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Champions have been crowned in 11 of the 18 Winter Divisions in the Southampton LTA. We weren't among them this time, but we're happy enough with how our winter went, how about you?

It's a big weekend for the remaining seven divisions. By next week we should know how the rest of the divisions squared away, which leaves us with a few weeks to get ready for... THE SUMMER!

Speaking of which, we got some listener feedback ahead of sunny season - you too can get in touch through hello@thpod.uk.

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All Brits love a quiz, so we put Tom’s local knowledge to the test with our Hampshire Club Explorer Quiz, His response is… pavlovian!

In other testosterone-driven news, it’s time to check in with the Men’s Winter leagues, where Dave is pleased and relieved to report that he is back in the top half of the individual performance table.

Welcome to Episode 21 of the Tennis Hampshire Podcast!

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The Apsley fixtures are out, which means it's time to start marking your calendars for another great summer of tennis ahead in Hampshire.

We check in with the Winter Ladies Doubles leagues, and Tom finds a thrilling conclusion underway in the top division. Just about any club can win it... except for the one club that is currently at the top!

We've created the Hampshire Tennis Club Explorer. Ever wonder how far away your next match will be, which clubs are most active in the county, or even which club is closest to you? Check out our new explorer at our website, THPod.uk.

And we discuss the passing of Hampshire tennis coaching legend Bash Kara. You can find the Just Giving page launched in honour of his remarkable life and contributions to tennis here:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/bashkara1

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Winchester Raquets didn't love our debate last time around about their patchy league efforts in Episode 18, but that was nothing compared to the national media debate this week that would come to surround the future of padel at the "posh tennis club" in Bereweeke (blame the Daily Mail for that one, lol).

Cue lots of pictures of disgruntled neighbours in the papers, and at least one threat to take it all to the Supreme Court. Gosh, this might be the most excitement Winchester has had since the infamous Christmas lights debacle of 1985.

Still, we are a padel-adjacent podcast and tennis is really our thing. So Twyford Mixed captain Rob Ernsberger joins us for a run down of the Winter Mixed Doubles leagues, which are now two-thirds done.

Winter must surely be ending soon... and before it does, will Glebian's inverted pyramids be corrected? And can anyone give Thornden a real game out there? Some at the club are starting to wonder, reports Rob.

Sometimes I'm glad to be in Div 6, that's all above my pay grade.

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Moves at Winchester kicked off a busy January transfer window in Hampshire's tennis coaching market. We explore whether a blockbuster move between JEM and Swanmore could shake up the league come the summer.

It's also time to check in on the Winter Men to see how they're getting along. The fixtures have passed the half-way mark. Did Absolute Men drop the mic for Christmas? Which team has yet to even play a fixture?

Meanwhile, Tom & Dave are having a rough ride in their divisions, but it's all good for the soul.

Oh... and it turns out that over the winter, the best TWO teams in Hampshire are from Wiltshire, lol.

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After a break so Tom could hunt for club glory and we could both spend some time with the family, we're back!

Did you miss us? Our bad maths and tennis resolutions will soon put that to rest, after which we take a deeper look at the very competitive Ladies Winter Doubles Leagues.

Welcome to the Tennis Hampshire Podcast as we start the New Year with the very best of intentions. Let's see how long it lasts...

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Tennis AGM season! Tom and Dave bring you the latest from the Southampton LTA and Apsley AGM meetings.

The top brass was voted in once again for another year, but with the committees filling up at last there are signs of new life in the corridors of power. One of the podcast just became one of the youngest committee members ever. Congratulations, young Jedi.

Meanwhile, there are insights galore about how 2025 will shape up for tennis in Hampshire. Beyond general news we look at the three hot button topics - continuous play, point deductions for walkovers, and whether Ryde Meade’s application to join the Southampton LTA would get past a members’ vote. The more the merrier, right? We’ll see.

Plus, since we’re recording on a Friday night, Tom had a Brewdog while we recorded. See if you can spot the signs of inebriation slowly creeping in as the discussion continues. Kids these days!

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We're joined this week for a Courtside Chat with George Thomas from Romsey-based Tennis HQ (www.tennishq.co.uk).

Did you know you don't have to trek all the way to Farnham to get your hands on higher-end tennis gear so you can try before you buy? Neither did I. George takes us through the kinds of issues to consider before you spring for a new racquet, strings, tennis balls and more.

We also explore his playing career in tennis, coaching at different clubs and his pioneering work to secure scholarships to US universities for high performing juniors across the county. George successfully helped five college students get funded for US studies through his programs, so if you (or someone you know) is thinking of developing an academic career through the sport itself, his tips could offer plenty of insights.

We also spend a bit of time exploring the myths about stringing - if you've ever been offered the opportunity to have your racquet strung by someone keen to intervene in your equipment, George has a few thoughts around what to look out for to tell the pros from the amateurs there, too.