Leading regional airline’s support of regional ‘grass-roots’ tennis reaches exciting Winter Season Finals.
This weekend Devon and Cornwall’s most talented took to the court to become Flybe Mini Masters’ champions. The event follows on from the Flybe Circuit, a series of events held across the counties over the winter period. The top players qualify to compete at the finale of the season The Flybe Mini Masters.
The Green event, held at East Devon Tennis Centre (EDTC), was won by Exeter’s Dan Mountford in a well fought final against Benidict Stanbury-Flood of EDTC. Both boys are regular qualifiers into the Master’s event but each season to have made marked improvements.
The Orange Event held at South Devon Tennis Centre, Ivybridge. The final was won by Lucas Urquiza of Chagford Tennis Club who beat Parker Caleshu (Virgin Active Devonshire, Plymouth) in a delightful final where both players played remarkably well and in great competitive spirit. Lucas’ coach Madeline Ramsey said “this is a well-deserved win, Lucas is a hard working player who always gives 100%, I am so delighted for him”.
The Red final was so very close with nothing between the two Cornish finalists. It was Bude’s Oscar Davey (Tarka) who eventually overcame Penzance’s Will Stirling in a 9-7 third set. Oscar was delighted to take the crown having been runner up last season he managed to take the crown this season.
Presentations were made by Devon LTA’s Vice Chairman John Allen MBE.
Georgina Loosemore (LTA Tennis Development Manager) says: “What a fantastic weekend of tennis, I am constantly amazed by the standard at these events. The players are a real credit to their counties and I am delighted to see the players playing so well and enjoying doing so.
Many thanks to Flybe for their continued support of tennis within the counties it is enabling so many more children to play and be enthused by the sport”.
Mr Lilley says: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to play a key role in giving the region’s budding tennis players the opportunity to further their dreams in becoming a future Wimbledon tennis star. Both the winter and summer Mini Masters’ series have given talented young sportspeople from throughout Devon and Cornwall the opportunity to experience competitive tennis.
“To have helped give junior tennis a higher profile has been a privilege and the popularity of our Mini Masters’ series has resulted in a heartening growth in volume and quality of young players taking up the game.”
The competition has been open to all young tennis players up to the age of 10 years old and heats have been held across 14 regional tennis centres and clubs with the top eight players from each county and age group now set to battle it out in the Mini Masters’ finals.