Strong CI team retain their status

Thursday 19th August 2010, 2:29PM BST.

Jo Robinson enjoyed a productive time playing at number one for the Channel Islands in the singles in Eastbourne. (Picture by Tony Pike, 0996812)

THE Channel Islands tennis team produced a strong performance to retain their place in group five of the Women’s 35s Inter-County Championships.

Last year the CI gained promotion on the grass by winning group six and this year’s team of Karen Barnes and Shelagh Herbert from Jersey and Claire Randell and Jo Robinson of Guernsey were ready for the challenges of East of Scotland, West of Scotland and Oxfordshire.

The East of Scotland were their first opponents on day one, with Randell getting proceeds under way in the second-string singles.

On this occasion Fiona Maclean proved too consistent over the length of the match, winning 7-5, 6-1 despite Randell’s best efforts in closing down her space.