, Leeds).
Running alongside the National Division 1 is a separate competition
for National Division 2 teams, incorporating seven divisions
of men’s and ladies teams. A third ‘County’
Division is split into 40 counties, which each have a minimum
of one division and is played on a promotion and relegation
basis.
Kia NCL Tournament Director and former Davis Cup Captain
Paul Hutchins said: “Club competition is very important
to increase the base and standard of players and the Kia NCL
gives what is often the only chance for players to play singles
at club level. The Kia NCL offers a great chance for players
of all standards to compete. Juniors and seniors, former and
current International players all play in the event with the
National division 1 Finals in September being the pinnacle
to reach.”
Said Paul Williams, Kia Motors' Managing Director:
"Just like Kia, the National Club League has
been growing strongly over the last three years and we are
looking forward to 2006 bringing the strongest and best competition
yet. Tennis is a great game for all the family to enjoy and
the National Club League allows club players right across
the country to test themselves in the heat of competition.
We at Kia Motors wish everyone the very best of luck and we
look forward to welcoming the very best to Bournemouth in
September."
Facts about the Kia NCL
¨ The KIA National Club League is the largest competitive
tennis singles-based league in the UK. It began in 1993.
¨ There are National Divisions 1 & 2 and County Divisions
all played with a promotion and relegation system.
¨ Approximately 800 teams take part, with 4000 matches
played in the National division and 7000 in County division.
¨ The competition is open to all LTA affiliated clubs
in the UK for men’s and ladies’ teams.
¨ The structure is based on 64 men's and 64 ladies National
Division 1 split into 8 regions of 8 teams, including a separate
division in Scotland. National Division 2 has 7 divisions
for men and ladies.
¨ The County Division is split into 40 counties, who
each have a minimum of one division, with several counties
having a number of divisions below division one.
¨ The playing format in the National Division and County
Division 1 is 4 singles and 2 doubles matches.
¨ If the matches are tied at 3-3, there will be a 'Tie
Break shoot out' of 2 singles and 1 doubles. Two points awarded
for each rubber won in each match.
¨ There is an ATP/WTA player restriction of 2 players
in the top 750 per squad.
¨ The 2005 men’s winners were Bromley (Kent) who
beat East Gloucester (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)
¨ The 2005 ladies winners were Edgbaston Priory (Birmingham,
Warwickshire) who beat Gosling (Welwyn Garden City, Herts)
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