TENNIS: CHESHIRE'S senior men's team are putting an end to 66 years of frustration this week.

They have qualified for Division One at County Week for the first time since 1937 and are desperate to make their mark in the top flight doubles competition, held on grass in Eastbourne.

Led by captain Nick Baglin from Wilmslow, the team of Simon Dickson, Chester's Mark Hilton, Anthony Hampson, Ben Bright, Patrick Sztykowski, Seb Jackson and Ben Johnson have been promoted straight through from Division Six in the last five years, so confidence is high.

However Nick admits it will be a step into the unknown when they face the best squads in the country.

"The top counties will all be there like Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Yorkshire so it is good for Cheshire to be alongside them.

"However we don't really know what to expect and won't know until we start to play against the others really. We believe we can win, but it would be naïve to go there expecting to win, so staying in Division One would be an achievement."

Cheshire have taken an eight-man squad to Eastbourne, of which six will play. The six are divided into three pairings, who play three rubbers each per day, with the competition having started yesterday and running until Friday. Six counties take part, with the bottom two being relegated.

Nick, 28, who plays at the Prestbury club, said: "We have a good mixture of full time players like Mark Hilton from Chester, and some older guys like myself and we all get on well and gel together.

"The line-up has been more or less the same for the past few years which means we all know each other's games and strengths and weaknesses.

"In doubles that knowledge and good team spirit can be worth some crucial points."

Cheshire will need all the advantages they can get because they have started off against the two toughest counties, Yorkshire and Kent.

"They are full of full-time players," said Nick, who works in sales for an IT company away from the court.

"That will make any game more challenging, but we plan to keep it tight and then we will see what happens.

"No team ever runs away with the tournament and the difference between finishing first and sixth is minute - everybody is capable of beating everybody."

He added: "If we can win a few games on the first couple of days, we may be in a position to try and win it, but our first priority is to stay in Division One."

To prepare the team have been practising among themselves and also played a friendly against L an cash ire , with Nick admitting the anticipation for the real thing was almost unbearable.

"We can't wait to get down there and are all really excited about playing," he said.

"It has been so long since Cheshire has been at the highest level and we have all worked so hard to get back. I know it is a step into the unknown for us, but that goes for our opposition too.

"They don't know too much about how we play as a team, but I know they have been impressed by the calibre of tennis player in the squad.

"No-one will be looking forward to taking us on, that's for sure, and we will be giving it our best shot."

Cheshire Ladies will be playing in Ilkley in Group 3. The squad comprises of Katie Taylor, Samantha Murray, Lucy Fletcher, Sophie Jackson, Katie Sweeting, Gemma Gibson, Caroline Harrison and Nicola Herbert.