A banner competitive campaign at Avenue Tennis Club has reached its peak in Burnham-On-Sea, marked by back-to-back league championships, an exhaustive list of 2025 internal club winners, and the formal arrival of pickleball onto the facility's main stage during Tennis Finals Day. Operating out of its complex in The Grove, the club produced top-two finishes across three of its four ladies' league entries while simultaneously launching a new singles ladder and integrating paddle-sport tournaments into its annual showcase.
North Somerset League Dominance: Back-to-Back Titles and Youth Emergence
The headline achievement of the summer campaign came via the Avenue A team, who asserted total control over North Somerset Tennis League Division 1. Finishing as champions for the second consecutive year, Avenue A secured the top flight by an 11-point margin, surrendering just a single match all season. Clare Gass spearheaded the A team's campaign as one of the league's top individual performers.
Depth across the lower divisions proved equally decisive for the club's promotion tally:
- Avenue B (Division 5 Champions): Earned promotion after topping the table in a narrow title race against second-place Backwell B, driven by standout statistics from Pippa Lawton.
- Avenue C (Division 8 Runners-Up): Secured promotion by claiming second place following a decisive, rearranged final fixture against Winscombe C. Teenager Zoe Lloyd earned specific praise for her debut senior season, combining with Ladies Captain Angela Tinnion in double play.
- Avenue D (Division 8): Formed primarily by players new to league competition, the squad achieved a fifth-place finish.
Ladies Captain Angela Tinnion credited Head Coach Tim Seymour's tactical and group training—including high-tempo cardio tennis sessions—for elevating performance standards across all four teams, noting that the club continues to build what it describes as more than just a tennis club.
The 2025 Club Honor Roll: Shirley Hyde's Triple Crown and Singles Champions
Alongside league play, internal competition managed throughout the year by Pippa Lawton and Tim Seymour culminated in the crowning of the club's 2025 tournament winners. Louise Lloyd captured the ladies' singles championship, while Ned Lawton took the men's singles crown. In the senior categories, Shirley Hyde staged a dominant multi-division run, claiming three separate titles across singles and doubles disciplines.
Finals Day Pickleball Breakthrough: Small Courts, High Intensity
Reflecting broader racket-sport trends, Avenue Tennis Club integrated official pickleball tournaments directly into its Tennis Finals Day on Sunday, September 20, alongside the annual club championship barbecue. Organized by men's captain Sam Goodhew, the reduced-court events drew crossover participation from traditional tennis members and specialized local players.
Dan Rider claimed the men's pickleball title after defeating runner-up Darrel Gayfer in the final. Charlotte Bolton captured the ladies' pickleball championship, edging out runner-up Finn Lawton. In the mixed doubles division, Darrel Gayfer teamed with Finn Lawton to take top honors, defeating the finalist pairing of Alex and Sally.
Goodhew highlighted the rapid adaptation of club members to the smaller court dynamics, confirming that social pickleball play will remain a permanent fixture on the club schedule on Wednesday evenings (6pm to 8pm) and Saturday afternoons (3pm to 5pm).
The Engine at The Grove: Ladder Play, Cardio Tennis, and Weekly Rhythms
With the summer leagues wrapped, competitive focus shifts to the Winter League Mixed Doubles while internal play transitions to a newly launched singles ladder managed by Sam Goodhew. Practice schedules remain structured around Monday men's sessions and Tuesday ladies' sessions from 6pm, complemented by Tim Seymour's cardio tennis offerings—described by the club as great fun hitting tennis balls and exercising to music.
Youth development is anchored by free Friday evening junior sessions coached by LTA-qualified instructors Vinny Duddy and Megan Rundle. Beyond court activities, the venue maintains its fortnightly Wednesday night three-course suppers, hosting county fixtures such as the Grade 3 Burnham-On-Sea Open, the Somerset County Championships, and the U12 County Cup.
Sources
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- europesays.com original
- martini.thewestonmercury.co.uk original
- burnhamandhighbridgeweeklynews.co.uk original
- burnham-on-sea.com original
