Joe Hill from Coombe Dingle TC and Georgina Miles-Hilpern from Badminton School win the County Road To Wimbledon Finals and will now play at the National Finals on the grass courts at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon in August.
The HSBC Road To Wimbledon National 14 and Under Challenge, now in its 8th year, is an event which runs over 3 different stages and is open to boys and girls aged 14 & Under of all playing standards.
The competition starts at a local level where clubs and schools are invited to run a Road To Wimbledon event, the winners, and in some cases the runners-up, of these events being invited to the County Finals. The winners of the County Finals are then invited to represent the County at the National Finals on the grass courts at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. This is a fantastic experience and opportunity for all 14U players.
This year 17 clubs and 6 schools from all over Avon held events which ranged from tournaments with up to 34 participants running over several days to smaller draws completed in one or two days, some creating a festival atmosphere within the club involving parents as well as players.
The Avon County Finals were held at Kings Tennis Club on Sun 13th June and over the weekend of 20th / 21st June and there were some very close fought matches and some great tennis for spectators to watch. Finals day was attended by Tony Barker, Avon LTA Chairman, and Olive Brown, Avon LTA President, who presented the certificates and prizes.
Boys
Winner Joe Hill (Coombe Dingle) / Runner-up Ed Hardiman (Coombe Dingle)
6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (2)
Girls
Winner Georgina Miles- Hilpern (Badminton School) / Runner-up Hayley James (Backwell Club)
7-6 (2), 6-3
Joe and Georgina will now represent Avon at the National Finals at Wimbledon in August and we wish them the very best of luck.