Why is this women so nasty to me?

[crossandcrosser]

I play a sport regularly. I'm not particularly good but neither are my partners or team mates, but we all enjoy it anyway.
There's one woman who always has silly little digs at me. It might be about my game, or sneering about a tv programme I said I like or more personal "I can't stand Northerners' when I have a strong accent.
I really don't understand it. The group we play with are all ages & from all back grounds and there's never any oneupmanship.
In the past I've tried the famous 'do you mean to be so rude?' which results in a text later in the day. I normally respond with 'thanks for the apology, it's forgotten'.
I don't want to have a full blown row, but equally I'd like her to stop. Any ideas?

I would confront her in public with said team mates/partners around. Be calm and measured. Make it very clear you will not tolerate her behaviour anymore. She sounds like a bully. She also sounds as if she is jealous of you for you for some reason.

Ask her if she has a problem with you

If use the 'did you mean to be so rude' line is resulting in an apology I would keep using but next time she texts to apologise I would be tempted to say 'thanks for the apology but it would mean more if you just stopped being so rude'

I would confront her alright but don't do it when she has an audience. She will have a bit of "bravo" in front of other people, but on her own will probably be a coward.

Thanks for the comments. I'm not usually a sap but I don't want a full blown row, I might say something I really regret.
She is a bully & clearly does have a problem with me. I think in her heyday she was really good at the game but as she's got older she's unhappy that she doesn't get the same results. She's a very sore loser and is most spiteful when she's losing.
will try your approaches. Thanks

Well I saw her today. She was bright and breezy and trying to be extra nice, but no apologies.
I didn't engage, just tried to stay out of her way. I'm cross with myself for not saying anything at the last episode of meanness. To bring it up today felt petty.
I may have hit the ball as hard as I could at her though.

Your other partners/team members must notice her behaviour as well I think. Clearly a bully, who like all bullies relies on the general niceness of others to get away with saying things. Next time she says something call her on it publicly. You don't have to be nasty back, in fact just making her repeat her comment with everyone suddenly paying attention to her should be enough. Repeat as necessary. I know this is hard to do, I hate confrontation but I guarantee that you'll have the (silent) support of everyone else who probably feels intimidated by her.

You're absolutely right Rain. Everyone has noticed and we all feel a bit embarrassed, but we're too polite to comment. And it is a form of bullying.

Thinking about it I think it stems from a conversation a few months back. She was being really nasty about a (joint) friend and I said "I think you're being a bit disloyal about X, she's supposed to be your friend. I'd hate it if my mates talked about me like you are".

Repeating what she says is worth a go. Thank you.

I think it comes to the point that you will start ignoring her or making fun of her remarks.

But I think the "do you mean to be so rude" needs now to be followed by the "do you always mean to be so rude? do you enjoy it? what are you getting of it?" (all said with a wide smile).

or, start giving her the cold shoulder, do not involve her in conversation and respond to al her questions with a yes or no before distractingly changing the topic.

I'd replace 'so rude' with 'such an unpleasant person'. Rudeness can be accidental, can't it, but this one sounds like she is hell bent on purposely being a cow.