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The stars of the future, aged between six and ten, served it out to become the first Flybe Mini Masters’ champions during a series of final matches held at the South Devon Tennis Centre in Ivybridge.
The winners of each of three age categories took home the Flybe Mini Masters’ trophy and, together with their families, will be flown out to the prestigious La Manga Club tennis centre in Spain to receive professional coaching.
The winners were:
Eight and under: Taylor Ingham-Hill, Devon; runner-up Emily Syms, Devon.
Nine and under: Matthew Turner, Devon; runner-up Tim Rutherford, Cornwall.
Ten and under: Joel While, Devon; runner-up Edward Shattock, Somerset.
Mike Rutter, Flybe’s chief commercial officer, presented the trophies together with Flybe’s tennis ambassador Lucie Ahl, a former British women’s player, Jo-Anne Downing, of the Devon & Cornwall LTA and Roger Draper, LTA chief executive.
The players, their families and coaches who came along to support certainly revelled in the atmosphere of a such a major occasion and enjoyed the great facilities and warm welcome they received at the South Devon Tennis Centre in Ivybridge. With the addition of good weather and the fun activities provided by the Highland Spring Hotshots Tour, it was no small wonder some competitors were heard to say, "Can we do it again next week, mum?"
Special thanks goes to the referees Jane & Peter Wilson and their team of young volunteer competition organisers from Plympton Tennis Club who helped on court over the weekend.
Around 300 young local tennis players from across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset took part in the first Flybe Mini Masters’ series that was launched back in October.
The programme was initiated to support the development and growth of young tennis players predominantly across Devon & Cornwall and is sponsored by the airline in conjunction with the local Lawn Tennis County Associations.
Mr Rutter said: “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 to become a future Wimbledon tennis star. The Mini Masters series has given these talented young sports people from throughout Devon and Cornwall the opportunity to experience competitive tennis over the past few months."
“To have helped give junior tennis a higher profile has been a privilege and the interest in this inaugural Flybe Mini Masters tennis series has been magnificent and can be demonstrated by the resultant growth in volume and quality of young players taking up the game.”
The competition was open to all young tennis players up to the age of ten. Circuit events were held across 14 regional tennis centres and clubs with players receiving points for competing and winning just as in the ATP and WTA circuits. The top eight players from each county's age group leaderboards were invited to the Masters Finals to battle it out to become champions
Ms Downing added: “The Flybe Mini Masters’ Winter circuit has been a huge success with hundreds of children competing across the two counties since qualifying matches started last year.
I am extremely pleased that our relationship with Flybe has inspired so many young players. We are really keen to grow the game at this grass roots club level, so I am delighted that the response to the inaugural Flybe Mini Masters has been so positive from players, parents and coaches alike.
Attracting such a high profile local sponsor to our sport has presented us with a fantastic opportunity to promote the game.”