This year, the tournament celebrated its 25th anniversary and saw a total entry of 85 covering the two events run on separate days. Mini tennis on 14th March attracted 40 entries from 6 different schools and full court tennis on 4th April saw 45 children from 4 schools.
In both events the children play off in group stages with the different schools being mixed to encourage friendships between the players and also the staff who come with them. Group winners and runners up then play off in knockout semi-finals and then finals. The earlier rounds are more fun than serious competition but by the time semi-finals and finals are played competition and rivalry between the schools steps up resulting in some very close but sporting matches.
Mini tennis results:
Girls U10 Farrah Appleby (Sunnyside) bt Demi-Rae Wales (Gilesgate) 7-4, 6-7, 7-3
Boys U10 Jacob Spence (Yarm Primary) bt Usman Hussain (Sunnyside) 7=0, 7-2
Girls 10 + Lianna Harrison (Darlington) bt Lauren Matthews (Hopewood Academy) 7-5, 3-7, 7-4
Boys 10+ Stuart Gabor (Sunnyside (Mbro) bt Logan Ovington (Hopewood Academy) 6-7,7-4,7-4
Special Endeavour trophies were also awarded to Megan McCourt (Sunnyside) and Alfie Matthews (Gilesgate) for effort and attitude.
The following month on April 4th a gorgeous sunny day, saw 45 children from 4 schools, namely Sandhill View, (Durham), St Johns (Boston Spa), Kings Academy (Middlesbrough) and Castleford Academy) take part in the tennis event. Regretably entries from two Bradford schools, who normally attend were unable to be with us.
Groups wre split into 13 & U and 14+ which h provided some close and very competitive matches. First and second in each group then played in knockout semi-finals followed by 4 very close finals.
Many of the teachers,parents and friends who have been before know what is required of them but those coming for the first time soon realise they are to be persuaded (best way to put it!!) to umpire the matches for me. This often means teaching the helpers how to score, fill in the schore sheets and the very loose tennis rules we use. Without their help I couldn’t run the events so am most grateful for their patience and help. In the end they enjoy their day out of school as much as the children.
Results were as follows:
Tennis Finalists and R/up
Girls 13& U Tahreema Khatun (Sandhill View) bt Georgia Simpson (Sandhill) 7-4, 4-7, 7-3
Boys 13 & U Tyler Lee McIntyre (St Johns) bt James Webb (Kings Academy) 7-3, 7-5
Girls U14+ Aiysha Rasool (Kings Academy) bt Ellie James(Sandhill View) 7-5, 7-2
Boys U14+ Macauley Lee McIntyre (St Johns) bt Thomas Chapman (Sandhill View) 7-1, 7-6
Everyone relaxing after the event and enjoying a good chat in the sunshine
Sandhill View Academy, Sunderland, including me!
John Schofield