This year Theydon Bois held the 7th Annual Mini Tournament – always a popular tournament with children and adults alike! Matches are played on LTA Red Ball courts, and, as always, I should like to thank Lyn O’Brien from the Essex LTA for all her help and advice since the outset of this event at Theydon Bois Tennis Club, and for the loan of the additional equipment of mini nets and small racquets.
The Tournament is aimed at allowing the younger members of the club to take part in a ‘proper’ tennis competition, and so to help this along, they are partnered by an adult (Mum, Dad, Grandad, Uncle etc). They are then arranged into small ability groups, each of which plays a Round Robin format, using simple scoring. Unfortunately, this year’s tournament entry was adversely affected by an INSET weekend at the local primary school, but 12 children took part in three groups.
The games can become highly competitive, especially if they involve Mum and Dad, and rival siblings, but the focus is most definitely on the children! Matches are always played in good spirit, and great fun is had by all, and this year was no exception.
Once again, the weather was very kind to use with a really warm, pleasant June evening – which encouraged additional Mums and Dads, Grandparents and friends to came along to cheer on their teams. The whole event ran very smoothly, no doubt helped along by the food and refreshment that was also once again provided.
All Competitors received a Certificate, Section winners received a gold medal whilst other competitors received a silver Competition medal.
The Event winners were
Red Group 1: Alex Howson, partnered by his Mum, Nicky.
Blue Group 2: Toby Halliwell, partnered by his Dad, Scott.
Orange Group 3: Hayden Qureshi, partnered by his Dad, ‘H’.
June Snellin
22 June 2015