The county schools Level 3 mini red tennis finals, sponsored by Aspire Sports & Cultural Trust, have taken place as part of the School Games 2012 with very close matches in the round robin stages of the competition for both age groups.
The morning competition saw years 1 & 2 teams represented by 4 of the districts involving 7 schools.
The semi – finals saw both Churchdown Village infants school teams through to the finals defeating Oak Hill & Benhall infants.
The final was the closest yet for this year group, however Team won through 2 -1 after an excellent mixed doubles match.
Year 1 & 2 placings:
1. Churchdown Village Infants Team B (Gloucester)
2. Churchdown Village Infants Team A (Gloucester)
3. Oak Hill Primary (Tewkesbury)
4. Benhall Infants (Cheltenham)
5. Naunton Park Primary (Cheltenham)
6. Oak Hill Primary team B (Tewkesbury)
7. Bisley Blue Coat Primary (Stroud)
The school team competition for years 3 & 4 saw a greater range of schools from Gloucestershire competing for the trophy, the first time every district of Gloucestershire has been represented. There were some fantastic rallies particularly in the later stages of the competition - Murray stars in the making.
The semi – finals saw a repeat of the Cheltenham & Gloucester District Level 2 finals with Cheltenham College Junior school again losing narrowly to Naunton Park primary 2 -1 but Churchdown Village Junior school A team defeated their B team to go through to the Final.
The final between Churchdown Village Juniors & Naunton Park was a tightly fought contest but Churchdown Village Juniors won 3 – 0 to finally lift-up the county trophy which has eluded them for the last two years. All thanks to their “super” teacher Emma Aldred –Tow, a National Wheelchair Tennis Doubles Champion herself.
Year 3 & 4 placings:
1. Churchdown Village Juniors Team A (Gloucester)
2. Naunton Park Primary (Cheltenham)
3. Cheltenham College Junior School ( Cheltenham)
4. Churchdown Village Juniors Team A (Gloucester)
5. Highnam Primary (Forest)
6. Oak Hill Primary (Tewkesbury)
7. St. Andrew C of E Primary (Cotswold)
8. Staunton & Corse (Forest)
9. Chalford Hill Primary (Stroud)
10. Gretton Primary (Tewkesbury)
“There has been fantastic level of support for tennis within the county this year with 51 schools with over 100 teams & over 400 children competing at their local tennis festival” says Helen Stevens, Tennis development Officer for Aspire Sports & Cultural Trust. “This is all thanks to the local coaches encouraging schools & their teachers to put forward teams for their local events. It’s a wonderful achievement by all”
A BIG thank you to the following Tennis clubs, their volunteers & coaches, in the county for organising & hosting their Level 2 district finals – Redmarley – Forest, Chalford – Stroud, East Glos – Cheltenham and Beckford – Tewkesbury and Oxstalls Gloucester
The School games also introduced Wheelchair Tennis as a demonstration sport to two youngsters who had never picked up a tennis racket. Archie from Hope Brook in the Forest & Luke from Robinswood Primary in Gloucester thoroughly enjoyed their experience with Oxstalls Tennis coach, and Olympic torchbearer, Terry Parker. They are hoping to join the after school junior tennis club at the Oxstalls Centre on a Thursday evening.
At the event on Friday we had national support from the British Tennis National Schools Development Manager, Paul Williams who announced that all schools involved in the Level 2 competitive programme would receive a FREE kit bag of tennis equipment to encourage further growth of budding tennis stars for future years
Both competitions are supported by the Tennis Foundation, the charitable arm of British Tennis, and Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Association who oversee competition & development of tennis within Gloucestershire.
For further information on where you can play tennis in Gloucestershire please visit www.lta.org.uk/In-Your-Area/Gloucestershire
For a summer holiday brochure of Tennis at Oxstalls Indoor Tennis centre please visit www.aspiretrust.org.uk or telephone 01452 396969