Schools court action is simply Wander-ful
JUNIOR TENNIS
FIFTY-FIVE students from five Tyne and Wear schools competed at the Wanderer’s School Games event at Sunderland Tennis Centre.
The morning session welcomed pupils from Bamburgh, Wallsend St Peters, Epinay, George Washington and Dame Dorothy to complete a number of skills-based activities and Tennis Factory stations.
The challenges were led by Matt Wigham (Sunderland Tennis Centre), Alison Cartmell (Newcastle), Jo Cunliffe (Lawn Tennis Association), Ian Kendall (Newcastle School Games Organiser), Julie Arthur (Sunderland Tennis Centre) and Claire Lee (Tyne and Wear Sport).
Following the non-stop activities scores were added up - and it could hardly have been closer with only five points between first and fifth place.
Epinay triumphed with 33 points followed by Wallsend (31), Dame Dorothy (30), Bamburgh (28) and George Washington (28).
After lunch 14 students from Bamburgh and Epinay took part in the secondary school competition.
The players received coaching prior to the tournament, which saw them complete rally and serving challenges.
Every player completed a number of singles and doubles matches against different opponents.
Again the scores were incredibly close and first and second places had to be decided on countback.
Eventually Bamburgh were declared the winners with 14 team points and 51 overall points.
Epinay A were second (14 team points and 44 overall points) and Epinay B third (eight team points and 32 overall points).
Jo Cunliffe, the LTA’s Regional Tennis Participation Manager, said: “What a fantastic event, made even better by the students’ energy and enthusiasm to do their best and enjoy the event.
“It was brilliant to watch every student developing core skills, showing great team spirit and gaining enjoyment from playing.
“Thanks to Tyne and Wear Sport, Wanderer’s, the Tennis Foundation and the LTA for their support of the event.”
THE LTA, in partnership with GB Tennis Girls and the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative, launched the GB Tennis Girls Team Challenge’ at the Northumberland Tennis Club in Jesmond.
Players from Cramlington Community Tennis Project, Forest Hall, Bohemian Tennis Club, the Northumberland Club, Northumberland Academy and David Lloyd Newcastle took part in the event, which included a parent / guardian talk on the benefits of tennis and the competitive structure of tournaments.
The Mini Tennis Orange event is aimed at players aged nine and under, a number of whom have been involved in the programme since its inauguration in 2014.
It was a predominantly all-girl affair with all but one of the players, volunteer umpires and referees being female - the aim being to encourage girls to keep playing the sport.
Referee Alison Cartmell said: ‘It was brilliant to see so many entries in the Mini Tennis Orange event.
“It was lovely to see the girls making new friends while also competing against each other on court.”