Windscale Ladies made the long journey south, for the remaining Ladies County League fixture, endangering the lives of many of Corney Fell's resident sheep population in the process, due to the extremely foggy conditions over the fell top. Added to that, the bus journey from Dalton-in-Furness to Kendal for one of our players, which seemed to stop at everywhere remotely known to man, meant that our players needed to get the journey well and truly out of their systems if they were to pull off a victory on the night, that would secure Windscale Ladies the 2008-2009 County Ladies League title.

First on court was Lara Cooper against Gillian Steele. Lara set off like a rocket and was soon in the ascendancy, as she denied Gillian time to play, with her all action power play, and the first game was soon over with an emphatic 9/1 score to Lara. Gillian, I'm afraid fared worse in the second game as Lara continued the onslaught, and other than a brief mid game hand-out, Lara sailed through 9/0, to lead the tie. Gillian caused Lara a couple of early problems in the third as the first few rallies were shared, but it was only delaying the inevitable, and sure enough as soon as Lara started firing again on all cylinders the game was up for Gillian literally, as Lara won the third game 9/1, and the match 3-0.

Next on court was Jessica Winder against Mary Ockenden. Jessica took an early two point lead, only to cede the advantage to Mary who reeled off the next five points, this merely galvanised Jessica into more concerted action, and for the loss of no further points reeled Mary in and beat her to the game 9/5. The second opened with Mary taking the game to Jessica, and pulling out a handy four point lead, only once again to see Jessica's determination to go in front prevail, as Jessica led six points to four. Mary regained the initiative and managed to attain the lead again, and indeed served at game ball, however Jessica wasn't to be denied and powered through the mini-crisis to take the second 10/8. Jessica was now in full flow and the third game, although a fairly stop start affair as far as points scoring was concerned, saw Jessica manage to pick up a couple of points at a time, and Mary was soon well down on the score-card by seven points, and it was not too long before Jessica wrapped up the win by taking the third game 9/1, and the tie 3-0.

Hannah Crichton played Irene Wharton next, and had the task of winning the match for Windscale. Hannah in one hand-in won an easy opener 9/0 looking comfortable throughout with good serving, and accurate shot positioning, and denying her opponent the chance to dominate the court. The second was a far more cagey affair, as Irene and Hannah continually swapped serves, as both girls looked for an early advantage, and it was Irene who led by a couple of points. Once Hannah managed to impose herself again, taking five points in a row mid-game, it looked more comfortable for her, and yet Irene managed to level up the scores again at six all. Not to be denied however, Hannah gained control once more and served out the game to win the second 9/6, for a two love lead. Irene was caught cold in the third as Hannah opened up a three point lead, which was soon a six point lead, and despite a late Irene rally, Hannah took the third 9/2, and the tie 3-0, and more importantly the match for Windscale.

All that was left for the remaining girls to decide was by how large the victory margin would be.

Next on were Sarah Frain and Penny Hitchin, and in a prolonged opener, as both girls took 23 serves between them to decide the first eight points, which were shared four each, it was apparent that neither player was prepared to back off. Penny then managed to pull ahead by three points, and it was Sarah who responded with steady controlled play to once again regain the serve and score enough points to see her  level the game at seven all, and indeed go on to win a tight opener 9/7. The second was a copy of the first, in that neither player could dominate for any length of time, or for any great run of points, but once Sarah got her nose in front at five two, she seemed to lose concentration, and Penny seized her chance with a good run of points to go ahead, and the tie was soon level again as Penny won the second 9/6. At one game all both players realised it was the player who played the more steady squash that was going to come out on top, and again, as before, a lead was hard to come-by in the third, some 20 serves being played, and the players only level at three all. Sarah showed great composure to then reel off a series of winners allied to a few Penny errors, and the crucial third game was won by Sarah 9/3. The start of the fourth was a game where whoever served managed to score a run of three points, so Sarah was soon three up, only to lose the serve to Penny, and then see her level the score, Sarah then regaining serve and gaining the next couple of points. However Penny's will was now somewhat broken, and other than one more brief attempt to subdue Sarah, which came to nought, it was Sarah that triumphed in the fourth game 9/3, claiming this long match 3-1.

In the time that the above game was being played Linda Winder was on and off court against Bridget Wedderburn. Linda was determined to retain her unbeaten status in the Ladies County League this season, the only player out of all the teams to do so- well done! Bridget had a couple of chances in the early exchanges as Linda took time to get her length and width, and it allowed Bridget to hit a couple of winners. This was only holding back the inevitable, and it wasn't long before Linda had the first game sown up, with other than a further couple of hand-outs to Bridget, 9/1. The second saw Linda race into a seven point lead, and Bridget was only just hanging on, however her tenacity was rewarded, as when presented with the opportunities she more than proved a problem for Linda, who saw her lead whittled away with Bridget securing a run of four points. Linda upped the pace as the game wore on and it was she who finished the stronger, claiming a closer second game 9/4. The third game for Bridget was her best, as she took the game to Linda, and the serve swapped hand many times, as both players tried to gain early dominance at the front of the court. Bridget hanging in until Linda pulled out a four point lead at six two, which meant that there was only likely to be one winner, and so it proved, but not before Bridget managed to credit her points tally with a further couple of points, Linda therefore winning the third game 9/4, and the tie 3-0, wrapping up a 5-0 win on the night for Windscale Ladies, making them THE 2008-2009 COUNTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the other two ladies who played for our team during the season, Luisa Mc Gregor, who unfortunately got injured at Christmas time, and Barbara Telfer, who stood in at short notice for a match, thank you.