Cup squads proving up to the Challenge
THE tenth Tony Blair Sports Foundation Year Three Challenge Cup Grand Final took place at Sunderland Tennis Centre.
This was a culmination of a competition featuring around 250 schools from across the North East who had been whittled down to the final eight.
All the finalists brought four girls and four boys to compete in 224 matches and lots of fun Tennis Factory activities, all of which counted towards their overall score.
The eight schools involved were Aklam Whin, Darras Hall, Levendale, Kings Priory, Broadway East, Copeland, Broomley and Acre Rigg.
In addition, 24 leaders from two high schools helped to look after the matches and Tennis Factory activities.
After four hours of play, Acklam Whin Primary School from Middlesbrough came out on top for the second year in a row, followed closely by Kings Priory School from Tynemouth.
Christine Klee, Regional Competitions Coordinator for the Lawn Tennis Association, said: “All of the players played their hearts out and we saw fantastic displays of tennis from among them.
“This has been one of the best TBSF Grand Finals I have ever been involved in.
“It was all down to the fantastic leaders who helped umpire matches and look after the skills section.
“The players were all brilliant as well and showed great sportsmanship.
“We gave out extra prizes to two players who showed exceptional sportsmanship and enthusiasm and we had so many to choose from we had to eventually pick them out of a hat! A brilliant day all around.”
Alongside the event, the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club hosted a competition for visuallyimpaired players.
It consisted of five players contesting a singles round-robin event, helped by four of the school leaders.
Steve Trewick took home gold from the singles event with David Donnelly in second place