Volunteer role models provide opportunities to hundreds of girls across the North East!

The LTA, in partnership with GB Tennis Girls (GBTG) and the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI) saw participation once again increase in the events 5^th year.

The introduction of the fun, local and competitive league in 2015 is aiming to tackle the gender split between those competing against their male counterparts, whilst sharing the lifelong skills tennis can bring.

This year’s emphasis was giving older girls the opportunity to receive training and gain invaluable experience helping run the events across the North East. 32 Tennis Leaders were training up in September 2018 by Vicky Evans with 26 helping the organisers Alison Cartmell and Claire Smith between January and March 2019.

A number of leaders including Alice Montgomery, Anna Fergie, Lucy Graham, Sophie Greener, Grace McCardle, Eleanor McCardle and Caitlin Moore then help wrap up the 2019 competition at Sunderland Tennis Centre on Saturday 23rd March. 

The events continue to grow and 2019 increased to 88 players.  This included 22 teams with 41 players in the 8 & Under events. The 9 & Under Orange events saw a further 12 teams with 21 players competing. Organisers were also delighted to see 13 teams with 26 players compete in the 10 & Under events.

The Tees Valley events were held at Durham University Queens Campus Sports Centre, Stockton, David Lloyd Teesside along with Tennis World, Middlesbrough, where Claire welcomed players representing David Lloyd Teesside, Durham Archery, Hutton Rudby, Northallerton, Saltburn, Sunderland Tennis Centre, Tennis World and Yarm Tennis Clubs. 

This was replicated at David Lloyd Newcastle where further teams competed in their respective league.  This included players from  Beverley Park, Blaydon, Bohemian’s, Corbridge, Cramlington Community Tennis Partnership, Cullercoats, David Lloyd Newcastle, Forest Hall, Northumberland Club, Ponteland and SN Churchill were represented. 

This is a key intervention to encourage girls to enjoy being around friends in a fun and relaxed environment and volunteer Caitlin Moore was buzzing that she had played a part of the girls journeys:

‘I started playing tennis at the same age as some of the girls and have loved the game ever since!  I now volunteer at Durham Archery on Saturday’s and try and play as much as I can.  To know I am now helping the younger players is really rewarding!”   

The conclusion of the 2019 league saw six Mini Red teams compete in the Mini Red, six in the Mini Orange and a further six in the Mini Green at the Grand Final, which took place at Sunderland Tennis Centre on Saturday 23rd March.

Mini Red, Orange and Green Teams qualified into the final from Tees Valley and Newcastle respectively, and included Blaydon, Bohemians, Beverley Park, David Lloyd Newcastle, Cullercoats, Forest Hall, Northumberland Club, South North Churchill, Cramlington CTP, Sunderland TC, David Lloyd Teesside, Yarm, Northallerton, Durham Archery and David Lloyd Sunderland. 

The Final was absolutely fantastic and you could see how much the girls had improved over the months by fully committing to their tennis including practicing and competing regularly.

Parents, grandparents and super fans watched over 50 matches across the day!  The girls played with smiles, fast feet and great sportswomanship, which helped provide everyone with entertaining tennis.  Once all the matches had been concluded the final scores were totalled and the final positions are highlighted below:

Red Winners:  Ava Rimmington/Anushri Wadehra (Sunderland TC/DL Teesside & Yarm)

Red Runners Up: Olivia Erskine/Ruby Morgan (Sunderland TC)

Orange Winners: Lottie Gregory/Briony Heljula (Durham Archery/Yarm)

Orange Runners Up: Layla Saul/Tilly Shaw (DL Teesside)

Green Winners: Anna Elizabeth Osborne/Saakshi Santosh

Green Runners Up: Jessica Lamb/Grace Collinson

All the girls were eager to keep learning and enjoying their tennis with the upcoming summer season. Jo Cunliffe (Workforce Development Partner) was delighted with this year’s event:

“To see the girls enjoying competing and making friends along the way is one of the most rewarding things to witness.  The social side of tennis is one of the most important reasons that keeps people playing the game, and we hope the GB Tennis Girls Mini Team Challenge, with the support of the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative sees them enjoying the sport for the rest of their lives!”