To Wimbledon, Under 14s National Tennis Challenge were held at the Heron Tennis Centre Newquay on Sunday 17th June. Players qualified for the county finals from tennis clubs across Cornwall, with the prize of reaching the national finals in London at stake.
The boys final was won by Kieran Roskell-Thomas of Truro (LevertonWilliams Tennis) who defeated Tad McLean of Newquay (Heron Tennis Centre)4-1,4-1.
The girls final was won by Nadia Rawson of Bodmin (Leverton Williams Tennis) who defeated Arielle Fitkin of Penzance (LevertonWilliams Tennis) 3-5, 4-2, 1-0(10-5)
The winners now qualify for the National Finals of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon taking place from 13-18 August 2012.
County Finals take place in each of the 44 counties across the UK. The 14 & Under National Challenge was first started as far back as 2002 and is now in its 11th year.
The National Finals is usually held at The All England CLub,Wimbledon,but not for this year. This year there is something very different for the players to experience as it is an Olympic year.
Previously, the National Finals were played on the grass courts at the All England Club mid August but this year the National Finals will need to take place at the very prestigious Bank of England sports ground in Roehampton, adjacent to the LTA National Tennis Centre. The Bank of England sports ground has a long history of tennis with it being the venue where the ever important Wimbledon qualifying tournament is held each year in the week before the Championships.
The reason for the change is that the Olympics are being held at Wimbledon this year and the grass courts and facilities will not be ready in time for the National road to Wimbledon Finals.