72 Players, 128 Matches and Sizzling Skills!

Tees Valley TBSF Year 3 Tennis Challenge Cup doesn't disappoint!

Every year Tees Valley wonder how the annual event can match the previous and this year was equally as amazing!  9 schools from across the area were fired up to express their dedication, commitment, enjoyment and smiley faces to the onlookers.

What also continues to make it such a roaring success is the concrete partnership developed between local Schools and Colleges who provide excellent volunteers.  Some of these volunteers will be inspired to get more involved in sport and are encouraged to sign up to the Tony Blair Sports Foundation (TBSF) who aim to help fulfil their potential by working with a number of National Governing Bodies including the LTA. 

Once again the volunteers ran a quality event through their focus, fun and willingness to be the best that they could be.  So special thanks must go to Conyers School, Trinity Catholic College and Sixth Form, along with
Macmillan Academy. 

There were 72 young players in total and with non stop action for 3 hours straight energy needed to be at its maximum!  Every single player smashed this and the spectators were proud of their youngsters playing in the matches and Tennis Factory.

The boys completed the Tennis Factory to start off with which included Rally Rebound, Can Knockdown, Mini Micro Net and Volley Ladder.  The fairground of activity was relentless in its pursuit to win as many team points as possible!  Whilst the boys did the skills the girls played in their matches and organiser Diane Harker said,

"The standard of play was brilliant!  You can tell that the schools and local clubs have been working hard to enthuse the players to improve their games!"

Following the first round the boys and girls swapped over once again tirelessly hitting cans down and rallying against the net. 

Diane came over to Jo who was running the Factory and it was a nailbiting count because the 2 groups were so close.  Whilst Diane totalled the scores Jo attempted a TBSF Year 3 Tennis Challenge Cup world record and for the first time ran a fun 'Keep The Kettle Boiling.'  We added up all the scores at the end at amazingly in 2 mins for the girls and the same for the boys we came to 574 rallies!  So the standard has been set and future challenges will take place for sure.

The final results are as follows.  Both winners will qualify through to the TBSF Regional Final taking place on Friday July 12th from 9.30-2pm at Sunderland Tennis Centre.  Here they will battle it out between a further 6 teams with the Regional Champions up for grabs!

Group A

1st -  St Bernedette's
2nd - St Benedicts 
3rd - West Park
4th -  Reid Street
5th -  Preston Primary

Group B

1st -   Lingfield 
2nd - Yarm
3rd -  St Joseph's
4th -  Abbey

We look forward to seeing the youngsters at the Regional Final in 2 weeks time!